A blogger who goes by the name of Waris Tok Naga recently wrote: '...we have now three classes of citizens - the law abiding, the law fearing (fixing your seat belts on seeing a cop is one case in point) and the lawless, who sometimes behave that they are above the law...'

Try as I might, I just could not find any fault with that classification.

Animals are governed by the law of the jungle, quite appropriately. And Malaysians are governed by laws that are literally swept out of Parliament like the discharge a zookeeper pushes into the drain when cleaning the holding cages.

Only a handful of Malaysians will have enough respect for the laws, not because the lawmakers are held in high esteem, but because our upbringing tells us to do so, or in some rare cases, because they are there to protect us. The rest will either comply because they don't have the financial resources to circumvent it, or not comply because they can control the financial needs of the enforcement personnel.

For the past two decades, I have wondered and pondered if these are the key people who affect the life of every Malaysian, irrespective of race, religion or status - those for whom the laws are made and those who enforce the laws.

From the frequent postings that I see in various discussion forums, many Malaysians seem to believe that having freedom of religion is all it takes to make Malaysia a wonderful country to spend our lives. It would appear that, while they have now accepted and learnt to live with racial segregation, religious freedom is all they need to fulfil their desire to be treated as true and equal Malaysians.

Perhaps they believe that once Malaysians are free to practice the religion of their choice, then such acts as the numerous bailout of cronies by the BN government and the construction of a RM490 million sports academy in UK are not sinful as they will all receive divine blessings and Malaysians will live happily ever after.

I would rather the law enforcement personnel be given the freedom to perform their duties within the law, without fear or favour, and that every Malaysian be given protection against unfair enforcement. Perhaps, only then can our civil servants and politicians learn to earn their keep.