Kuala lumpur: Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has called for greater collective efforts to enhance women's safety and boost crime prevention awareness among women. He said creating a safer environment for women requires the support and commitment of all sectors of society, including men, families, employers, schools, community organisations and the authorities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lee emphasized that safe public spaces, effective policing, improved street lighting, wider closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage, and swift action against offenders were among the measures that could help enhance women's sense of safety. He highlighted the various crimes women face today, such as street crimes-snatch theft and robbery, sexual harassment in public places and workplaces, stalking, including cyberstalking through social media, domestic violence, and intimate partner abuse. Online scams, love scams, financial fraud specifically targeting women, identity theft, online sexual exploitation, blackmail involving personal photographs or videos, drink spiking, and sexual assault were also mentioned as threats to women's safety.
Lee stressed the importance of women in society, acknowledging their roles as mothers, daughters, wives, professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and community leaders who deserve to live, work, travel, and enjoy public spaces without fear. He noted that while law enforcement agencies have a crucial role in keeping communities safe, crime prevention is a shared responsibility. Awareness, he said, is a powerful tool for protection, as many crimes can be prevented or their risks reduced through greater awareness, vigilance, and preparedness.
Crime prevention awareness, according to Lee, involves recognising suspicious situations, protecting personal information online, practising safe travel habits, reporting harassment early, and looking out for one another. He pointed out that this is not about living in fear but about being informed, alert, and confident.
Lee also urged the public to continue educating, empowering, and encouraging women to speak out against crime and violence while working together to build communities where respect, safety, and mutual care are shared values. "Together, we can make our homes, workplaces, streets, and digital spaces safer for everyone," he added.