The "helpful" Malaysian - an endangered species

Another letter to the editor highlights how “helpful” Malaysians are in light of the recent tragic snatch theft case in Penang. The writer felt that it is not too late to change and the act of helping others must be inculcated from young.

I'm still perplexed on the reasons why Malaysians have come to this “helpful” stage. Parents countrywide seem to go overboard giving the best that money can buy to ensure that their children are not deprived of the latest in their physical, mental and emotional development.

At first glance that should be enough preparation to give the child a head start and grow up being a responsible and caring adult. Responsible maybe but the caring part is a bit difficult. That part comes from examples set by the adults and practical lessons since young.

The nuclear family is becoming the norm with both parents working and the child left in someone else's care. The time spent with the child has become less and exposure to others in an extended family is rare. Meanwhile, neighbours barely acknowledge each other as time is money and each of us are in such a hurry to accumulate as much wealth as possible.

When would be the time for the child to observe and absorb that caring trait. Most probably from the mass media, the television, cinema and internet. All those flickering images, at most for about two hours are still images.

The reality is different. Has the child ever been thought to give precedence to those less fortunate? The aged or disabled? As far as I can see, most parents just tug the child away from this group of people so as to avoid any close contact. Those less fortunate are an anomaly to be cast away from the utopian view of a perfect world.

They might be willing to visit an old folks home or an orphanage during certain occasions but in their daily lives, the less fortunate are not in their world view. Images of poverty or hunger have become so common, that we have become immune and unable to relate to them. We switch to the denial mode.

We have not been thought how to react and show empathy or be compassionate when the situation warrants it. We can have as many lessons in school or at home but when we avoid giving that helping hand in real life, the “helpful” Malaysian comes to the fore.

Image from teamsnap

Pregnant lady kept standing

No one giving up their seat to a pregnant lady is not strange. It has become more and more common. Sometimes in the bus or LRT, even the women folk do not give up their seat for those more deserving.

The lady in the letter to the editor was seven months pregnant and was attending an investment seminar where she assumed the audience to be at least more enlightened on the predicaments of a pregnant woman. That was not to be.

She mentioned that “All attendees were educated and I would say were mostly highly educated and yet there was no compassion and human values.”

Yes, that is the crux of the matter. Compassion and human values are becoming less common compared to the pursuit of material wealth. A pregnant lady? Is that any concern of others?

I guess many have forgotten all of us have mothers and they did carry us in their wombs for nine months. Can't we forget for a moment our own tiredness and give up that seat for the pregnant lady.  

I don't have an answer on how to change this attitude of being uncaring to those in need. Education has always been held as the answer but as the lady said, she believed that those attending the event were educated. In that case, those in that room would be able to think and have some common sense and empathy for a pregnant lady. That did not happen.

Will it ever change? If the educated themselves do not lend a hand to those in need, there must be something wrong with the education that they received. A revamp is needed on what we teach our children. The emphasis should not be just that string of As, but also the human values and compassion necessary as member of a society. The moral or religious education classes might help but the adults' examples at home and in society at large is a great influence.

A change in the mind-set is needed or else the children will definitely grow up to be uncaring adults.


The letter in full:


I AM about seven months pregnant. I attended “Invest Malaysia 2012” which was held in Shangri-la recently.


I made the trip as I was interested to listen to our Prime Minister speak on “Capitalise on Asean’s multinational marketplace”.


The event was attended mostly by professionals or working people in the investment community.


I could not find a seat and it was just too crowded. I stood near all the seated attendees for almost half-an-hour (near the side entrance), hoping that someone would be kind enough to offer me a seat.


Unfortunately, no one volunteered.


As I could not stand any longer with my big belly, I left the event after half-an-hour. It was painful to think how our society has changed.


All attendees were educated and I would say were mostly highly educated and yet there was no compassaion and human values.


I guess perhaps it is time that our Government does something, e.g. emphasise more on moral values in our education system or to do some activities that encourage people to be more compassionate and courteous in treating others, especially the weaker ones.


All these can be done through the media and education system and it has to start from young.


TAN PM
Kuala Lumpur

Image from babytidings

The police should be the "mata-mata" again

The suggestion that police foot patrols will help boost security has its merits.

At the moment we see quite a few pondok polis in our neighbourhoods and we notice some policemen making their rounds on their motorcycles or cars. The ones on foot are not common.

I've only seen some at the Bukit Bintang shopping area and their presence does make us feel more secure. They seem approachable and always willing to give a helping hand. A positive image indeed. Nevertheless, the police beat base is still relevant as the most convenient one stop centre to ask questions or make reports.

Unfortunately the police force would not be able to accommodate all areas that need them. That would require more manpower which we could ill afford as their job is not just to patrol a certain area. Random walkabouts would be most welcomed and at least they will be able to get feedback on what is happening on the ground.

Once upon a time the police were also called “mata-mata”, literally the eyes. They can be seen making their rounds and was a part of the community. Children were even cautioned by their parents that the mata-mata will catch them if they misbehave. That threat is so old-fashioned and no longer carries any weight in this time and age.

The mata-mata is not in our midst any more so we are unable to have that emotional link with the police force. They are not just there to help us during troubled times but can be a dependable friend at other times as well.

The police should embrace the mata-mata spirit again and become our friend, a part of us.

Image from oldman40k2003

More employment means less crime

The opinion in the letter to the editor titled “How to bring the crime rate down” is food for thought. The writer believes that if everyone has a job then the crime rate will go down. I think this has some merit since a job would translate into money in the pocket which indirectly means the person would have less reason to commit a crime.

We are just talking about the numerous snatch thefts and break-ins that are reported daily in the media. These are preventable if everyone has an equal opportunity to have a decent wage instead of being sidelined by employers.

The official statistics might show the country has achieved almost full employment but more often than not ordinary folks are struggling to make ends meet especially those living in urban areas. The subsidies do help but it does not solve the basic problem of low wages compared to high daily living expenses.

The worst affected group are those ignored by employers even for menial jobs. They are the most likely candidate to try their hand at making a living from crime. The spate of physical attacks on the victims is a symptom of desperation to get whatever they can at whatever cost.

They have lost all considerations for the targeted victims as their main aim and ultimate goal is to get that handbag or anything of value on that person. The victim's struggle is a normal reaction from  anyone who has been surprised by an attack. Unfortunately the more the victim struggles, the more hard hearted and determined the robber would be. He changes to a totally different person in a split second and the victim gets the brunt of his outburst.

Yes, employment would definitely give at least some hope to those in dire situations. They would at least be assured that they will be able to afford their daily meals. Sad to say but employment would not be the solution to white collar crimes. That is another story.

Image from jonpackapproves

The staircase at KL Sentral station

I could not agree more with the sentiments in the letter to the editor which highlighted the pasar malam atmosphere at the KL Sentral station. The letter mentioned the rows of temporary kiosks filling the concourse area at Level 1 which not only obstructs the flow of commuters using the station, it is also a definite hazard in times of emergency. The huge signage for the other conncting modes of transport are also hidden by some of the kiosks.

I feel one of the major flaws of the station is the exit for passengers going to Jalan Tun Sambanthan. I'm not sure why there is only one staircase and an elevator catering to the thousands who use that route daily.

The station was originally planned without the buses waiting at the ground level. That in itself should not have been the reason for having only one staircase for a central station. At present I can see work being done to have a bridge to the next station. When it is completed we still have just one staircase to go to the ground floor if we want to take the bus to the airport or taxis to other parts of the city.

I do wonder how the architect envisioned the whole KL Sentral complex. Was that one staircase not to be used at all? If that is the case, pedestrians would use the road meant for motor vehicles which goes downwards to Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

I am a pedestrian and having that one staircase has always been the bane of any visit to KL Sentral. At least I can still walk but I can see the disappointed faces of those with problems when they see that staircase.

That staircase deserves the accolade of being the most unfriendly path at a public building in Kuala Lumpur.

Image from wikipedia

Will the taxi service in Kuala Lumpur ever improve?

The headline “Taxi drivers not using meters nothing new” in a letter to the editor is a fact of life in Kuala Lumpur. The writer mentioned his experience when working in the city in the mid-90s and  he is taken aback that nothing has changed during his recent visit.

The mid-90s until now would cover a period of at least 20 years and since the situation has remained the same, is there any hope at all that it will change in the immediate future? The chances of an improvement in the service seems very dim even with the recent tyre subsidy and personal accident scheme under the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia (TR1Ma) programme.

Has any officers from the Land Transport Commission (SPAD) gone to the ground and tried using the taxis in Kuala Lumpur?

Anyone going down the staircase at KL Sentral towards the area where the buses and taxis are waiting for passengers would be able to see and hear the haggling that continues between the taxi drivers and their potential customers. The same scene is repeated at many other taxi stands eg, Pasar Seni, KLCC and the LRT stations.

That has not stopped even with the no haggling and metered taxi stickers plastered on the taxi doors. Those notices are just for display after so much promise that the situation will improve after the grand launch of the stickers. The majority of taxis have that sticker but it does not mean anything.

Passengers are usually advised to just open the door and get into the taxi when they are successful in attracting the attention of the taxi driver that is driving along a road. Unfortunately, in reality the passenger will be asked first where is his destination and if it is to the agreement of the taxi driver, then and only then can the passenger get inside the taxi.

Most often the passengers will try to persuade the taxi driver to take them to their destination even if he is at first reluctant to do so. That is the time when the bargaining starts. The fare quoted would be at least double the metered fare as the taxi driver knows that even after bargaining, he will still make a profit.

I've also never understood why the traffic conditions has been used umpteen times as an excuse not to take passengers to a certain destination. The traffic conditions in Bangkok and Jakarta is worse but the taxi drivers still take the passengers and use the meter.

I do not foresee any improvement in our taxi service in the foreseeable future until a major revamp of the whole system has been implemented. That would be another story.

Image from hotelkualalumpur

Smartphones can reveal secrets

The headline “Man discovers wife’s infidelity after she accidentally calls him during sex” should be a lesson to those planning to have a fling behind their partner's back. According to the news item, the wife accidentally dialled the husband's number on her touch-screen smart phone as she was having sex with her lover, just in time for the husband to hear her breathing heavily on the line.

I guess the lovers were in such a passionate moment that she did not realise that her phone was nearby. The lovers did not plan their time together in detail and did not cover all possibilities. Most probably the thrill of being caught might even have a role here. Unconsciously perhaps, the wife wanted to be found out and it is her way of informing her husband that their marriage is not what it used to be.

In a way, this is quite a good advertisement for smartphones. It shows how easy it is to dial a number when we have a smartphone even when we are in the throes of passion. It is also a reminder to anyone that the phone should not be too near you while engaging in something that should be a private affair in case you accidentally dialled a friend or family member. Unless of course you purposely want your love-making to be made public.

Another astounding fact from this particular story is the excuse that the lover gave when caught in the closet. The lover told the police he was visiting the woman, an old friend, and had gone into the closet to masturbate when she was having a shower.

Can anyone beat that as an excuse?



The full news item taken from the Star 30 June 2012 is below:

A NEWLY-WED woman in Taiwan accidentally dialled her husband's number on her touch-screen smart phone as she was having sex with her lover, just in time for the husband to hear her breathing heavily on the line, reported Kwong Wah Yit Poh.


The husband, only known as Zhang, rushed home after he received the call at work, thinking that his wife could be in trouble.


However, the engineer was shocked to find his wife sitting on their marital bed only in her undergarments. The blanket was also missing.


The wife told Zhang that she had taken off the bed linens to wash them and was about to take a shower.


Suspecting something amiss, Zhang searched the house and found a man, wrapped in the blanket, inside the guest room closet.


“My heart was broken,” he said, adding that he had seen the man's photo in his wife's Facebook profile.


He later lodged a police report.


At the police station, Zhang's wife claimed that the man was merely visiting as she was going for a shower after cleaning the house.


The lover meanwhile told the police he was visiting the woman, an old friend, and had gone into the closet to masturbate when she was having a shower. 

Image from clker

Racism

A timely letter to the editor appeared in the Star, 6 February 2012 notwithstanding all the sloganeering we are bombarded with from the ruling government of the day. The heading of the letter “No place for racism here” is most appropriate and must be repeated continuously until it becomes a natural part of our lives.

The writer mentioned a teacher who said that the word racist does not exist. This statement was in response to an incident in her class. How does the word not exist if the action perperated by a group of people continue to emphasise the differences between the races. If the word does not exist, there will be other words to describe that charcteristic of a group of people who feel superior to other groups.

Differences between groups of people are part and parcel of human diversity. The difference does not make one group superior to the other but it is more of a marker of where and how each group acclimatised itself to its environment. History shows communities growing in places which might not be hospitable at first glance and the effects of adjusting to different locales would produce a different approach to living.

Malaysia as a melting pot of so many groups would host a myriad of colours and creed, each bringing their past history and adjusting to the new landscape. Later generations would still have that link to the their ancestors in the way they perceive and approach an issue. These differences are a positive addition to the nation's collective memory. A basis to foster unity and strengthen the bond between the people.

The combative approach does not bode well for the nation's progress. The better way would be to embrace the plurality which is a fact of life of the nation and emphasise the positves that each group can contribute to the nation.

Image from wikipedia

Penduduk tetap atau rakyat negara tetangga

Membaca rencana yang tersiar di akhbar The Star 18 September 2010 mungkin pada mulanya tidak memberi apa-apa kesan pada kita, rakyat Malaysia.

Perenggan tentang satu rancangan radio di Singapura membuka mata. Program itu berhubung kenyataan Menteri Kanan Singapura, Goh Chok Tong bahawa kerajaan akan menghubungi kumpulan penduduk tetap yang terpilih di negara itu yang akan digalakkan mendapatkan taraf kerakyatan. Mengikut katanya, jika mereka tidak mahu menjadi rakyat negara tersebut, status penduduk tetap tidak akan diperbaharui.

Program radio itu mendapat banyak panggilan daripada penduduk tetap negara tersebut terutama sekali yang berasal dari Malaysia mengkritik kenyataan Goh Chok Tong. Ramai di antara rakyat Malaysia yang disoal sama ada mereka akan memilih kerakyatan Singapura berbanding status penduduk tetap, menjawab mereka tidak akan memilih kerakyatan negara tersebut dengan memberi alasan bahawa keluarga mereka masih di Malaysia.

Ada pemanggil yang menyatakan bahawa dia datang ke negara tersebut untuk mencari wang dan tertarik dengan standard hidup yang lebih tinggi tetapi lambat-laun akan pulang juga ke negara asalnya. Seorang expatriat pula menyatakan bahawa sejumlah kecil sahaja expatriat yang akan menjadikan pulau kecil itu sebagai tempat tinggal tetap mereka walaupun pulau itu terkenal mewah dan makmur.

Memang pelbagai alasan diberikan kenapa penduduk tetap tidak mahu menjadi rakyat jiran tetangga kita. Bukankah ini satu bukti kesetiaan dan cintanya rakyat Malaysia terhadap tanah air mereka sendiri walaupun kebanyakan daripada mereka yang berkerja di sana adalah dari kumpulan yang sering dilabel kaun pendatang. Malahan pada masa ini, semakin banyak pula rakyat negara ini daripada kumpulan bumiputra yang mencari nafkah bukan sahaja di Singapura bahkan di negara-negara lain di dunia.

Mereka berhijrah ke negeri orang bukan kerana tidak sayangkan tanah tumpah darah mereka tetapi keadaan negara pada masa ini seolah-olah mengusir mereka ke tempat lain. Situasi ini adalah yang sama dialami oleh negara-negara jiran kita yang menyaksikan ramai rakyat mereka bersusah-payah datang ke sini mencari rezeki. Ramai rakyat Malaysia walau ke hujung dunia pun masih tertambat hatinya ke negara kelahiran mereka. Keadaan dalam negeri sendiri banyak mempengaruhi keputusan mereka untuk ke luar negara.

Memang mudah untuk yang berfikiran sempit melabel mereka yang ke luar negara sebagai pembelot, penderhaka atau sekurang-kurangnya tidak mengenang budi. Tetapi jika segala titik peluh mereka sering dipandang sinis, seolah-olah ada rencana besar mahu mengambil alih hak bumiputra, tentu sekali mereka yang ke luar negara berhak berbuat demikian. Kumpulan bukan bumiputra digalakkan menyumbang segala ikhtiar dan usaha mereka dalam proses pembangunan negara tetapi sumbangan dan penat lelah itu jarang sekali dinobatkan atau diberi penghargaan sewajarnya.

Hanya konco-konco atau mereka yang mempunyai hubungan dengan pihak pemerintah diberi muka. Bagaimana pula nasib kumpulan menengah atau yang masih kais pagi makan pagi. Kumpulan ini tidak terhad kepada bumiputra sahaja tetapi merangkumi semua. Oleh itu, tentu sekali apabila ada peluang mencari rezeki di tempat lain, ia tidak disia-siakan. Tempat lain memberi segala kemudahan dan peluang untuk maju terus. Berbekalkan usaha dan iltizam, kejayaan boleh dicapai tidak seperti di negara sendiri yang mewujudkan pelbagai kekangan dan halangan.

Bilakah pemerintah akan sedar bahawa negara bukan sahaja kehilangan penduduk dari kumpulan yang dilabel pendatang tetapi sedikit demi sedikit yang bukan pendatang pun, iaitu bumiputra tidak senang dengan keadaan semasa dan mengangkat kaki ke luar negara sebagai tanda protes. Memang hujan emas di negeri orang, lebih baik di negeri sendiri, tetapi sampai bilakah kita sanggup dibuai janji-janji kosong.

Penduduk negara ini semakin berpandangan luas dan tidak mudah dikotak-katikkan oleh puak-puak yang mahukan kekayaan negara hanya untuk mereka dan yang bersekutu dengannya. Sampai bila kita akan dipandang remeh, seolah-olah masih anak-anak, dihujani dolak-dalik, alasan demi alasan. Kita semua adalah rakyat Malaysia, bukan pendatang. Kalau hendak bertegang urat tentang takrif siapa yang datang dulu ke tanah air ini, hanya Orang Asal yang berhak mendabik dada tanpa was-was.

Pucuk pimpinan pada masa ini tidak menunjukkan kesungguhan menangani isu penghijrahan rakyat ke luar negara. Alangkah sedihnya bahawa mereka tidak sedar betapa negara kerugian besar. Manusia adalah aset paling berharga sesebuah negara. Lihat sahajalah jiran tetangga kita yang dikatakan hanya sebesar noktah. Aset manusia merekalah dan sebilangan besar adalah dari Malaysia yang membawa mereka ke mercu kejayaan. Tanpa apa-apa sumber hasil sendiri, mereka berjaya melangkau jauh ke depan, sebaris negara-negara maju yang lain.

Malang sekali bagi kita, Malaysia semakin ketinggalan. Hasil negara entah ke mana, tidak dimanfaatkan sebaik-baiknya untuk semua golongan di serata pelusok dan daerah. Kita bertungkus-lumus membangunkan negara walaupun sumbangan kita tidak seberapa. Tentu sekali kita juga berhak menikmati hasilnya. Kita semua memang berhak ke atas kekayaan nagara ini. Bukan untuk golongan tertentu sahaja tetapi terbukti hanya peratusan kecil terus-menerus menikmati kemewahan dan tidak pula mereka rasa bersalah. Memang, perasaan bersalah itu tidak mungkin wujud dalam diri mereka kerana apa yang lebih penting ialah mengaut keuntungan sebanyak mungkin secepat mungkin selagi hayat masih ada.

Tamak dan haloba itulah panduan hidup kumpulan ini.

House auction ruled unlawful

 This news item appeared in the Star, 14 May 2010. I've highlighted some parts which I find interesting.




JOHOR BARU: A woman whose apartment was auctioned off by a bank after she failed to settle her instalments of RM1,385.17 six years ago was awarded RM25,000 in damages by a magistrate’s court here.

In her statement of claim filed in the High Court in 2006, Metildah Louis Angel Perix, 51, said she had taken a RM23,750 loan from RHB Bank to buy a low-cost apartment in Taman Rinting in 1999.

However, she was unable to settle her instalments amounting to RM1,385 between May 2004 and November 2004 due to personal and health problems.

After receiving a telegram from the bank about the arrears, Metildah had paid a partial sum of RM500 in January 2005.

She was shocked that the bank had auctioned off the house together with all her belongings on March 2005.

Her claim, filed through lawyers R. Jeyabalan and K. Bharathi, to nullify the auction, sought RM14,543 in damages for her belongings and RM28,000 for the apartment.

Magistrate Khairulnadiah Hasmi ruled that the auction was unlawful and awarded Metildah RM25,000 in damages.

The bank was represented by lawyer Norlinda Lasri.

Metildah said she was happy that she had gotten something back as she spent almost RM30,000 renovating the house.

“I do not understand why my house was auctioned off when just a small amount of money was owed to the bank,” she said.