Spatial Correlates of Perceived Safety: Natural Surveillance and Incivilities in Bayan Baru, Malaysia

Perceived safety strongly shapes how residents use and experience their neighborhoods, yet evidence on how spatial and social factors interact in rapidly urbanizing Asian cities remains limited. This study investigates the role of natural surveillance, spatial connectivity, and perceived incivilities in shaping residents’ perceived safety in Bayan Baru, Malaysia, with fear of crime examined as a key mediating factor. A face-to-face survey of 300 adults measured five constructs: natural surveillance, spatial connectivity, perceived incivilities, fear of crime, and perceived safety. Data were analyzed using PLS-SEM in SmartPLS 4.0, supported by bootstrapping and predictive relevance tests. Results showed that natural surveillance and spatial connectivity increased perceived safety both directly and indirectly by reducing fear, while perceived incivilities undermined perceived safety through heightened fear. Additional interdependencies indicated that spatial connectivity strengthened natural surveillance, which in turn reduced perceived incivilities and reinforced perceived safety, though connectivity alone did not directly reduce incivilities. Mediation analysis confirmed fear of crime as a central psychological bridge linking environmental cues to safety evaluations. These findings highlight how the interplay of visibility, connectivity, and disorder shape perceived safety in Malaysian neighbourhood settings. Interventions should combine design improvements, maintenance of public space, and community engagement to reduce fear and strengthen everyday confidence in neighborhood safety.