KLUANG, July 14 (Bernama) – The opposition is always harping on the crime rate in the country to erode the people's confidence in the government, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said today.

He said the opposition parties took advantage of issues which were of concern to the people, especially on the crime rate, for their political mileage.

"We will convince the people that the allegation by the opposition is baseless," he told reporters after opening the Sembrong Umno divisional delegates meeting at Felda Ulu Belitong here today.

Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong Umno division chief, said the government had never made excuses, but continued to prove its commitment to reduce the crime rate in the country.

He said efforts by the government to address crime in the country were praised by foreigners, including an international independent panel comprising Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The panel praised Malaysia and was impressed with the approach taken by the government through the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) to reduce crime rate in the country, he added.