Demonstrations brought down M'sia's GPI ranking

KUALA LUMPUR: Demonstrations against the government's policies and laws has led to the drop in Malaysia's ranking in the Global Peace Index, the Home Ministry said.
"Malaysia's ranking has dropped from 19th place in 2011 to 33th place in 2014 in the Global Peace Index, among other reasons, is due to protestors who are unsatisfied with the government.
"Among these demonstration are the Kita Lawan, Gerakan Hapuskan Akta Hasutan (Anti Sedition-Act movement), Demonstrasi Menuntut Royalti Minyak di Kelantan (Kelantan’s oil royalty protest), Anti-Lynas protest and Perhimpunan Aman Mahasiswa (Undergraduates' peaceful gathering)," the ministry said in a written reply to Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (BN - Jasin).
However, the Kita Lawan protests only occurred this year.
The GPI is a global peace indicator developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which focuses on three main cores – domestic and international conflict, national security and peacefulness.
The Ministry added the Government was already taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and peace of Malaysians, including enacting Peaceful Assembly Act 2014, Sedition Act (Amendment) 2015, Prevention of Crime Act (Amendment) 2015 and Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota).
“The Government has also introduced The Reducing Crime National Key Results Area (NKRA) under the National Transformation Plan (GTP) to ensure national security continues to be at a very good level and under control,” it said.
It also state that the efforts made by the government has worked as the national crime index has been reduced by 12.6% – exceeding their initial expectation of 5%.
"Although the crime rate has reduced, the government is not satisfied with the current situation and will work harder to ensure the country is safer, more peaceful and secured," the ministry said.