How to Make a Police Report in Malaysia

Your car is broken into, your wallet is snatched, or money moves out of your account without authorisation — in all three situations, the first document every next party will ask for, whether an insurer, a bank or a court, is your police report number. Knowing how to get it correctly, and in the right order, saves hours and sometimes saves your money.

This guide explains when to dial 999, when to go to the station, when you can use the online system, and what happens after a report is made.

Which one should I use: 999, the station, e-Reporting, or 997?

Before anything else, work out your situation. These four channels are not free choices — each is for a different situation, and choosing the wrong one can delay help.

• A crime is in progress, with life or injury in danger — dial 999 first. This is the emergency line, not for routine reports.
• Money has just moved because of an online scam — call 997 (NSRC) immediately, before going to the station. Speed determines whether the funds can be frozen.
• Loss of documents or items not linked to a crime (identity card, driving licence, a dropped phone) — you can use e-Reporting online without going to the station.
• All other cases — theft, house-breaking, assault, mischief, harassment, a loss that may involve a crime — go to a police station to make a full report.

Channel	When to use	For what	Key note
999 (MERS 999)	An emergency in progress	Police, fire, ambulance, civil defence, maritime	One number for five agencies; misuse can be fined up to RM500,000
Police station	Any time after the incident	All types of crime and loss	Free; open 24 hours; you get a report number + copy
e-Reporting	Non-criminal loss	Identity card, licence, ATM card, phone, documents	According to the official portal: Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above
997 (NSRC)	As soon as scammed online	Financial scams, money moved	Official guidance: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; a separate police report is still required

When do I need to dial 999 first?

MERS 999 (Malaysia Emergency Response Services) is a government initiative that unifies Malaysia’s emergency numbers into a single central number, 999. One call connects you to five emergency agencies: the Royal Malaysia Police, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Ministry of Health (ambulance/hospital), the Civil Defence Force, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Use 999 when there is immediate danger — a crime in progress, injury, fire, or a threat to life. The officer will ask for the type of emergency, the location of the incident and a contact number before routing the call to the correct agency.

One important warning: 999 is not for enquiries or non-urgent reports. Misusing this emergency line is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. For incidents that have passed and where there is no immediate danger, go straight to a police station.

What is the difference between seizable and non-seizable cases?

The law distinguishes two types of offence, and this distinction determines what the police can do after your report.

When you give information to the officer in charge of a police station, it becomes a first information report under Section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). That provision requires every piece of oral information relating to the commission of an offence to be “reduced to writing by him or under his direction and be read over” to the informant (Section 107(1)). The information is then entered in a register book, dated and timed, and signed by the person giving it (Section 107(2)).

After that, the case’s path depends on its type:

	Seizable case (seizable)	Non-seizable case (non-seizable)
Examples	House-breaking, robbery, serious assault, vehicle theft	Certain minor offences and small disputes
Police power	May investigate and arrest without a warrant (Section 23)	Requires an order from the Public Prosecutor for special investigative powers (Section 108)
What happens	An investigation begins; an Investigating Officer is appointed	The officer refers the complainant to a Magistrate (Section 108(1))

You do not need to know your case’s category in advance — the officer on duty will determine it. Your task is only to give accurate and complete information.

How do I make a police report at the station?

This is the most thorough method and is suitable for almost all crimes. The process:

1. Go to any police station. The report counter is open 24 hours. For cases involving a specific scene, the station nearest the incident is often the most efficient because the investigation is handled by that police district.
2. Tell the officer at the counter that you wish to make a report, and explain what happened.
3. Give the details in chronological order — what happened, when (date and time), where, who was involved, and what was lost or damaged. State facts, not interpretations.
4. The officer will type the report based on your statement. This becomes a record under Section 107.
5. Read the report back carefully before signing. Make sure every date, name, number and amount is correct — the report cannot be deleted later, only added to.
6. Sign the report. You then receive a report number and can ask for a printed copy.

Keep that copy. It is needed by insurance companies, banks, employers, the National Registration Department (to replace an identity card) and any follow-up proceedings.

What should I bring to the station?

You can make a report without bringing anything, but a complete and quick report requires:

• Identity card (MyKad) or passport for non-citizens.
• Details of the incident — date, time and location as precisely as possible.
• A list of items lost or damaged, with estimated value, serial numbers, or identifying marks if available.
• Any supporting evidence — photographs, receipts, messages, bank statements, or witness details.
• For a scam: the recipient account number, amount, transaction date and any screenshots of the conversation.

You do not need solid evidence to make a report — Section 107 does not require the informant to have personal knowledge. However, the more detailed your information, the easier it is for the investigation to begin.

Can I make a police report online?

Yes, for certain categories. The PDRM e-Reporting system at ereporting.rmp.gov.my allows reports to be made online without going to the station. According to the official portal, it is for Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above who have internet access.

This system is designed for the loss of documents or items not linked to a crime, including:

• A lost or dropped identity card
• Driving licence
• Credit card or ATM card
• Mobile phone or laptop
• Road tax
• Damage to or loss of equipment or documents due to a natural disaster

The steps: visit the portal, register as a new user, log in with your identity card number, confirm your personal details, fill in the information and description of the incident, submit the report, then print a copy that is also sent by email. That printed copy can be taken directly to the relevant agency such as JPN or JPJ for document replacement.

Note: e-Reporting is not for reporting crimes. Theft, assault, house-breaking, mischief or threats must be brought to a police station so that an investigation can begin. Anyone who does not meet the online system’s eligibility criteria can make a report at any police station.

Scammed online? Call 997 first

If you become a victim of an online financial scam and money has just moved, the first step is not the station — call 997, the line of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).

The NSRC was established in October 2022 as an operations centre to coordinate a rapid response to online financial scams. It brings together the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC), the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), as well as financial institutions and telecommunications companies in a single “war room”. When you call, they try to prevent further loss and to trace and freeze the stolen funds before the scammer withdraws them.

According to official NSRC guidance (checked August 2026), the 997 line operates from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. daily including public holidays, and you must still make a separate police report within 24 hours — without a police report, follow-up action cannot be carried out by the police.

On 26 July 2025, the Deputy Minister of Communications announced that from September 2025 the line would operate 24 hours and calls to 997 would be counted as an official police report. However, as of the August 2026 check, that arrangement is not yet reflected in the official NSRC guidance, which still sets operating hours of 8 a.m.–8 p.m. and the requirement of a separate police report. Confirm the current status before relying on the line outside those hours.

The key to success is speed: the best chance of freezing the funds is in the first few hours. Every minute of waiting gives the scammer time to move the money to another account.

What happens after you make a report?

Making a report is only the beginning. After that:

• Seizable cases will be handed to an Investigating Officer (IO). Keep the report number and, if given, the phone number or name of the IO for follow-up.
• For serious cases, under Section 110, an officer ranked Sergeant or above who has reason to suspect a seizable offence must send a report to the Public Prosecutor and proceed with the investigation to the scene.
• You may be called to give further statements. Under Section 112, the police may examine any person believed to know the facts of the case orally, and that person is bound to answer truthfully (except questions that may expose them to a criminal charge).
• A certified copy of the report is admissible as evidence under Section 108A — which is why it is important to keep your copy.

To find out about developments, contact the Investigating Officer or the station where you made the report, and quote your report number.

When and how to follow up or escalate?

Sometimes one report alone is not enough. Some common situations:

• New information emerges — make an additional report referring to the original report number. Do not ask for the original report to be removed; records cannot be deleted.
• The investigation appears to have stalled — contact the Investigating Officer, and if necessary, refer to the station or the District Police Headquarters for a status enquiry.
• A non-seizable case — if the officer refers you to a Magistrate under Section 108, this is not a rejection but the correct legal path for that category of case.
• You need a copy for a third party — ask for a certified copy for insurance, a bank or an employer.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using 999 for an incident that has passed. The emergency line is for immediate danger; misusing it can be fined up to RM500,000.
• Going to the station first after being scammed, instead of calling 997. Every minute reduces the chance of freezing the funds. Call 997 first.
• Signing without reading back. Once signed, a report cannot be amended — only added to with a new report. Check every detail.
• Trying to report a crime through e-Reporting. That system is only for the loss of documents and non-criminal items. Theft and assault must be brought to the station.
• Not keeping a copy. Without a copy, insurance claims and document replacement become more difficult.
• Embellishing or giving false information. Giving false information to the police is a separate offence — state only the facts you know.

What next

After a report is made, the follow-up depends on your situation. If you lost your identity card, bring a copy of the report to the National Registration Department for a replacement. If this is an insurance claim, submit a certified copy to the insurer. If it is a financial scam, continue to cooperate with the NSRC and your bank and keep all transaction references.

For further context, see our related guides on the Online Safety Act for harmful online content, and debt recovery if your dispute involves money owed rather than a crime. Keep your report number in a safe place — it becomes the single reference point for every next step.