When Safety Means Luxury

Recently, I've a high schoolmate who has been working (legally) in Mississippi returned for a holiday after 7 years. I asked her about the safety in the State and she commented that she feel so much safer on the other side than her own country! This is because she heard so many freaking horror experience from her friends about safety in KL. One even encountered near death-taxi robbery in broad daylight! Well ... I'm not surprise.


10 years ago, I've been pick-pocketed @ the downtown bus station while boarding the bus home. No luck on the fella because I caught him in time! My sister got her handphone stolen by pickpockets while boarding the LRT @ KLCC station. A burglar broke into our house in board daylight and stole the money. I have a friend who got attacked and stabbed in front of her own house when she opens the gate to park her car @ 7.30 pm! Thank God she survives.

Most of us have heard or experienced unfortunate incidents. It becomes very frustrating when ...


we freaked out every time we hear the sound of motorcycle approach


we have to hang on to our bag everywhere we go ... cafes, cinema, shopping


we have to look left, look right and back to left not only when crossing the road but also when we have to go beyond our gates


we are driving and hoping that some Mat Kapchais don't pick on us as their next victim!


robbers hijacks car and driver in broad daylight at the busiest street


we hold keys as defense weapon


we have to keep alert and look pass our shoulders to see who is behind us when we are walking alone


we have to choose between stop jogging alone in the park or bring a Rottweiler along


we took away little children's hope to go out and play freely


patrolling policemen on the street is a rare sight to behold (but a nightmare to foreign workers!)


high price gated homes is one of the main selling point from property developers


So when safety becomes a luxury, we have to protect them by all means.


Even if it means we have to install extra locks in our home or paying higher maintenance fees or buying a solid steering lock-cum-weapon for our car, learning self-defense when our bones are cracking up or avoid clubbing when you found out that babe/hunk you are trying to attract will only turn up @ 12 midnite!


Living in constant fear and insecurity sucks folks! My only hope is that one day KL will be nominated as one of the safest city in the world. Is that too much to ask?