31 Jan 2012

Can this be true?

Lots of nasty things have been happening lately in this country - I'm not talking about politically nasty but real, hard core downright nasty and ugly - like the murder and burning of  four people , one a wealthy business woman and the others her lawyer, an accountant and her driver. And to date, even though every one knows who the murderers are, they are still debating about it at court. The main reason is that the bodies have been burned to ashes and thrown into a river so there is little evidence. This is when we wish that CSI is here in Malaysia to help out. Or that defence lawyers have a conscience and not defend so vigorously or that our police are smarter.

Closer to home something else has happened (much too close for comfort actually) - our neighbour's house was burned on the night of December 24 (Christmas eve). It happened at 3 am in the morning when my helper woke up shouting, " Fire! Fire!" I woke up groggily and looked out the window and to my horror she was right. The fire was just next door, a mere 7 feet from our house.

I called out to my neighbours but luckily they were already up and the fire brigade had been called. Meanwhile I used our garden hose and shot some water at the neighbour's flaming window, hosing the water right up to the roof which was already in flames. When the firemen arrived about 5-6 minutes later they put out the fire in less than half an hour but the damage was still quite extensive.Most of the back bedroom was totally burned down and the windows on her kitchen were charred. We all thought it was caused by an electricity short circuit. But horrible news awaited us the next day - it wasn't caused by a short circuit but a deliberate attempt by an arsonist. A wooden stool used to open the kitchen window was found outside and the iron grill was bent inside - which the police said could have been pushed by a crowbar or something similar. There were print marks on the wall that showed parts of a man's shoe.

So who could have done such a thing? Robbers? There was nothing much to steal there because the couple were old pensioners and who would keep money in the house these days? We hardly carry any cash - what we carry is just to buy the necessary. I often wonder what our police are doing to curb such activities. Crime is on the increase and nothing much has been done. I seldom see police cars doing their rounds, especially here in Malacca.

Gone are the days when we can allow our children to walk to the grocer or the pasar malam (night market) for fear they will be abducted, tortured and killed. Remember that little girl whose body was found in a bag and left on the steps of an apartment? Till today the killer has not been apprehended. She only wanted to go to the pasar malam. Just a few months later another little girl went missing and has never been seen again. I shall not state all the horrible things that is happening here nowadays... enough I think that you read just that little bit. But I wish, oh how I wish we had a more competent and efficient police force, better enforcement and a kinder public.

4 comments:

The Chair Speaks said...

Gosh! This is frightening...with the fire so near!
Oh, wish we could have those easy days back with real good food!

Kat said...

yes EJ, its so scary isnt it? I still feel a bit traumatised by the event

Gattina said...

That's a terrible story !! People are getting crazy all over the world ! Could have happened here in Belgium too !

♥●• İzdihër •●♥ said...

strange peeps