I refer to the nation's rising crime rate feel a deep sense of fear in my heart. I fear for my family, my neighbours and close friends. Every other day I hear about another snatch theft, another car- jacking, a house break-in or someone losing his cell phone to a snatcher.

It's pathetic, especially when some of the crimes seem to be committed by foreigners. In the US, gun advocates wrongly imply that rising crime is one of the main reasons why its citizens need to bear arms.

The result are horrific events like madman Cho at Virginia Tech. Here in Malaysia, I am sure we are glad that guns are largely out of reach, but somehow armed robbers still commit brazen crimes with assault rifles such as the M16. Therefore, defenseless citizens in this country need to rely on the police.

Unfortunately, due to a few rotten apples, the police are sometimes a force that is feared more than the criminals. On a brighter note, I personally feel the police force is improving. I seem to detect a more prolific police presence in most areas in the Klang Valley.

Once I was on the way home from work and had to park along a roadside at an industrial area at night to answer my cell-phone. A police patrol car actually stopped to investigate. Although I had to explain myself to the cop, the incident put a 'safe' feeling in me. I guess you can't have everything - the police are doing their best and sometimes they need to be tough to do a good job.

So I have to conclude that it is probably the politics in this country that are putting an inefficient twist to things. For example, the police shouldn't have to take part in political affairs to further the interests of any political party and I'm sure you don't need to have an entourage of traffic police to escort a VIP from point A to B.

I believe our police force are a good bunch, and just need to be used in the right way to be truly effective without any political distractions and interference to further selfish interests.

The best thing to do would be for all of us to unite as one, regardless of race, and stand up against crime. Neighbours should look out for each another and neighborhood watches formed with security details.

Also, the public should be more aware and not present any opportunities to criminals, eg, secure our cars and install alarms in our homes or even help out when we witness a car-jacking (the force of numbers can sometimes overpower or discourage armed criminals).