I read with interest the report in NST Nov 8th 2004 pertain a supposedly ground-breaking study of incest offender in Msia.
While I have no professional opinion to offer for the methodology used and the results of the studies I do have a question towards the statement of the Associate Professor who says:
"This phenomenon illustrates that lack of religious beliefs would make an individual prone to be engaged in this immoral behaviour.
The learned Proffessor, by virtue of the professorship, is a man of science, therefore, his statement attributing or acquainting immoral behaviour as a lack of religious belief just doesnt jive.
Here he is, using a scientific methodology (my assumption) to do a research is suggesting that an individual who has committed such heinous crime as forcing their own daugther(s) or niece(s) to submit, would not have done so if only they are more religious???
MAybe the learned prof have not been reading the news for awhile, for only very recently during the Australian Authority crackdown on child phonography code-named Operation Auxin roped in not only your average joe but the offender includes Priests as well as the various uniform bodies which is sworn to protect the public.
We can also find from the web many examples of individual of different faiths who have chosen to devote their life to their respective religion yet commit crimes of a sexual nature.
So, is it true that having a religious belief will automatically disqualified one from being a sexual perpetrator?
Unfortunately, the answer is not that clear cut becos humans have a complex and highly evolved brain which they used to the fullest be it to commit crime or to do good. And all this too, irregardless of whether one have undergone minimal or the highest education or no education at all!
For centuries psychologist and philosopher have tried to categorise man as, for example, an Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph or an Introvert or Extrovert and associate each category with a specific personality.
Today, in law enforcement agencies, the commonly terms being used are Profiling.
But where did all this categorising and profiling leads to? No where, it seemed.
Crime of all kind is on the increase instead of the other way round. We dont only have nuts who killed without provocation we also have nuts who kill because of religion.
So it would be a wonderful world to live in if only life is as straight forward and simplistic in nature as the learned professor seemed to propose.
Going by his learned theory then, we should be able to make Msia a crime free country in the world by inducing all criminals and potentials criminal of all kind into the world of religion! Voila! Problem solved! Case closed.
13 comments:
Typically conservative, but this of course is arguable.
The Prof, being of a different generation, equates the notion of being religious in the full sense of the word - total submission.
Which while may be what we're lacking is a somewhat myopic way of describing todays' convoluted little world.
Total submission or not - wearing a robe to potray oneself as a holyman or meditating every day in the remotest part of a forest - these are but outward projection to convince ourself and others that yes indeed we are religious.
But the question is, can a man contain his five senses and desires, that give rise to all this socially unacceptable position?
Wearing a monk robe or acting and preaching like a religious man obviously is unable to tame the subliminal urge inside.
Like trying to force an inflated ballon into the water - so long as we still have the strenght everything is well but soon as we stop pushing, the ballon will spring out and up uncontrollably.
What need to be done is to deflate the air then we can do what we need to the ballon.
Likewise, instead of forcing or preaching to people to embrace religion with the express intention of not living a life of crime - we shld understand instead start with education.
Malaysia has one of the lowest tax rates in the world. Our foreign investment has been dwindling since China and Vietnam opening its doors.
If one takes poison a little bit a day, he will feel sick and die young unless he stops taking it before it is too late.
NEP is a poison, and it is the source of all troubles facing the Bolehland before our eyes. Bolehland will get weaker as its natural resources get depleted.
Most of its citizens are only strong in consumption activities and pretty soon - Burma would be ahead of us economically. Burma will surely thank Umno for the easy contest.
It is a sorry state of affair. We have already lost so many talents to Singapore. The really capable people do not get any chance in this Bolehland.
The future is bleak, however good enough for mediocre - those who have no ambition, at least for the time being.
In reality, we want to ask: How long this thing will go on? Malaysia will eventually lose out to most other Asia members. It is just a matter of time.
I fail to understand when we are probably spending a few billion dollars to "cure" MAS, then there is Proton, Bank Negara screw ups and cannot forget Pewaja steel?
We can't ignore all the fail projects too……….a few millions here a few millions there will add up to a pretty penny.
Where does all this money comes from? Petronas? EPF? And how all this money flowing out still translates to a 5% growth in GDP?
In Bolehland, everything is ok. We accept everything graciously.
Corruption no problem. GLCs losses no problem. Police abuse no problem. Sex scandal no problem.
This MAS loss is not the first or the last, also no problem.
We also have accepted same present government ever since independence that created all these wonderful news without problem too.
This is Bolehland. Everything boleh. Keep it up Bolehland people.
Now, people like us have to bail them out……….No wonder, no wonder one says we have 1st class facility but 3rd class mentality. (I think we are worst than that……….)
What we are actually concerned is a system whereby bumis and non-bumis could find a reasonable living together, and equal opportunity for development in our own country.
The amount of money wasted, and siphoned out is so huge that perhaps if the fund is managed properly, today you and I need not to pay any income tax.
And if people demand changes, the politicians in power would use racial issue to manipulate and threaten to shut the people off.
As what one always says to me: "Freedom and fairness is not free, you have to fight for it!"
I left the country some 20 years ago. I am very glad I made that decision. My children got the education they desired and both enjoying their chosen professions after completing university studies.
I enjoy tremendously living and contributing to my adopted country. I am an IT professional, so are many of my friends who left Malaysia with me in the 1980s.
Most of our children are professionals in their own rights. They earned their places in the society on their own merits. Many of them are in the engineering, financial, IT, legal and medical professions.
Dare I say many of them won various scholarships throughout their academic pursuits. Oh Malaysia! You don't know how much you have lost���.
If you are emigrating for your kids education, you have made a right decision. Remember your kids will be influenced by the good and bad values overseas.
The ideal age for emigration is 16 years old or less. That is why your kids will make it in their careers and settle down successfully overseas.
Well done - Welcome to western culture where there are:
1. Equal opportunity regardless or race or religion
2. Environmental Awareness
3. Government subsidised healthcare
4. Government subsidised tertiary education as well as primary and secondary schools
5. Higher quality living
6. Protection of the labour market via enforced minimum wage across all industry sectors
7. Social welfare standards
8. Unconditional democracy
I would never come back to Malaysia. It sucks���.control of malays. They have no rights for Chinese or whatsoever. The Chinese, Indians and other races worked hard to pay their tax while the malays just spend it. Where is the right?
I did watch a documentary on the history of Singapore���.few days ago���.There is an incident of the joining of Singapore and Malaysia.
The main reason Mr Lee Kuan Yew doesn't want to join with Malaysia is because Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted the malays to stay power on the political side and the others be second class citizens.
If during that time Tunku Abdul Rahman were to treat everyone the same���.Malaysia will be as rich and famous as Singapore today.
Truth hurts.
No matter what the government is doing about the education system and for many years it has put across a system starting with quota and then matriculation and now meritocracy, to me it meant just another dead end that has polarised the malays as outnumbering other races in the value good only in quantity than in quality. The result is unemployment amongst the malays in big numbers.
We have a situation that the government we choose is fulfilling their promises by providing the malays with the privilege regimes, but not the future.
The point is while you provide the platform for the malays to take off and fly high, there is no place for the malays to land, so we have to search for a landing ground and crash-land anywhere we can and hope for the best.
We have a situation now where our politicians are quick to use this as the bullets to shoot back at the malays for failing to make use of the advantages. Just where are the advantages the malays have if only few of us did really make the grade to become peers amongst other races who have not the privileges but have proven themselves at far greater pace?
If the professional malays are good in their command of English, the malays too may one day be employed out of Malaysia and that is a real advantage to say the least.
I have a vision that if our learning medium is English, we can have a true Malaysian legacy of education system without class or strata where the future generation of malays and other races of Malaysia no longer talk about issue of privileges, but working together to generate world class citizens by using and mastering that single language of education.
We have to sacrifice our ideals for the sake of our future Malaysian school going generations.
The malay race is not racing with other races of Malaysians to live in Malaysia. We should build a Malaysian race to race with other nations of the world to achieve the vision 2020 of one developed nation.
For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia. Life in Malaysia is getting tougher each day.
Frankly, as a Chinese, I don't see there is any future for our next generation.
Another dangerous mentor that people always use is JFK "Don't ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country".
Is sound nice, but isn't how German Nazi and Japan militarism started the world war using the same mentor? Under the great "ask what you can do for the country".
Patriotism? Yes, I understand how you feel. Your love for the country was spoilt by the political party. Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries, if not better.
You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.
As someone else advised, be a Global citizen.
Patriotism does not need you to be in Malaysia to work your due. Let no one pointed at you and say you are a traitor if your true intention is to generate good deeds for Malaysia wherever you are.
Save your time about coming back to Malaysia. Nothing will change in Malaysia. At least not even in this lifetime. Racism will still be here to stay, and also everything else.
I think there is such an entrenched discrimination against the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, that it will take probably a whole generation to undo the damage.
This is happening in whole spectrum of the Malaysian government, civil service, state governments and universities. Just look at percentage of malays in all these government bodies - 98%……….
A whole generation of malays has been brought up to think that it's their inherited right to own Malaysia. The other races are damned.
I think the malays especially those in power, are scared right now that if they will to compete openly with other races, they will surely be the loser. You will see very strong resistance to hire other races even the most qualified.
The malays are never brought up to compete on even ground. This is fault of previous PM and now the present PM has to tread a balance ground to ensure the malays are not cast away as well as to make Malaysia competitive worldwide.
In US I never met a malay immigrant, although there are thousands of Malaysian Chinese and Indian immigrants. Why? Malays in Malaysia have an easier life where they are literately prince of the land.
We have infrastructure good enough to be considered first world or better. Look at the Cyberjaya, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya?
Gleaming high-rise buildings but also in every city, dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. We just treat public facilities badly, not caring about others.
Being an urban dweller myself, I am constantly disheartened by the poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.
Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), un-integrated and poorly managed public transportation system, the list goes on.
Your children can't even walk safely along the Kuala Lumpur streets, as they might be bags snatched, kidnapped, murdered, raped, or robbed, as they do not know the jungle laws of Malaysia. The police won't help much as they now have a big pile of corruption cases running after them.
You owe nothing to Malaysia, you pay your due, so live on.
So, my last advice. Don't come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.
I'm sorry this sounds very racist but I think we have to be honest in discussion.
People who are still staying in Malaysia were taken as fool by the government in many ways:
1) Social
2) Laws
3) Economics
Government also thinks Malaysia has provided the best of all for the Chinese immigrants from China. But it was not true, I regretted that my grandparents went to Penang and didn't take the ship to San Francisco. Well, they have no choice because as they only had to East South Asia instead of San Francisco.
People who went to North America were other Chinese.
Vietnamese who left Vietnam in the 70s are better off now in North America. I think about my people in Malaysia and I am very sad.
Chinese Malaysians are not treated with respect by the malay-led government. I suggest Chinese demand for greater freedom and demand all the way.
Until government accepted and give in to your demand, and if they refused, all who are persecuted by the Malaysia laws can apply to be refugees in Canada.
Vietnamese refugees have received better treatment from Canada when I compared it to the treatment received by us - the Chinese in the malay-led country - A racist nation until today.
When you apply at any port-of-entry (airport/ boarder/seaport) to be refugee claimant, you are treated with respect.
Immigration will be processed. You will also receive monthly welfare money until you have established yourself or family.
I think this alternative provide an avenue for all Chinese who are stuck in Malaysia to demand full recognition from the malay. Chinese always hold back and too afraid to speak out. With this refugee system available in Canada, you should speak out and if the government played you out, you can come here.
Many people in the world are using this way to speak up and get better freedom back home. One very good example was 'Tienanmen' activists, they were granted refugee status not only Canada but also USA.
When you speak up for your own right, you stand to win. Regardless of which way you take - in Malaysia (political activist) or ended up in Canada as refugee.
Chinese in Malaysia, don't be a fence sitter.
Congratulations to you who have found happiness in your adopted country. You have made the wise decision indeed to emigrate, and surely you and your family are enjoying every moment in of it in your newly adopted country.
No doubt things are bad back home in Malaysia, especially those who are not born with the right skin color. Given the chance, I'm sure all the unprivileged ones would like to move away forever and forget about the mess back home.
Alas, not everyone is that lucky. Migrating to a first world country is not easy (why should it be?). Most importantly, you need to have money. I'm sure most of you started off your journey away from home with a tertiary education at a university in your adopted country. How many people in Malaysia can afford to send their children to study overseas?
I'm sure you can't emigrate just by telling the Australian immigration that you like their country so much and you were treated badly by Malaysia, at least not legally.
In the animal kingdom, animals migrate for food and water. Similarly looking at the history, migration actually is a natural process in which mankind has continuously looked for greener pasture. Very few countries (maybe none) actually maintain pure single race especially at this age of modern transportation and the world is getting very small.
For those who have emigrated, farewell and goodbye.
We do what we can and enjoy life in every moment we have.
It is over in San Francisco and I love respond to the question. Emigration is very common. Our family had been emigrated to USA (me), my elder brother (UK), my younger brother (Taiwan) and youngest brother (Canada).
All of them are doing very well. I am almost light year ahead of my Malaysian counterpart who did not move. Believe me, I do not have much grudge against the government.
As far as I am concerned, it is a matter of survival for our family. I just cannot wait for the 'system' to be totally fair. Because there is no such things. Even in many countries where there is only one race, there will be other self made problems such as left and right, and so on.
My vision from the point of Malaysian Chinese to be educated (real), not getting just a 'silly' diploma, diversify all portfolio internationally. You must understand that there are many Americans who are doing well, they always have some portfolio oversea, it does not mean that they are being disloyal.
The world is getting so small. I really do not see getting a job in Hong Kong or Taiwan or the US is such a big deal anymore. I am happy that we left, I do not think we could achieve in Malaysia 'even' if the system is totally fair. It is because we are lacking of vision for ourselves. We are always responding retroactively and try to catch up.
For example, Malaysia want to start the bio-tech, but I am worry that the educational level 'even' from the top university (UM, USM) is not good enough. I did research some of the top professors of said colleges. Sorry, I am not too impressed. We have to really catch up.
My wife is another brain drain. She just got a research grant from NIH by being the top 1% of all US scientists. Her boss always said: You must be the top 5% or above. Her group has a total of US$147000000 research grant (147 millions).
We have no clue what we can contribute to Malaysia's science if we return. We will be dealing with silly racial politics and intransigent bureaucrats.
Same thing happened to my brother in Taiwan, he is one of the top civil engineer in Taiwan and very successful one. It will be a torture for him to return home. What do you guys think?
My greatest concern is that if Malaysians are not serious about progress, I am a little pessimistic about the future. We will be seeing too tidal wave from China and India, and not to mention Japan, Korea or Taiwan.
We are so spoon fed by government, we can't think anymore. Yes, I have little respect for governments (Malaysia, Taiwan or USA) because they are run by a lot of incompetent peoples especially in science.
For example, all the chancellors in the university in Malaysia are from royal family. I am skeptical of their scientific achievement except they are great in giving themselves all the meaningless titles.
You see, my wife's chancellor was the 1987 Nobel laureate in Medicine. He discovered the 'Oncogene'. They are the people who started companies like Genentech (www.gene.com) or Chiron (www.chiron.com), just to name a few.
Final suggestion: Education, I mean real. I accept only doctorate level. My wife has two, PhD and MD as well. Compete internationally.
Sorry for the bragging.
My parents moved us to Australia because of the reasons discussed in post. They knew that if they had the resources to provide us with a fairer and better education - in a society that respects equality - they should do it for our future.
But you are right, everywhere in the world there is a minority of a population that receives rights and benefits, that may seem unfair or someone skewed on the equality parts of things, and unfortunately it is a matter of 'put up or shut up'.
When I asking my parents about Malaysia and hearing the sad betrayal they felt as a Chinese Malaysian, it saddened my heart. However, my parents still return to Malaysia to get more work and money because it is not easy for my parents to support 4 children studying in Australia, all reaching the higher end of the education.
My mother told me once when I asked why do we put up with this shit, and she said to me……….'You should never compare your woes and problems with luxury and benefits that are empty dreams, but be grateful that you are able to contribute something to society no matter how big or small.'
The minority of a certain population who receives benefits are sometimes 'beggars' and do not appreciate what they have. However, life in this world is all about making what you will be proud of. That is why parents work hard, never complaining to provide for their children. Because they believe that it is serving a greater good. Lazy people have no sense of purpose in their lives - thus their lives are wasted.
We should not hope for the same treatment. Because working hard and cherishing your hard earned success achievements and what you have is much better than having everything handed to you on a silver platter, and never acquiring experience, knowledge and wisdom that will enrich your life much more than government tax luxuries.
The world is very small this day, and with the concept of globalization which is unavoidable any way, goes to where an equal opportunity is available if you can.
Education is an important investment, and there is only a certain time frame that your children could utilize it at the best. So do not waste that time! There is more assistance than you could imagine if your kids do find difficulties on the path.
There is a thing called "quality of life". It means that there is a place where children have equal opportunity to develop themselves to the fullest, and the children believe that they are not prejudiced and could achieve what they want to be as opportunities are just there.
Good social order and hence personal safety, (not so much of snatch thieves, robbers, road rages, rapists, pirates etc), good living environment (safe water, and clean air), educated society (people say "please" and "thank you" more often), up to date medical care, and good and efficient government administration (you get your income tax refund not more than six weeks after your submission etc).
But you must be prepared to earn an honest living, as the laws are very strict against any illegal acts, which many underdeveloped countries utilize to make money under the name so called as "business".
So consider ourselves as global citizens and if we are good we still can contribute a lot to the humanity and the world community where your effort is appreciated.
Success or failure is not measured by its size but rather an effort to make the best out of oneself, and for that, fair and equal opportunity must be available.
There is nothing to lose if you have made up your mind. Best wishes to you.
I agree that there are more opportunities outside Malaysia for non-malays if you don't have the right connections at home Malaysia. The pasture is definitely greener on the other side!
I went through the same process 16 years ago with my three children, and today, they are very successful in their respective careers. To these young qualified professionals, the world is their oyster.
16 years ago, by the racial discrimination in terms of quota system, my children had slimmed or no chance to enter local university which was the dream of every kid in those days.
With the comparison of the result with that of the outside world now, it is of no priority or consideration at all by the present generation.
It is like one says: "In the old days, students were forced to go overseas only when they could not secure places in University Malaya. Now it is the reverse - students go overseas as a priority".
With the proficiency of the English language and substance (my children) they have, they have secured their professional jobs by choice and have the opportunity to work in Australia, then Singapore, then back to Australia, and one is still working in London because of the pursuit of a specialist course.
It is amazing that they could just secure their job with the submission of CV through Internet followed by telephone interviews. This is the type of ability that our present Malaya 60 thousands of unemployable graduates could not have.
Two my children have now settled down in Australia with secured jobs and one is still in London. However, three of them have secured on their own each with a residential property in Australia, and they are all at an age of below thirty.
We are no traitors as we use our own resources all the way unlike some government scholarship holders who spent away money and now refuse to go home to serve the country because they too find that overseas life is comfortable.
We cannot keep living in an environment where robbing A to pay B is a norm, and the world is now our children performing stage.
If we didn't move out in those days, my children would be in the present group of the 60 thousands unemployable graduates if they were lucky to be admitted to those local Malaysia university.
I am very happy with their achievements and what the say, "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime", is very true as my children really know how to fish and in such a manner, I can retire comfortably in my twilight years. I suppose this is my harvest time.
What is wrong with this country is quite obvious but what most people don't get is what is right with this country.
Malaysia is an incredible fortunate country with abundant natural resources and systems that prevents it from committing worst mistakes than it already has.
From palm-oil, oil and gas, to the British-influenced systems left behind to basically the tolerant nature of all its people and even the fact that Singapore, our cousin down south, is a constant reminder of our place in the world.
Malaysia is fortunate to have these checks to ensure continuous growth throughout these many years.
Its because of these fortunate that shields us from some harsh realities that the country finds it unnecessary accept global and universal realities. These fortunate still exists and so long as it still exists, there is no impetus to face realities. These fortunate also hold us back to realize our full potential and have cost us incredible opportunities in the past.
Certainly we would have been a developed country by now if not for the NEP.
For the idealist, you have to face it that these fortunate still exists. For example, our government is actually trying to control the deficit despite the political cost. This is most fortunate compared to the bankrupt ways of some other developing countries.
Of course international financial realities is forcing us to control the deficit but those international realities is a result of our past legacy and our circumstances rather than our very own philosophy or believe. In that sense we are fortunate.
So long as we have these fortunate, so long we will postpone the kinds of ideal and justice we talk about in these. We are a nation led by mediocrity and waste. It is a given.
For excellence, it has to be somewhere else for we do not have the strength to make it ours.
While it is normal for an individual to protect their pride even when they know deep down that it is wrong, it is a totally unaccepted behaviour for academics to be in such depth of denial.
I have been thinking for a while as to the reasons for their constant state of denial and came up with three ugly conclusions:
(1) The academics are just incompetent to produce quality research work. They were chosen as academics simply because of their political link, or the fact that local public universities just favour bumis.
As pointed, government-linked companies are usually managed by people with political connections and not based on their expertise and competencies.
(2) The "tidak apa" behaviour which is a wide spread culture in Malaysia public. While at times it is nice to be living in an easygoing society, such practice has done more damage than good to the society especially in the service, skilled and knowledge-based sectors.
In general, there is a lack of perfectionist behaviour which has led to a less-than-constructive society. No doubt, this has very much hampered the reliability and improvement of the local workforce.
(3) Many of the academics are also lacking in professionalism. Very few of them, if any, could take criticism in a constructive manner.
This resulted in an over-protective behaviour shown - for example in the way they handled public criticism in their drastic drop in university rankings.
Like I have in the past couple of years tried to point out these issues to the general public, which unfortunately was not taken very seriously.
Many times they just fall onto deaf ears. Even when there are people who agree with it, they usually lack the courage to come out of their comfort zone and make a strong stance on such critical issues.
Racism is an excellent political tool. We have had one of the best examples set by Hitler. He blamed on the fall of Germany economy and everything on the Jewish people, and that ended up with the lost of so many innocent lives.
In order to survive politically, you have to allow them to use the race card. Yes, Umno did it.
I think Mahathir has been one of the key players. Converting the English medium into Malay medium and then found that it did not work well, and finally decided to convert it back into English medium. When Mahathir sat at the top as the leader of the country, he realized that it was not the right way to govern the country in that way. Now Abdullah must be feeling the same.
How much was there suffer of our education system? The politicians in Bolehland never take responsibility and they don't even apologize to the people for the mess created.
As you can see, within malay communities, only a small fraction of the people gained wealth while majority were the same as before who made very little progress.
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