Crime
Crime is when an individual violates the law of a country he/she is living in. However, this does not necessarily mean that crime is always wrong.
Crime where I live
I have not heard of any crime in where I currently live. This may be because the security is really tight and also because I only moved there a year ago.
My personal views on crime in Malaysia
To me, crime is basically anything that violates the law, though sometimes it is not negative (it may be beneficial i.e rebel for freedom). Crime occurs all around the world and it is incredibly hard to get rid of it altogether, though it can be avoided.
In my view, Malaysia is not exactly a very safe place to live in. Though it is safe when compared to other countries with high crime rates, Malaysia can be very dangerous depending on where you live or go. I personally think that although the crime rates are high, it isn't that bad a place to live as it could be worse.
Our perception of crime rankings
Answers to the questions (on sheet above) :
1) driving under the influence of drugs, drink driving, solvent abuse, breaking into a car, shouting racist abuse, picking a fight(though i'm not so sure bout this one) and being sold alcohol whilst underage. I say this because the above are all incredibly serious and may result in action in court, unwanted fights or even death.
2) I would say none of the above are victimless as they all seem to affect someone else. Even solvent abuse, for that matter, leaves the abuser as the victim as they probably were tempted to do so, though it was their own personal choice. Given that, I believe none of the above crime are victimless because, as I've said before, they all leave some effect or another on the people involved.
3) (the crimes are lettered according to their appearance in the screenshot)
a,b,c,g,h,i,j = fine or short prison sentence
d,e,f = court trials (to decide on necessary punishment) and/or long prison sentence
4) I think that repeated offenders should face court trials(that may result in heavier punishments) and/or long term prison sentences.
Answers to other questions (knowledgenet) :
a) screen shot above=results. I found it easier to do it individually as I did not have to agree with anyone else.
b)i found it OK because not everyone always agree with my ideas and vice versa, which makes it difficult to accept the other persons idea.
c)the urinating against the wall was incredibly controversial for our group as Maxwell refused to see it as seriously as the others and in the end could not decide on what he felt
d)how sensible they are, how applicable they are, where they are from
What I think main crime/offences in Malaysia are
I think that the main offences in Malaysia consist of major, life threatening or hazardous crimes such as murder, kidnapping, drug abuse, human trafficking, piracy and corruption ,to name some of the main examples.
Malaysian crime statistics
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Acquitted | 4,265 | [21st of 30] | |
| Bribe payers index | 3.9 | [15th of 19] | |
| Burglaries | 32,913 | [21st of 38] | |
| Burglaries (per capita) | 1.37407 per 1,000 people | [33rd of 54] | |
| Car thefts | 55,879 | [13th of 46] | |
| Car thefts (per capita) | 2.33286 per 1,000 people | [16th of 55] | |
| Convicted | 51,433 | [32nd of 34] | |
| Convicted (per capita) | 2.14725 per 1,000 people | [42nd of 56] | |
| Drug offences | 48.6 per 100,000 people | [19th of 46] | |
| Embezzlements | 4,212 | [14th of 36] | |
| Embezzlements (per capita) | 0.175844 per 1,000 people | [24th of 44] | |
| Frauds | 2,000 | [37th of 48] | |
| Frauds (per capita) | 0.0834968 per 1,000 people | [51st of 61] | |
| Illicit drugs drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market | |||
| Jails | 26,294 | [1st of 80] | |
| Jails (per capita) | 1.09773 per 1,000 people | [5th of 62] | |
| Judges and Magistrates | 357 | [31st of 35] | |
| Judges and Magistrates (per capita) | 0.0149042 per 1,000 people | [43rd of 45] | |
| Murders | 551 | [24th of 49] | |
| Murders (per capita) | 0.0230034 per 1,000 people | [34th of 62] | |
| Police | 82,383 | [14th of 47] | |
| Police (per capita) | 3.43936 per 1,000 people | [13th of 48] | |
| Prisoners | 39,258 prisoners | [33rd of 168] | |
| Prisoners > Female | 9% | [8th of 134] | |
| Prisoners > Foreign prisoners | 39.6% | [11th of 86] | |
| Prisoners > Per capita | 161 per 100,000 people | [54th of 164] | |
| Prisoners > Pre-trial detainees | 30.7% | [72nd of 143] | |
| Prisoners > Share of prison capacity filled | 122.5% | [57th of 128] | |
| Rapes | 1,210 | [26th of 50] | |
| Rapes (per capita) | 0.0505156 per 1,000 people | [38th of 65] | |
| Robberies | 14,696 | [22nd of 47] | |
| Robberies (per capita) | 0.613535 per 1,000 people | [26th of 64] | |
| Software piracy rate | 59% | [59th of 107] | |
| Total crimes | 167,173 | [32nd of 50] | |
| Total crimes (per capita) | 6.97921 per 1,000 people | [50th of 60] | |
| Transnational Issues > Trafficking in persons > Current situation Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a destination country for men, women, and children who migrate willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women, primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial sexual exploitation | |||
| Transnational Issues > Trafficking in persons > Tier rating Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia improved from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 Watch List for 2008 when it enacted comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in July 2007; however, it did not take action against exploitative employers or labor traffickers in 2007; the government has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol | |||
| United States extradition treaties > Date signed | August 3, 1995 | ||
| United States extradition treaties > Entered into force | June 2, 1997 | ||
| Unpaid diplomatic parking fines | 1.4 | [112nd of 143] | |
SOURCES: The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention); Transparency International; The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention); Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1998 - 2000 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention); All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention);International Centre for Prison Studies - World Prison Brief; Fifth Annual BSA and IDC Global Software Piracy Study; Wikipedia: List of United States extradition treaties ; Cultures of Corruption: Evidence from Diplomatic Parking Tickets Ray Fisman Edward Miguel Columbia University and NBER University of California, Berkeley and NBER 2006
The table above shows the crime stats of Malaysia in 2006-2007. It shows that there were more minor crimes than major ones. The table above also supports my ideas about major crimes in Malaysia as the crimes with lower rates are generally more serious. This is probably because most criminals fear getting caught and prosecuted heavily, and so carry out pettier crimes that don't impose such high sentences.
Cops raid semi-bungalow, seize 30,000 pirated discs
GEORGE TOWN: Police raided two houses in Batu Ferringhi here which were used to produce and store pirated DVDs and CDs. They seized more than RM350,000 worth of pirated products and arrested one man.
State Commercial Crime Investigations Department chief Asst Comm Roslee Chik, when met at the scene, said a team moved in after monitoring the premises for two months.
“More than 30,000 pirated DVDs and CDs, and equipment used to produce the copies, were also seized in the 5pm raid. This is the department’s biggest bust of the year.
“Our checks showed that the man arrested inside the house was previously charged in court with a similar offence.
“He will be remanded by a magistrate’s court pending investigations,” he said.
ACP Roslee added that they believe the syndicate behind the sale of such pirated products in the Batu Ferringhi area was led by a man, in his 40s, who have since been identified.green= supports my views
yellow= does not support my views
Crime laws in Malaysia compared to that of another country- Australia
Did you know that most Malaysian crime laws are actually bits and pieces of those of Australia and India ? Well, its true. if compared, the criminal laws of the three countries are extremely similar. However, over the years, all three countries have made adjustments to their laws. For example, Australia did away with death sentences (as all the Australian states, with Queensland being the first, started to abolish them one by one ) while Malaysia had to adjust it so it would compensate both the Syariah laws as well as the inter-state laws.
What I think of our visits :
Palace of justice :
I think that this visit was incredible important for our lesson as well as very interesting. I got a chance to have all my questions on Malaysian laws answered and get a good view on what happens inside the courtroom. Not only that, I also got to see old records, law books and learn the proper etiquette of the courtroom.
Visit by lawyer:
This visit was very informative. I found that it wasn't as easy as I anticipated to become a lawyer. i got to learn the full process to become a lawyer, learn more about Malaysian law as well as got a good idea on the entire lawyer and judge concept.
What would I do if I knew someone who had committed crime ?
I would be shocked, sad and try to support them through the troubled times. Its not easy to find someone close to you committing a crime, but its harder still to realise what you had done is wrong and to find you have to pay a heavy price.
Kai Song said "I would not believe it". This shows that everyone would go through that stage of shock and denial.
After we accept that our family members have actually committed a crime we try to support them and to tell them what we think and how to improve from what they have done. Yet you will always be disappointed or maybe slightly embarrassed that a family member or a close person to you has done something that breaks the law.
Sometimes if you believe they are not guilty you try to protest against the law
What makes someone a criminal ?
What questions do I need to ask ?
What crimes did they commit?
How were they charged?
How old the criminal?
How many people did they kill?
What were the charges given
Did they have intention behind the crime?
What was the sentence given?
Why are they famous?
Which country are they from/ Where they were born?
What was their childhood background like?
Death Penalties
There has been a lot of debate about the abolishment of death penalties. Some say that it is unethical, against the basic principle of human rights. Why stoop down to their level and kill them if they take a life. Most countries have done away with death sentences, and increased enforcement. Since that, the crime level in these countries have actually decreased.
However, some may argue that, for some crimes, life imprisonment is not enough. When the sentence is over, how would the public feel about that. And how are we really sure that the accused has changed.
I am personally against the death penalty.
12 Angry Men
I would give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. The movie 12 Angry Men is about a trial, where a boy is accused of killing his father. A jury is held, and this movie shows us what happens in the jury room, about the jury's attitude and stereotypes. The movie shows us how one man's feeling for justice saves an innocent life.
I was particularly interested in Juror 7 and Juror 9. Juror 9 changed his vote because he though Juror 8 should have more time in explaining himself. However, Juror 7 changed his vote because he wanted to go to a baseball game and by changing his vote, he would end the session. This shows us the different attitudes of Jurors and how they can change someones life.
This movie has given me a lot of info about the jury system. It really is interesting how the decision of one person can end a life. It also tells us of the consequences that may be faced if one does not take his job seriously. Overall, I think that this movie is quite good and also informative.
The Anti and Pro death penalty documents :
However, some may argue that, for some crimes, life imprisonment is not enough. When the sentence is over, how would the public feel about that. And how are we really sure that the accused has changed.
I am personally against the death penalty.
12 Angry Men
I would give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. The movie 12 Angry Men is about a trial, where a boy is accused of killing his father. A jury is held, and this movie shows us what happens in the jury room, about the jury's attitude and stereotypes. The movie shows us how one man's feeling for justice saves an innocent life.
I was particularly interested in Juror 7 and Juror 9. Juror 9 changed his vote because he though Juror 8 should have more time in explaining himself. However, Juror 7 changed his vote because he wanted to go to a baseball game and by changing his vote, he would end the session. This shows us the different attitudes of Jurors and how they can change someones life.
This movie has given me a lot of info about the jury system. It really is interesting how the decision of one person can end a life. It also tells us of the consequences that may be faced if one does not take his job seriously. Overall, I think that this movie is quite good and also informative.
The Anti and Pro death penalty documents :
Pro death penalty simran
View more documents from GP10
Reflection
Law and Criminality has been a very interesting topic so far. I have learnt a lot about laws around the world as well as familiarise myself with the death penalty controversy. Also, this topic helped me sharpen my public presentation skills. I found gathering statistics on the death penalty especially difficult as it is under restriction.
Overall, I think that I had a great group to work with. All preparation was divided equally between us and as a result of great organisation, we had ample time to practice. Although we all were working hard, we could't resist having some fun at certain points.
On the day itself, we kept out confidence levels at high and kept our cool at all times. We managed to deliver our points across effectively under time restraint and never faltered when being hostile questioned by the opposing side.
In the future, I think our team might benefit from making sure we had everything planned out especially well. No time should be wasted and we have to ensure everyone is working their hardest. Personally, I would want myself to be a little more aware of the time limits and also prepare myself fully the day before. Speaking slightly slower is a definite must as well as trying to overcome minor stage fright issues.
Conclusively, I think we all benefited a lot from this module in many ways. Everyone got to brush up on presentation skills and also learn a lot of new exciting things about law and order in Malaysia. Despite the few minor mishaps, I am very happy with what my team and I have achieved.
Reflection
Law and Criminality has been a very interesting topic so far. I have learnt a lot about laws around the world as well as familiarise myself with the death penalty controversy. Also, this topic helped me sharpen my public presentation skills. I found gathering statistics on the death penalty especially difficult as it is under restriction.
Overall, I think that I had a great group to work with. All preparation was divided equally between us and as a result of great organisation, we had ample time to practice. Although we all were working hard, we could't resist having some fun at certain points.
On the day itself, we kept out confidence levels at high and kept our cool at all times. We managed to deliver our points across effectively under time restraint and never faltered when being hostile questioned by the opposing side.
In the future, I think our team might benefit from making sure we had everything planned out especially well. No time should be wasted and we have to ensure everyone is working their hardest. Personally, I would want myself to be a little more aware of the time limits and also prepare myself fully the day before. Speaking slightly slower is a definite must as well as trying to overcome minor stage fright issues.
Conclusively, I think we all benefited a lot from this module in many ways. Everyone got to brush up on presentation skills and also learn a lot of new exciting things about law and order in Malaysia. Despite the few minor mishaps, I am very happy with what my team and I have achieved.
