Over 2,000 rogue Malaysian police officers arrested in past 5 years

A total of 2,097 Malaysian police officers and personnel have been arrested for drug-related offences, robbery and corruption between 2021 and August this year, according to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Saifuddin Nasution said in a written parliamentary reply to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng on Tuesday that the drug-related arrests were made under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The highest number of drug-related arrests was recorded in 2021, involving 357 personnel, followed by 310 in 2024.

“A total of 248 personnel were arrested in 2022, 245 in 2023 and 256 in 2025, while 135 were arrested between January and August this year,” he said.

As for robberies, “64 police officers and personnel were arrested over the same period”, Saifuddin said.

The annual breakdown of robbery cases involving police showed 10 arrests each in 2021 and 2022, 11 in 2023, 13 in 2024, and 10 each last year and in the first eight months of this year.

Saifuddin said MACC arrested 482 police personnel between 2021 and August this year, with the highest number recorded in 2023, at 129 arrests. This was followed by 87 arrests last year, 86 in 2022, 77 in 2021 and 53 in 2024, while 50 personnel were arrested between January and August this year.

On a separate case involving 12 police personnel suspected of robbing a group of Chinese nationals of around 200,000 ringgit (US$49,000) in cryptocurrency at Country Heights, Kajang, Saifuddin said investigations were ongoing.

“Police have opened an investigation paper into the incident on Feb 5, and investigations are being conducted under Section 395 of the Penal Code,” he said. Section 395 provides for punishment for gang robbery.

Lim had asked the ministry to disclose the number of police personnel arrested for drug offences, robbery and corruption since 2021, as well as the status of investigations into the cryptocurrency robbery case.