Various programs have been implemented to strengthen the relationship between the police and the public in crime prevention and cooperation. The increasing sophistication of criminal activities has increased the difficulty of the police role; the trust of the public and improvements in the investigative competence of the police are essential to effective collection of intelligence, investigation, and prosecution. In Malaysia, the attorney general is also the public prosecutor; it would be desirable to remove the attorney general's powers to prosecute. A commission consisting of representatives of the groups that contribute to the administration of justice should appoint the public prosecutor. The police also have the responsibility of conducting prosecutions and need exposure to case-law studies and the increasing complexity of laws. Reducing and preventing delays in trials will require cooperation among criminal justice agencies. In addition, immediate steps are needed to find ways of addressing prison overcrowding. Otherwise, Malaysia's criminal justice system will continue to be criticized for using outmoded methods to deal with contemporary complexities. Imprisonment is currently the only correctional option; alternatives to institutionalization are needed.