Issues involving race and religion that can bring serious impact on multi-racial society in Malaysia should be restrained from the start.

In making the call, the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail said, as Malaysia has its own history in facing those issues and therefore it should be tackled seriously before it spread.

"There has been a sharp increase in cyber threats which have become a major challenge for the police to identify perpetrators besides weaknesses in the existing law.

"The police need to take seriously the abuse of social media in spreading sensitive issues that can cause disunity," he said at the Community Policing programme in conjuction with the 208th Police Day celebration here, yesterday.

Present at the event were Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil and Perlis police chief Datuk Zull Aznam Haron.

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said close cooperation between the community and police could prevent and minimise the crime incidence and ensure the safety of houses and their surrounding areas.

"I want the public and non-governmental bodies to respond to the authorities' call to be 'crime-literate' to make life safer and more harmonious," he said adding that the police could play a more effective role if the people felt responsible and share information on criminal activities in their area.

At the programme, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin also consented to hand over a prosthetic leg and a hamper to a retired personnel of the VAT 69 Commando Unit, Sergeant Abdul Halim Putih.