The police will be made to explain a 40 percent surge in crime this year in capital Kuala Lumpur, with fears it will undermine a drive to boost tourism, reports said today.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum said he wanted an explanation for the rising rate in the first three months of the year, which coincides with the start of a campaign to attract more visitors.

Malaysia is aiming to boost tourist arrivals to 20.1 million in 2007 up from some 17.5 million last year.

"We are very concerned about the increase in crime. I have been informed that over the last three months, there has been a 40 percent increase in crime in Kuala Lumpur," Johari was quoted as saying in the Star daily.

The minister said crimes on the rise include bag snatch thefts, gambling and vice activities including prostitution.

"This year is Visit Malaysia Year and we do not want the problem to smear the country's image," he was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

The Malaysian government has been battling a soaring crime rate amidst criticism that the country's poorly-paid police force is inept and corrupt.

According to official statistics, the number of criminal incidents jumped 45.1 percent from 2003 to 2006, with 232,620 criminal cases recorded last year.