In reference to piracy in Sabah waters, I support the frustration expressed by A Very Disappointed Sabahan over yet another piracy cum maritime kidnapping in Malaysian waters.

It really bends the mind to have this piracy occur inside Malaysian territorial waters (within 12 miles from coastline) and instead of springing into a systematic follow-up action to secure the safety of the hostages, we hear yet another stream of excuses from the Malaysian authorities.

All the government has are excuses upon excuses. Meanwhile, this government in self-denial is in sending all the wrong signals domestically and internationally, and this fortifies the bands of pirates.

Cross-border kidnapping and piracy have taken place numerous times and are nothing new in Sabah. There have been enough cases of this banditry for the Malaysian government to have learnt from. We should have already passed the learning curve and now have the ability to interdict, intercept and incarcerate pirates. We would then have done our homework.

This government must agree they have failed in this crucial aspect of national security and protection.

What value then the rhetoric Najib has that we Malaysians are capable enough and need no external assistance for maritime terrorist patrols? We seem not able to even handle predictable ragtag pirates from the Sulu in languid Sandakan waters.

What credentials and what hope do we have in handling more sophisticated pirates in the metropolitan waters of the Malacca Straits? Rhetoric does not get any work done, Mr Defence Minister.

But then again, that's Najib. It was in Sabah in the 80s, I recall, that Najib was at his most macho, thundering over a cowering opposition in Sabah. He must have sent shudders down those poor Sabahan citizens who happened to exercise their citizen's right in voting for the opposition.

Now, here we have these pirates as worthy targets, and how I wish Najib would now thunder to these pirates: 'I will get you.' After all, these pirates are real enemies to the nation. But no one in Malaysia dares do this.

It is as if these Sulu pirates strike fear in the core of the Malaysian heart, and send shudders rattling through the defence and home ministries. If this is not so, how come our security people can only blurt out excuses, and how come the defence minister does not thunder at them? Is it because local citizens are better for breathing down upon?

Of our Home Ministry, there's a lot to be said of it. But, of course, these pirates are not loyal Malaysian citizens, and neither will they subscribe to a blackened eye.

Poor Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman echoes 'we will not entertain any demands for ransom' And this further endangers the lives of the hostages, and causes further distraught to the families.

Musa should know such a phrase is only used only by those who negotiate with sterling credentials, like the SAS (British Special Forces). Does Musa have one such resource up his sleeve? Unlikely. There have been at least three piracy incidents in his time in Sabah with ransom money paid by Malaysians. Musa should really keep quiet and let Najib talk.

The entire Malaysian security system looks to be in complete shambles; it cannot even go one up on a band of ragtag pirates regardless of whether they are the Abu Sayaff, Abu Apa or Ali Baba. What are we to make of it?

Here are three hypothetical explanations:

1) The Malaysian way of life has produced laggards and this has pervaded the military and police force.

2) There is a sort of brotherhood we Malaysians have with these Sulu pirates. How else did April 11 happen so casually inside Malaysian territorial waters and why else would there be a lot of Sulu illegals in Sabah?

3) A KL cocktail for all Sabahans. Here is one reason why we need big brother from Kuala Lumpur, while at the same time saying there is niche market in Sabah for terror-tourism.

Take your pick.

But just so, Mr Former Prime Minister, would it not have been better for all that money spent on the world tallest twin towers, rows of apron parking space at KLIA, water canals at Putrajaya, Formula One etc. to have been prioritised for security enhancement such as geo-stationary satellites to monitor our own long coastlines?

And for the defence people, I would have thought that only pirates who nestle themselves in tropical islands would know how to laze in the afternoon stupor as only tropical islanders know how.

I didn't know that you guys do it better.