PETALING JAYA, Aug 5 — With the escalating number of shootings in the country, there is an unprecedented fear being felt by people on the streets.
A street poll by The Malay Mail yesterday showed that 13 out of the 15 people — both Malaysians and foreigners — interviewed are worried that the country has become increasingly unsafe.
Their concern is not entirely misplaced as the first half of this year saw 22 cases of gun crimes, with eight of them recorded in the past week alone.
A 44-year-old businessman in Kota Kinabalu was the latest victim to be shot dead at 10.15pm on Saturday as he was walking out of a coffee shop in Penampang.
“These cases are terrible. It’s our right to have a safer environment. Something has gone wrong with our country and everything the government does seem to be short term,” said 40-year-old pharmacist Leong Bee Go.
Datin Shireen Sulaiman, a 48-year-old housewife, said she felt the need to be extra vigilant.
“I don’t want to go out at night. There should definitely be extra safety measures implemented. The problem is, the guns can only be curbed if bought locally, but I don’t think we have the resources to prevent people from buying guns internationally and over the Internet,” she said.
B. Vel Murugan, 24, a technical co-ordinator, said: “These crimes are risky for everyone. Even if we aren’t the target, we might get hit.
“Malaysia isn’t a safe place to live in any more. We even have to be weary of motorcyclists on the roads while travelling.”
Bank officer Leong Soon Yee, 30, said she felt unsafe even at home.
“There is nothing that the people can do to stay safe, no matter where they are. The police need to be more responsible for the safety of the public,” she said.
Chinese national Edgar Gong, a 33-year-old sales executive living here with his young family for the past year, is also concerned about the security situation.
“At first we only thought we had to be cautious about snatch thefts and rogue cabbies. They should have a stricter monitoring system around here, it is much safer in Shanghai,” he said.
In Ipoh, where two gunmen killed 25-year-old Jasrafveendejeet Singh and injured two others at a restaurant on July 28, the public’s reaction was no different.
“I have become overly cautious when I return home late at night. Before I get out of my car, I check my surroundings a few times, fearing someone may be there. This fear has made me suspicious of everyone,” said businessman S.S. Kumar, 55, from Buntong.
Steven Chaw, 30, an office administrator, said although he went out as usual, he was now more alert when sitting in the open.
“I know I am not a target as I have no enemies but I am afraid of being an innocent victim by being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.
A 26-year-old language teacher, V. Aswini, said he now avoided travelling alone and would go out with friends or family.
This was what others had to say:
Nurul Ain Azizan, 26, teacher: “Malaysia is not safe anymore, there are shooting incidents everywhere. I can’t understand where they get their guns from.”
Nor Hasni Ahmad, 26, architect: “The police are slacking, laws are not enforced and people are obviously being targetted in the open. This has to stop.”
R. Sasikumar, 25, businessman: “Gun crimes are commonplace now. No matter how strong the police force is, I feel there is nothing we can do.”
Nadia Rajaram, 26, student: “I don’t feel safe at all. I’ve been away four years and I can only say it’s worsened. I would not take the risk of walking at night in Malaysia.”
Hadaya Mokhtar, 38, senior technician: “There are motives behind all the shootings. I feel threatened but I still feel that Malaysia is safe.”
Tison J.F., 40, welding engineer, French national: “It may not be safe but I don’t feel it affects me in particular. I think it’s the same everywhere and in any city, even in France. We should give the police time to do their work. It isn’t exactly magic, you can’t find the perpetrators instantly.”
Koh Teng Soon, 35, lecturer: “It is shocking, these things should not be happening in Malaysia. It has become unsafe in our country.”
