Did the abolition of the Emergency Ordinance cause the crime increase?

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The Impact of Emergency Ordinance Abolition on Crime Rates is Disputed

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asserted that the recent rise in crime is directly attributable to the abolition of the Emergency Ordinance (EO), claiming that approximately 2,600 hardcore and organised criminals have been released onto the streets. Conversely, Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua has challenged this assertion, presenting data that indicates index crime rates were at their peak in 2008 and 2009 when the EO was still in effect, and subsequently fell by 76 per cent in the year following its repeal.
Conflicting Perspectives on Crime Causation

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the increase in crime observed this month was a direct consequence of the Emergency Ordinance's (EO) repeal. He indicated that this repeal led to the release of 2,600 individuals identified as hardcore and organised criminals. Hamidi further suggested that these released individuals are now engaged in territorial disputes. He also mentioned that proposals are being considered to incorporate preventive detention provisions into the forthcoming legislation intended to succeed the EO.
Counterarguments Based on Historical Crime Data

Tony Pua, the Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara, presented a contrasting view by highlighting that national index crime rates were at their highest in 2008 and 2009, a period when the EO remained in force. He further noted a significant decline of 76 per cent in these crimes during the preceding year, following the EO's repeal. Pua also contended that the police and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) have not provided substantial evidence to substantiate the claim that the EO's abolition is the primary driver of current crime levels.
Questions Surrounding Crime Statistics Accuracy

Concerns regarding the accuracy of crime statistics have been raised previously. In February, the crime watchdog MyWatch accused authorities of releasing crime figures that were lower than the actual recorded numbers. MyWatch cited a letter from the then federal police CID chief, Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin, which reportedly detailed discrepancies between the actual reported cases and the published crime index figures for specific offences such as robbery without firearms, snatch theft, and house break-ins/burglaries during 2011.
The Emergency Ordinance and Preventive Detention

The Emergency Ordinance (EO), enacted in 1969, was a legislative measure that allowed for detention without trial. While its abolition has been linked to an increase in crime by some, others argue for alternative methods of crime prevention. The debate includes discussions on retaining the "spirit" of such laws, which generally refers to the capacity for preventive detention, within new security legislation. The Home Minister has indicated that proposals to embed preventive detention provisions into a new law replacing the EO are under consideration.

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Did the abolition of the Emergency Ordinance cause the crime increase?

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