Please allow me to reply to Shaukat Ali with regards to his letter in which he asked me four questions with regards to allowing US forces to patrol the Malacca Straits.

1) Why do we compare Singapore with Malaysia? Isn't the answer obvious? Of all our neighbours, Singapore is the only country that has revealed its willingness to go to war if forced to and unless you've been living in Mars since independence without newspaper or cable television, I presume you do realise that a certain 'radical' group within Malaysian society is quite eager to go to war with Singapore.

And thank you for pointing out the very obvious fact that Singapore, a country many times smaller than us, spends up to four times more on defence than Malaysia.

As for the figures by Notes from the Gulag , the last time Malaysia spent 4.3 percent on defence was when they bought all the wonderfully advanced toys that shouldn't have been bought (namely 36 tanks and two submarines).

We are talking about 4.9 percent per annum for Singapore. Malaysia doesn't spend 4.3 percent per annum. It spends around 2-3 percent per annum and even then the budget is split between internal and external security (check Budget 2004).

A sudden increase occurs whenever Malaysia purchases new hardware and this usually is in the early years of any Malaysia Plan. The next time you'll see 4.3 percent is probably in 2006.

2) What do you expect we do? Tell Indonesia and the Philippines to clean up their own backyard? Do you expect either country to do anything? If they don't, what then? We just sit back and hope for the best?

There's a saying which goes like this: prevention is better then cure. In other words do we wait for something to happen before doing something? Or act to prevent something from happening? I'm not suggesting we strike at the heart of the problem. Just deter unwanted incidences from occurring.

3) What territorial integrity? What national sovereignty? Haven't you been reading the papers lately? Our fishermen now have to pay pirates to fish on 'our' own territory.

Our merchant ships/boats are being hijacked off 'our' coasts. Pirates from neighbouring countries are able to hijack our merchant ships in 'our' waters and you propose that nothing is wrong and everything is all right. If we can't defend our own backyard then we are no different from the (I quote) 'source countries'.

4) As for your last question, I scoff at your words. I know what the MAF should do. Defend Malaysia. Not play coast guard as the navy has been directed to do after Sept11.

The fact remains the MAF are underfunded, understaffed, undertrained and under-equipped. But I suppose you are one of those people who will say: 'Look, didn't we buy 16 MIG-29s and eight F-18D, plus we have on order 18 SU-30MKMs?'

An honest question. Do you think they are sound investments? Do you think they are enough? Do you know what those things do? I certainly do and am well aware of the problems the Malaysian air force are facing.

Another issue you might consider. Try looking for pictures of our wonderful fighter jets - our sophisticated flying machines. If you come across any which can be seen, carrying more than two missiles (neither of which are 'duds'), I'll be very grateful if you can send the picture.

As for your suggestion to '... invoke the right of 'hot pursuit' to chase pirates into their home waters and take out their bases in neighbouring countries? I have two words for you: You wish.

Fight terrorism? Depends on how you define terrorism. Let me provide you with a scenario. Post Sept 11, somewhere in Malaysia. Intelligence surfaces. KMM activity in Malaysia revived, intelligence reports of meetings between key figures.

I would also like to take this opportunity to reply to CIA .

All I can say about CIA's suggestions is this: be realistic. If the Royal Malaysian Navy can't do its job, let the US Navy help out. And you presume that it is a bad idea to let an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer (by the way, a ship capable of dismantling the entire RMN by itself) patrol the Straits of Malacca?

And what makes you think letting the US Navy patrol the straits will lead to quote ' ... the US Justice Department to take over our Anti-Corruption Agency'? I would have chosen Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) as a better candidate.

And your idea for US forces in Jalan Bukit Bintang. That's a ridiculous suggestion you made but who can do a better job to curb snatch thefts, they or the Malaysian police?

The Royal Malaysian Police are understaffed, underpaid (hence the corruption) and under-equipped. For crying out loud, deploying riot police at Bukit Bintang still won't help reduce snatch thefts.

What are our police doing? Where are they? Why are they so slow? Why are they not acting? There is only one answer and that is but we don't have enough men. And why? No one wants to join the police force, that's why.

Listen. Things have changed. Foreigners no longer look at a country's economy as a measure of being a sound investment. They look at investment security. What is the likelihood that an expat is to be kidnaped (remember the South African diplomat?). What are the chances of a terrorist strike? What are the risks of economic disruption by undesirable elements?

Clearly, I'm tired with having to make a point. I would have expected more sound judgements. I am not pro-US or anything. I'm just looking at the facts at hand. We are at a crossroads. It's bad enough Vision 2020 is no longer attainable.

Our country's resources are being stretched thin because its citizens want a first-world lifestyle but are not willing to work or pay for it. People complain about the health system, the police, the education system.

But all fail to realise that by third world standards, Malaysia ranks very high (it is also a third world country).

My point is this. Accept the truth that Malaysia can't do everything by itself. To take a quote from the movie A Few Good Men : 'You want the truth? ...You can't handle the truth!"

We shouldn't be like that.