After the recent flood of crime reports and the social media frenzy surrounding them, it would be foolhardy to brush aside our fear over the rise in crime as a figment of our imagination.

Clearly, though Malaysia might be considered the safest country in Southeast Asia, the people of Twitterjaya certainly think otherwise.

Here's what they have got to say:

Zamir Rashid @zongtwi: @twt_malaysia security. Crime rate apparently is down. Just not in our area.

HazzIdris @HazzIdris: @twt_malaysia security. The fact is that I don't feel safe letting my kids play in the playground. Crime is at alarming rate.

Adam Malik @adaminkk: There's definitely a drop in crime statistics, I've only had to avoid two kidnap attempts today #malaysia #pemandu.

Darryl Ezreen @darrylezreen: The only thing I want for my country right now is to reduce the crime rate. I want Malaysia to be a safe country for us, citizens!

Shai @MdShaidik: Dear officials of Malaysia, it's time you take the rising crime rate seriously. Do something about it.

Yee Siew Meng @MengoYee: Just like 1Malaysia, it's all glitzy packaging with little substance... people suffer! Perception, my foot!

Karmenyeeee @karrrmennn: Malaysia, why? And people complain why foreigners never come here.

Yvonne Young @yvonneAPY: #sarcasm - home minister said crime rate has declined, just us feeling insecure.

Lionel Wong @lionelwg: Everyday there has been report of crime in Malaysia and they are still saying, oh, don't worry, our crime rates are low... what *&^%$%?

Diesel Electric @dieselelectric: Malaysia has lowest crime rate! This news is just perception.

Athiah nadhirah @tyadiera: Why Malaysia so bahaya ah? Compare dulu and sekarang. Sekarang crime rate dia macam melampau, sangat tinggi! Takut duduk Malaysia.

(Why is Malaysia so dangerous? Compared to the past, the crime rate now is way too high! Afraid of staying in Malaysia)

KoDoMo @czero90: If only Malaysia can be a lot safer than this, I won't have to deal with this. Low crime rate, they say. Politicians...

Jia Sheng @fongjiasheng: Malaysia is no longer a safe place to live in. The crime rate is getting higher and higher by the day.

Rizal Khan @rizalkhan: Hello, wake up. Crime rate in Malaysia is low, but it's high in major cities like KL/Selangor.

Sreekant @Sreekant: Why can't they accept? It's high, and do something about it!

Moose Mizan Kamal @MooseMizanKamal: Malaysia's crime rate is increasing so rapidly that we are almost as the same stage as the US.

Eriq Nor @qirzah: Malaysian politicians insist that Malaysia's crime rate is decreasing. Yet everyday we hear about attacks in car parks and children kidnaped.

Leena Darshini @LeenaDarshini: I wish not to have settled #Malaysia. After hearing the increase in crime rate, how I would wish to live #Doha, it is the safest place.

All these tweets give one a sense that perception or not, Twitterjaya makes it loud and clear - crime is a major concern in Malaysia.

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If the stats are true, why are we more fearful than ever?