A recent report in Sin Chew Daily quoted Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung as claiming that "Malaysia is a safe place", or something to that effect. The statement was made in apparent reference to the recent brutal killing of Canny Ong and the spate of break-ins, snatch thefts, murders and rapes.

I am utterly dismayed by what I read. Is Chor living on tree? I fully agree with Umar Mukhtar's observations ('We have Different Worries, Dr M') about the unease of the ordinary rakyat over their personal safety.

Those who have the misfortune to report cases of snatch thefts or break-ins to the police often hear police personnel commenting that "oh, this is the (insert frequency) times things like this have happened....we can't do anything because we are short handed".

Yet I am surprised to see truckloads of heavily armed policemen at apparently peaceful gatherings and ceramah organised by opposition politicians. That probably explains why the police are shorthanded - but only to fight crime.

Pak Lah obviously has a lot to do before he can lead Malaysia to attaining 'First World' mentality. First on the list will be to get rid of politicians who are clearly still infested with a Third World mentality, like Chor.