Malaysia will recruit 37,000 more police officers, expanding the force by more than a third as it tries to improve its public image amid allegations of corruption.

Police Inspector General Musa Hassan said bolstering the numbers would improve the efficiency of the force, state Bernama news agency said over the weekend.

"Strengthening the force with more manpower will enable us to tackle internal and external threats effectively," it quoted Musa as saying in conjuction with the 200th anniversary of the force.

Official statistics have shown that criminal incidents jumped 45.1 percent in three years since 2003, with 232,620 criminal cases recorded last year.

A survey by watchdog group Transparency International showed that 56 percent of the public see the police as the public organisation with the lowest integrity and transparency.

Musa said a pay hike would help curb bribery.

"Our men will be more aware that they have been given a decent salary ... they will think twice about accepting bribes," he told the Star newspaper.

A general duty officer receives RM2,122 in salary and allowances while constables earn less than half that, the paper said.