JULY 11 — Kia-si
The religious authorities seem to be the only government agency working hard in the country. Even going above and beyond the call of duty.
So ambitious (if you can call it that) that Tun Mahathir Mohamad suggested that they have even gone above and beyond the Quran.
From confiscating holy books, interrupting weddings, raiding funerals, arresting Muslims for expressing their thoughts in an academic and intellectual forum, labelling people apostates, their zeal and enthusiasm in carrying out their duties (whether misplaced or not) knows no bounds.
Just imagine what would happen if other government agencies follow the footsteps of our religious departments.
If JPJ, SPAD and PUSPAKOM do a “JAIS”, we will see fewer heavy vehicles emitting black smoke on the roads, nor witness the frequent mishaps involving express buses on highways. Their zeal to arrest and drag those found to break traffic laws would scare all motorists and perhaps promote safer and more courteous driving on the roads.
So instead of chasing and snooping after couples, straining racial and religious ties, perhaps they should be loaned to the other government departments. They obviously have too much time, money and power on their hands.
Perhaps in time, we can close these “departments of moral police who only prey on the weak” down.
And if that fails, then someone should let them know some of the tax payers sell alcohol, run massage parlours, clubs and rear pigs.
Maybe that will cut their budget down, which means no more nonsensical raids we read about day in and day out.
Kia-lang
When our Kinabatangan MP made a reference to Hitler after Germany beat Brazil in the World Cup semi-final match, I thought to myself, “Yup, that’s about right.”
I suppose he felt left out when his colleagues made similar statements about emulating ISMA in Iraq, or chasing the “dirty”, “disease-spreading” homeless people from the city centre.
It makes you wonder, how out of touch are they with the common folks. How uneducated, crass they can be to the sensitivities of others.
Sure, the soup kitchens can be dirty, infested with disease carrying rodents in an area that is not properly maintained. Yes, the homeless can be foreigners taking advantage of kind Malaysians.
But what happened to DBKL’s enforcement units? What happened to the welfare department? What happened to the health authorities, the Immigration, RELA? Who monitors these soup kitchens?
Too busy raiding night clubs and motels?
What guarantees do you have that it will be cleaner, well maintained when you move them outside the city centre?
And most importantly to the minister, where is your tact, finesse, vote-for-me “People First Performance Now” attitude when dealing with similar issues? Who is your priority?
Who do you actually serve?
There is no point in being a high income nation when the homeless, the hungry are sidelined from mainstream national development. How we treat the poor and unfortunate determines the kind of society we aspire to be in future.
Tun Mahathir, in outlining Vision 2020, listed 9 challenges that we have to deal with:
Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia.
Creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society.
Fostering and developing a mature democratic society.
Establishing a fully moral and ethical society.
Establishing a matured, liberal and tolerant society.
Establishing a scientific and progressive society.
Establishing a fully caring society.
Ensuring an economically just society, in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of wealth of the nation.
Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient.
Some say we are on track to achieve Vision 2020. I suggest they get their heads checked.
Kia-su
Which brings us back to the MP from Kinabatangan who hailed Hitler for Germany’s win in the semi-finals World Cup match.
YB, you need to be more sensitive to the feelings of others regardless of your intention. Calling your critics stupid, “IQ u lagi bawah kaki saya”, “I really dont need to convince anybody” was really not on.
The strong rejection and protest by the German Ambassador should have been the cue to issue an apology.
Calling Malaysians stupid, saying that you do not need to convince anyone is not only arrogant, but insults the very people who voted you to become their MP.
Think before you speak, and read more before think. If you want to speak without thinking next time, don’t do it as an MP.
*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
