The DPM Najib Tun Razak, who is slated for the top role as soon as the PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down, is working hard to impress the police force.

"Based on the statistics given by the police, it indicates that the crime rate in Malaysia is lower than Japan and Hong Kong. [...]

"It is also just slightly higher than Singapore to the basis of per hundred thousand of population… but the perception of the public is not the case,"

This is classical. If perception is what matters in this issue, it must be me at the wrong end of accepting the wrong signal from the public as well as the media on the crime woes in this country.

A few weeks ago, my friend was slashed to near death right at the front of his house and robbers got away with his car. Subsequently, his parents lodged a police report, to be told that it’s a "common issue" and there is nothing much they can do as most robbers, according to them, look alike.

Subsequently, in fear of his own security, his family decided to move away from the area for fear the robbers will go back to him or his family for retaliation.

Last week, when I was in a clinic, a middle-aged men rushed into a clinic with blood all over his head, when I was told later by the doctor that the guy was robbed around the area.

Now, 2 days ago, a contact put up a status on her MSN: "My house was burglarized last night".

Put aside the incidents above, Najib might be right to say that it’s the perception stir by these people that indirectly instilled fear in us, hence the bad perception about the crime level in this country.

However, when you continuously read about the crime cases and being told what’s happening and experienced by your circle of friends, something is amiss here. Top gun like Najib and his gangs are maneuvering the nation with bodyguards around him, with police escorts giving way to him and what’s not available to average joe like us, hence it’s not surprising for him to utter such a remark.

But it’s too irresponsible for him to write off the issue when he doesn’t try to really understand the public concern, especially for the fact that he is going to be the next PM soon (if things go on as planned).

The last thing this nation needs is an ignorant PM who merely listen to the 4th floor officers or being convinced by the colorful charts and numbers prepared to please the master, generally speaking. If Najib is not taking this seriously, I’m afraid his ignorant attitude is going to bring joy to the thugs, gangsters, robbers, burglars and what’s not out there.

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