A new global safety study has placed Malaysia among the least safe countries in Southeast Asia for those walking alone after dark, highlighting growing concerns about public safety and a striking gender gap in how Malaysians perceive nighttime security.
According to Gallup’s Global Safety Report – A Safer World in Unsafe Times?, Malaysia ranked 100th out of 150 countries worldwide in terms of people feeling safe walking alone at night. Within ASEAN, Malaysia stands as the second most unsafe country, behind only Myanmar, which reported the lowest safety perception among its citizens.
The survey found that only 58% of Malaysians said they feel safe when walking alone at night. In stark contrast, the report revealed a major gender disparity — 79% of men said they feel safe, while only 36% of women shared that confidence. This 43-point difference marks the largest gender gap in perceived safety recorded anywhere in the world.
The findings come amid increasing concerns over gender-based violence and urban crime, underscoring the persistent fear many Malaysian women experience when moving alone in public spaces after dark.
Regionally, Singapore dominated the rankings, not just in ASEAN but globally, with an astounding 98% of respondents saying they felt safe walking alone at night. Vietnam followed with 88%, Indonesia with 83%, Thailand with 70%, and the Philippines with 64%. Cambodia and Laos were next with 62% and 63% respectively, while Myanmar came in last with only 41%.
Globally, about 73% of adults told Gallup in 2024 that they felt safe walking alone in their local areas at night. The report emphasised that these feelings of safety were not merely reactions to danger but reflections of trust, community strength, and institutional reliability. Gallup noted that a sense of safety contributes directly to societal stability and peace — suggesting that safety perception is as critical as safety itself.
The Gallup study was based on nationally representative surveys of adults aged 15 and older across 144 countries and territories, involving around 1,000 respondents per nation. The interviews were conducted via telephone or face-to-face interactions in 2024.
As Malaysia continues to invest in tourism and urban development, the findings have reignited public debate over whether local authorities are doing enough to improve street safety, lighting, and policing — especially for women, who remain disproportionately affected by fear of nighttime crime.
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