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Malaysia’s worsening crime record, highlighted by three separate killings yesterday and the closure of one-third of the 2,000 24-hour clinics in the Klang Valley, has  become a major obstacle to investment and economic development  if not checked urgently   Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya, Sunday): Malaysia’s worsening crime record, highlighted by three separate killings yesterday and the closure of one-third of the 2,000 24-hour clinics in the Klang Valley, has  become a major obstacle to investment and economic development  if not checked urgently Yesterday saw three cold-blooded killings, viz: Seremban Municipal Councillor and MCA National Youth committee member, Mah Ann Ann, 42, who  was found murdered, with three slash marks on the head, sprawled in a pool of blood near a Chinese restaurant at Oakland Commercial Square in Seremban at 5.15 am; A petrol station customer, Lim On Chung, 48, was shot in the chest by two robbers at a petrol kiosk in front of Wisma Rampai, Setapak at 7.10 am. At about 1.30am, Ong Cheng Kok, 27, of Selayang Wholesale Market was found dead and his businessman friend badly injured after they were fired at by two unidentified gunmen. At this rate, Malaysia will swiftly gain international notoriety as a country of rampant crime.  That Malaysia, particularly the Klang Valley, has become very dangerous and unsafe place for both personal safety and property has been further underlined by the  revelation that about 30 per cent of the 4,000 licensed 24-hour clinics in Malaysia have stopped operating past midnight because the doctors fear being targeted by criminals. Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr. N. Arumugam said at a public seminar yesterday on physical violence, sexual crimes and abuse of maids in Malaysia that the clinics, mostly  in  the Klang Valley,  resorted to such measures for fear of being robbed by those posing as patients  and that  nurses are afraid to go home at the end of the late shift because they do not feel safe. The relentless double rise in the crime rate and the fear of crime in the past decade, which has destroyed the peace of mind of all Malaysians as  they have lost the fundamental right of personal safety and community security whether  in the streets, public places or their homes, has yet to be taken seriously by the Cabinet, Parliament and the Police.  DAP calls on the Cabinet on Wednesday to send out a clear and unmistakable message that it has placed crime as its topmost national priority with the determination to roll back the crime wave by restoring  to Malaysians their fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime. (18/7/2004) * Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor & DAP National Chairman