It saddens to hear that in an advanced nation like ours where police and government officials parade and boast of the civil rights practised by them, a shameful incident of assault had taken place.

The show of might by the police is a common occurrence everywhere - they take it that they are above the law.

The prime minister seems to be utterly unconcerned by the decline in moral conduct of authority and heightened lawlessness.

He seems to be more interested in the country's physical development as exemplified by his oblique remark about pre-war homes in Tanjong Tokong, rather than the mental and moral development of Malaysians. It is sad to note that he has overlooked the basic needs of the people. It was a surprise to read that he had not been to that part of Penang for some time and was shocked at its conditions.

Mahathir, if only you had spared more time for internal incidents, rather than championing the causes of the rest of the world, we would have had a brilliant PM..

Coming at the end of his term, such remarks echo those of retiring civil servants and corporate captains who make passing reference for others without having attended to what they should have done.

Maybe Mahathir should visit the estates of Nilai, new villages of Tampoi, kampungs in interior Besut and longhouses of Rejang where those people do not even have an opportunity to view the malls that the Tanjong Tokong residents have.