Kuala Lampur, Feb. 10 -- Malaysia has been shaken by a series of violent crimes. From femicides and familicides to killings between acquaintances and attacks by strangers, these acts leave entire communities stunned. The recent discovery of the remains of six individuals in a remote area in Johor is another sobering reminder that crime is rarely a distant phenomenon. It arises from moments where judgment collapses, emotions override reason, and consequences are tragically underestimated.

Public conversations rightly centre on victims. But there is another dimension that deserves attention especially for anyone tempted to rationalise wrongdoing. Criminology has long shown that crime is often driven by short-term thinking that masks long-t...