But Who is Watching Big Brother?

There is a proposal by the police to install cameras in many places so that catching errant motorists and criminals can be done more easily.

While I agree that installing some cameras in crime-infested areas of cities may be effective, having too many cameras may make the police more complacent and reluctant to go on the beat.

There is also the matter of invasion of privacy. My approach to such a project would be to start in the cities to test the effectiveness and also a few areas along the main trunk roads where most fatal accidents occur because of dangerous driving like overtaking across double lines and around sharp corners.

However one area that should be under proper surveillance and closed circuit TV should be what goes on in police lockups and jails. The recordings should be sent directly to Internal Affairs and a Parliamentary Committee as a control measure.

This week alone, we have had two cases of prisoner abuse. The Chinese woman married to a Malaysian has already been highlighted and now we have a transsexual being subject to grave humiliation.

However, the Women, Family and Community Development Family Ministry appears to be more humane and has even offered shelter and counseling to such cases.

Sexual orientation problems are nothing new and have been around for thousands of years. What is happening now is that people have become more open.

photo: http://www.swissinfo.org/xobix_media/images/keystone/2005/keyimg20050714_5943052_1.jpg