Is Malaysia Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Malaysia

Safety rating

Safe
3.9 /5

Women living in Malaysia consider the safety level to be relatively high, with an overall safety rating of 3.9 out of 5.

Crime rating

Low
2.3 /5

Women living in Malaysia consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 2.3 out of 5.

Violence rating

55.3%

On average 55.3% percentage of women in Malaysia have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.

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Crime & Safety Statistics

Based on 59 experiences

Safety rating:

3.9/5Safe

Safety walking alone after dark:

3.1/5Moderate

Safety using public transport:

3.9/5Safe

Crime rate:

2.3/5Low

Worries of being sexually harassed:

1.9/5A bit worried

Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped:

1.7/5A bit worried

Worries of being physically attacked:

1.7/5A bit worried

Worries of home broken and things stolen:

1.5/5A bit worried

Worries of being mugged or robbed:

1.8/5A bit worried

Worries of being kidnapped or murdered:

1.3/5Not at all worried

How safe is Malaysia?

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is safe overall. But like most cities, caution is required. Don't walk down empty streets at night. Don't openly flex cash or expensive jewelry on the streets. Don't dress overly provocatively and not expect stares.

Posted: April 2, 2025
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Christen

Christen

Kuala Lumpur

Being in the city area definitely makes it safer - just be aware of your surroundings and keep your personal belongings safe and you should be alright! Use e-hailing or the MRT for transportation and you should get by pretty well!

Posted: March 25, 2025
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Fatimazahra

Fatimazahra

Kuala Lumpur

It’s okkay. But everyone keeps telling me to hide my phone and electronics. So i keep an eye on my bag often to check it. Else it’s safe enough to travel, eat at restaurants and stuff like this…. Also the people are really welcoming and nice.

Posted: March 19, 2025
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Intan

Intan

Kuala Lumpur

Generally safe for women to walk alone when its daylight. But I am someone who doesnt really go out much at night, maybe its better if youre sitting alone in a car rather than walkin in the streets. many public transport

Posted: March 17, 2025
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Aaqilah

Aaqilah

Penang Island

Generally safe but be aware of petty crimes eg snatch theft, pickpockets etc. Keep your wits about you. Don't show off any flashy valuables. Don't leave valuables unattended eg in restaurants or bus station. Violent crimes are rare

Posted: March 9, 2025
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Penang Island

Honestly, I feel like it’s safe here but it doesn’t means crime won’t happen at all. You can easily blend in with people or get assisted too since most of us are at least bilingual. Walking alone is fine but always be near crowds. Avoid dark alleys if you are alone since it’s risky and harder to ask for help if anything happens.

Posted: February 22, 2025
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Kuala Lumpur

spent 3 months here and i can say it’s a safe city, except some streets at late night. i haven’t seen any thief. walking alone is also alright but you might get some verbal abuse, that’s it. also need to be careful with grab drivers as well, some of them tried to get my phone number or social media.

Posted: February 1, 2025
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Malaysia

Sometimes there are thieves, beggars and scammers. But it is rare to find robbery, sexual harassment, kidnapping, violence... Just take care of your own belongings... It is a safe country to travel to and every Malaysian knows basic English so you can always ask for some help.

Posted: January 30, 2025
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siti

siti

Muar

A good place for solo female travelers. At night, there is a park for people who remain active until 10 PM. I also noticed many police patrols after 2 AM. The nightlife is more focused on dining at seafood restaurants, with not much in terms of nightclubs. If you are out until 10 PM for dining or meeting friends at a restaurant, it is safe.

Posted: January 12, 2025
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Puchong

Everyone is generally friendly and helpful. I have walked around my neighbourhood at midnight alone and it’s safe. I just don’t personally do that often just in case there are drunk people on the streets.

Posted: January 3, 2025
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Is Malaysia worth visiting?

Travel rating

4.4 /5

based on 32 experiences from female travelers

Pangkor Island, Group travel

Went there during weekdays and theres very little tourist on the island. We were tge only guest for our hotel. I get around by renting a car but renting bikes would be so much fun. luckily bcs theres bery little tourist, not much car on the road and that helps a lot since their road is very narrow. 2 full days is enough to explore the entire island but I stayed for 3 days just to chill. Most interesting activity is feeding the hornbills. i didnt do water activities, just went there to see the scenery.

Posted: March 17, 2025
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Langkawi, Solo travel

Langkawi is made for tourists. Although I hate these kinds of places, the island is amazing. It used to be a hippie-gathering place, so there's a lot of reggae and hippie vibe all over the island. For women who are traveling and looking for a hostel, check out Bunga Hostel. The owner is a friend of mine, and she has created a hotel only for women. It's a creative place for solo female travelers.

Posted: January 16, 2025Experienced: April, 2022
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Meet locals in Malaysia

Syaza

Syaza

About Me

Hi! My name is Syaza. I design and teach, from Penang, Malaysia!

Speaking

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Tini

Tini

About Me

Hey, I’m Tini! I’m an architecture student from Sungai Petani, Kedah, who’s super into art, design, and traveling. I’ve been to a bunch of places and love meeting new people, trying out cool stuff, and soaking in all kinds of vibes from different cultures. I speak Tamil, BM, and English, so chatting and making friends is a breeze. Let’s hang out and make some awesome travel memories together!

Speaking

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Safety in Malaysia

Frequently asked questions

Is Malaysia safe?

Women living in Malaysia consider the safety level to be relatively high, with an overall safety rating of 3.9 out of 5.

Is Malaysia safe to walk alone at night?

Women living in Malaysia consider walking alone at night to be moderately safe, with an overall safety rating of 3.1 out of 5.

Is public transport safe in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider public transport to be relatively safe, with an overall safety rating of 3.9 out of 5.

What is the crime rate in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 2.3 out of 5.

What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the risk of being sexually harassed to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.9 out of 5.

What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.7 out of 5.

What is the risk of being physically attacked in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the risk of being physically attacked to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.7 out of 5.

What is the risk of burglary in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the risk of burglary to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.5 out of 5.

What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the risk of being mugged or robbed to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.8 out of 5.

What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Malaysia?

Women living in Malaysia consider the risk of being kidnapped or murdered to be very low, with an overall risk rating of 1.3 out of 5