Social security in Kuching

I haven't been reading Sarawak based newspaper for the past months due to super 'attraction' to local politics movement which I normally view online.

Just happened that i picked up today's Eastern Times and basically there are 2 groups of news making local headline: Local political scene, Robbery and road accidents. Let me just summarise the robbery cases reported:

COMMON CASE: House break-in (under the sun light or under the moon light who cares!!!), snatching
NEW SCENARIO: A group of friends having meal at Open Market was robbed by 3 guys at knife point!!! KNN, just imagine you are robbed (and you are not alone!!!) while having meal at the most open and frequented by people.

Just happened that a friend of mine today shared this recent news in Kuching that protection money is being demanded from a local pub and upon friendly gestures of the pub manager who offered free drinks to the gangster instead of money, the poor fellow was beaten up and landed in ICU. This has been headlined in local chinese newspaper.

Where is social security nowadays?

My darling used to say, 'Honey, who are you going to have drinks tonight?' 'Friends lah, of course!', I replied. 'Don't stay up too late yah, many bad guys nowadays.', she said. 'Aiya I'm with friends mah. Where got alone? Why worry when I'm not alone? Go to Open market eat beef noodle and drink soya bean only', I lamented.

I think I'm having second thoughts now whenever I want to go out nowadays especially at night. It's very sad because Kuching, once a peaceful city is now a dungeon of robbers and gangsters. BTW, I felt sick after reading all these negative news. No wonder my buddies migrate to overseas one by one.

Are our authorities doing enough or have the crime rate increased exponentially? Are the punishment severe enough in order to deter the convicts committing the same case again?