RECENTLY, international assessments of Malaysia have shown a mixed downward and upward trend.
One example was the 2024 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), where Malaysia fell from 27th to 34th place.
Another was the 2024 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) with Malaysia falling from 34th to 39th place.
However, on June 12, Malaysia climbed nine places in the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), according to the Institute for Economics and Peace, reaching 10th position out of 163 nations.
This is a big achievement for the unity government, raising the country's position from 19th in 2023 and 32nd when the GPI was first introduced in 2008.
More impressively, Malaysia holds the top position in the "Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict" category. The rise also comes amidst a decline in the global average level of peace, which saw a 0.56 per cent decrease from last year.
The GPI report is welcome news for the Home Ministry headed by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail since taking the reins in Dec 5, 2022. The GPI is the most important ranking compared with other ranking indices. If the country is unstable, there will be no social and economic progress.
Saifuddin has achieved much beyond ensuring national peace. For instance, introducing reforms in the Immigration system, including speeding up visa application processes and utilising the latest technology to detect illegal activities at the border areas.
Another was the introduction of Baitul Mahabbah to temporarily house children from Immigration depots in a more conducive environment before repatriating them. To date, three centres in Negri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak have been launched, housing 170 children. Three more centres will be launched in Kedah, Johor and Kelantan this year.
The ministry has also rebranded the Prisons Department as the Centre for the Development of Cultural and Human Civilisation, adopting a corrective development approach for inmates under its supervision. Other programmes like parole, Licensed Prisoner Release and community rehabilitation continue to be strengthened.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's position in the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report also shows an upward trend. In 2022, Malaysia was at the third level in the report. The following year, we moved up to Tier 2 (Watchlist). Under Saifuddin's watch, Malaysia moved from Tier 2 (Watchlist) to Tier 2 in the latest US evaluation this year.
The crime index rate also shows a downward trend. The target set under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12) was 238 index crime cases per 100,000 population. In 2023, the number of index crime cases was 149, and by June 2024, the number dropped to just 72.
The police response time to emergency cases through MERS (Malaysia Emergency Response Services) calls has also improved, from 13 minutes to 11 minutes over the past two years.
Regarding citizenship issues, the ministry achieved its announced key performance index, processing 10,000 such applications annually, with over 11,500 applications processed last year.
The ministry's commitment this year is aimed to finalise 17,000 citizenship application decisions. By last month, 9,048 citizenship application decisions, or 53 per cent of the target, had been communicated to applicants. The constitutional amendment bill on citizenship issues has also received the approval of the Council of Rulers.
The Home Ministry is committed to continuing information sessions and engagements and acknowledging procedural improvements that need immediate implementation. This includes researching 840 existing laws and similar laws in other countries.
On July 18, the Drug Addicts (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill 2024 was unanimously passed to expand access to treatment and rehabilitation, particularly on a voluntary basis among drug addicts or abusers.
Additionally, the House also passed the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) Bill. Its purpose is to make the delivery system at the country's entry points and borders more efficient and faster, increase national revenue collection, enhance coordination between agencies, and eliminate leakages and integrity issues.
The handling of foreign workers is also meticulously managed and improved based on four clear approaches: facilitating the entry of foreign workers, reducing migration costs, ensuring workers' welfare, and protecting employers' interests.
These are significant achievements for the ministry under Saifuddin. It is hoped that the ministry will continue to progress in the weeks and months to come especially in terms of law enforcement and respect for human rights which will also bode well for the country's continued peace and prosperity.
* The writer is a Principal Fellow at the Asia Studies Centre, Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times