I echo Dr Chris Anthony's sentiment - expressed in his letter Strangers in their own land - in that Malaysian in general lack civic conscience. They take a lackadaisical attitude towards rules and regulations. Some of the more egregious examples are:

1. Cutting queues when getting on to buses as well as in traffic.

2. Littering. When the first person drops a pile of rubbish anywhere convenient, that place will become a de facto dump site.

3. Open burning despite the health hazards. I have seen one just beside the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur bellowing clouds of smoke.

4. Keeping handphones switched on in theaters despite repeated warnings.

5. Taking photographs with flash cameras where it is specifically prohibited, for example in museums and aquariums. Tapping or leaning on the glass enclosure of the exhibits.

6. Construction sites without adequate safety measures.

7. Burning firecrackers when it is prohibited. Burning firecrackers with abandonment when it is allowed.

8. Never on time or schedule.

9. Buying and selling pirated CDs, DVDs, VCDs in broad daylight.

Laws and rules to Malaysians serve only as a rough guide. No wonder there are so many accidents on the road and unqualified doctors. Part of the reason why Malaysians are so apathetic is institutional. Promoting mediocrity in order to meet certain quotas encourages the thinking that half-hearted attempts are sufficient to get ahead in Malaysia as long as you know the right persons or are of the right ethnicity.

Secondly, the enforcement is either inadequate or corrupt and with the recent spate of nude-squat, head-shaving controversies, despised. Giving leeway and discounts to summons defaulters only emboldens law-breakers. Law-abiding citizens who pay their fines on time, in full, will naturally feel cheated.

There is also little accountability. When tragedy strikes, fingers are pointed in every which way, with no one taking the responsibility or being taken to task. Why put a 100 percent effort when you can get away with 50?

Thirdly, the parents and leaders are not setting a good example. When firecrackers can be lighted to welcome politicians, one can be forgiven for taking the prohibition with a pinch of salt. Politicians are also responsible for contributing to the culture of solving problems through personal touches and currying favour rather than adhering to the rule of law.

Fourth, policies and directives are changed too often. Sometimes, conflicting statements are issued by different authorities. It also give an impression that leaders can override laws.

I don't want to advocate that everything be done strictly by the book. A little margin for error and a little give-and-take makes living in Malaysia a more humane and interesting experience. I can accept a subway train being late by a minute, but anything over a minute is unacceptable.