New buzzwords in Malaysia: 'Snatch Thieves' and 'Mat Rempit'

It's great to be home. On the surface you think nothing has changed. Everyone at home is the same, I can be as childish and silly as I like and still get away with it with my family. The city looks the same, there are just as many cars and it's as hotter than ever. But underneath it all, there is an underlying feeling of danger.

I can't think of another word. I feel insecure. Whether it is my father sending me all these emails with stories and even live video recordings of robberies, corruption, kidnappings or just reading it in the newspapers here and hearing accounts of it from my mother from incidents involving her friends. The current menace (among many) is the emergence of 'snatch thieves'.

These are unsavoury people who may be dressed decently so you lower your guard and they accost you and grab your handbag. A common MO now is snatching your bag while they are on their motorcycle so they can make a quick getaway. Recently there were two cases of a pregnant women falling victim to snatch thieves while riding their motorbikes.

One fell off the bike afer her bag was pulled from her. She hit her head on the road and went into a coma. Unfortunately she later died in the hospital. Another incident last week also involved a pregnant woman who was on her way to pick up her 8 year old son (1 of 4 children). Her bag was slung over her shoulder while riding he motorbike but 2 snatch thieves on another motorbike pulled at her bag till the straps broke. Their bikes made contact and she fell off onto the road where she was subsequently rammed by a car coming from the opposite direction.

These are all sad stories and only 2 in the last week that made it into the papers. I see reports of the police coming up with plans to get these Mat Rempit and snatch thieves as well as an article where the government is saying that more has to be done to nip this in the bud before they become more bold as it will also affect tourism. Before they become more bold??? Affect tourism??? What about the security of their citizens?

I no longer feel safe even going to a shopping mall and parking my car. Especially with a baby where I have to put her into the car and put away the pram, I would be a prime target for someone aiming to diverse me of my wallet. Sigh... Safety in groups and move fast. Keep keys in hand and look out for anyone in the vicinity. Everyone is a suspect. Stay away from corners and alleys, even between cars.

Such a sad state of affairs.