Unfortunately, K Narayanasamy's rejoinder is short on substance. Repetition, in different guises, does not help to convince, except maybe to the simple-minded and small children.

The manner in which whipping demos were introduced in schools and then hastily withdrawn, demonstrates:

  • poorly considered public policies;

  • lack of coordination among various departments;

  • ingrained politicisation of nearly every area affecting the public (Bank Negara and Petronas are notable exceptions - why are they different?);

  • shockingly poor capabilities of senior public sector officials concerned and

  • disdain and distrust in the public sector, imbued during the Mahathir years, in the ability of the rakyat to contribute to calm, intelligent discussion on matters of public interest.

    • The relationship of the authorities to the rakyat, can be compared with that of a father with his children. Before the 60s, Father was a feared figure who ruled the roost with an iron hand.

    Corporal punishment was the order of the day. Children were to be seen and not heard. Think of our ISA, the Sedition Act, sensitive issues (never to be spoken about). Daddy's the government and we feel so good!

    But these are the days of the Internet, of instant low-cost communication, of the global village.

    When my kids argue with me now, I am torn between lashing out (as my Dad would most certainly have done; it never happened because you just never talk back to Dad) and refraining from judging them by my paradigm exclusively.

    I try to balance between two worlds, the values and methods of my generation and those of the new one. So these then are new days and we have to use our imagination and collective intelligence, to meet the problems and issues of today.

    Yes, I would do things differently, if it were up to me. I would not automatically either subscribe to or reject the existing systems and structures of law enforcement and of criminal incarceration, punishment and rehabilitation.

    First, one would try to get multi-factorial analysis of crime incidence, by various factors (age-group, gender, race, etc) and do comparative studies with a number of related economies and for over different time periods in our past.

    I believe our police and prison officers have done some fine work in the past and we should build on that success. I would definitely start periodic 'crime-detection' programmes, as carried out in the US and Britain viz plant decoy plainclothes female police constables (with an armed colleague nearby) in areas where snatch thefts flourish

    And set up 'fencing' operations over several months, to mediate the purchase of stolen goods from criminals as a prelude to a major crackdown.

    One would also reach out to young people through young people. Set up a mentoring or a 'Big Brother/Sister' programme run by young professionals, executives and managers for disadvantaged youths of all races to be provided with good role models and guidance.

    Well, I have lots of ideas. This is the only forum I can share them with other people of my country and which has probably the least bias.