LETTER | It is strange that Malaysians suddenly seem so jittery about increasing crimes, safety and security over the new rulings announced by the Ministry of Transport covering tinting of vehicle windows and windscreens.

Even the police say they feel "slighted" over the ministry not consulting them.

When will we ever grow up? Are we saying that the police must be consulted by such ministries, thereby implying the people in the ministries are so dumb that they did not engage their two sen worth of common sense, let alone consult the relevant experts?

With or without the tint, the police should instead study why their personnel are glued onto using mobile phones instead of peering around looking for suspicious activities.

The police should migrate to higher technologies to carry out surveillance and not stagnate improvements to driving comforts.

As the motor industry responds to climate change, what will all of us who do not agree to heavy tints do when newer models are manufactured with tinted glass?

In any case, with or without tints the crimes are growing, not just on roadways but in every housing estate. Look at the increasing 'Gated and Guarded' residence zones mushrooming in the country.

Tinted vehicles are so common all over the world. Even our Asean neighbours do not fret and moan in fear.

Will tints increase crimes, really? It appears that criminals are just waiting to strike because of darker tints. Give us a break, will you?

Even without tints, we drive so recklessly. Even without tints, our accident rates are mind-boggling.

Climate change is indeed a safety and health hazard on the road.

The tints are a necessary feature to cut down the intense glares in an equatorial environment and enable vehicle occupants to drive in a less stressful condition.

The tints ensure that your vehicle is not overheated on the inside so that each time you get into a parked vehicle, you do not subject your body to the intense and unhealthy heat in the cabin.

With or without tints, crime has been bad in our yards. So let us not shoot down the minister for the new policy.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.