A minister said Sunday that the number of violent crimes, especially robbery, bag snatching and rape, had increased in the first five months of the year.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow said the violent crime rate had risen between 11 and 13 percent during the period, the state Bernama news agency reported.

Fu said authorities were hard pressed to find out the reason for the increase but blamed the bag snatches on drug addicts and immigrants.

High rate of success

However he said Malaysia had a high rate of succcess in solving violent crimes.

"For rape cases, nearly 93 per cent have been solved, murder 66 per cent, attempted murder 80 per cent and snatch theft 56 per cent," Fu was quoted as saying.

"The problem with snatch theft is that most victims cannot identify the thieves," he added.

Police action, public vigilance and the installation of security cameras were among the factors contributing to the solving of crimes, he said.