I found CIA's letter lacking any real point. Nobody is talking about the US Navy solving problems within Malaysia. We are talking about a possible threat that not only exists for our nation, but for our neighbours as well.

It would be a gave mistake to have an attitude of not caring about threats to Singapore or Indonesia or Thailand.

Allowing for a terrorist bomb or an attack of any sort in the Malacca Straits will have dire consequences not only for our economy but for theirs as well. The fact of the matter is, we do not have the resources to stop, prevent or even patrol our straits. We are sorely missing adequate ships, air patrol capabilities and the resources to deal with the problem.

Forming a coast guard unit and activating additional special operational forces within Malaysia is not going to solve this problem. We are talking about a training and implementation period of at least two to three years, if not more.

Acquisition of new ships won't happen overnight. If our navy can't solve the piracy problem in Sabah, what more in the Malacca Straits? Sabahans are already fed up with the armed forces ... they are a deterrence and nothing more.

They just don't have the technology or the resources to stop attacks and kidnaps, and I sometimes wonder if our government is more concerned with playing politics rather than addressing the concerns of many.

Just because there is a small group of Americans are operating in our waters doesn't mean its colonialism. I would feel far safer knowing there is someone working together with our navy and air force rather than just depending on our forces alone.

I understand it's a tough job, and I am grateful to our armed forces for all the hard work and sacrifice they do put in, but there is a time to be 'thick-faced' about a problem and a time to play politics.