Scandalous? Indeed.
But the study here isn't really about Chua Soi Lek, but the nation as a whole, and why it matters.
The people have Judged
Sex scandals are nothing new. If one were to look back further, a mistress was even considered a symbol of success.
The concubines of Chinese Emperors certainly weren't cheap.
And if our so-called Muslim leaders were to reflect on the Ottoman empire, I am sure they would find no solace in picking upon a man who kept a measly one.
Let's not kid ourselves here.
This is but a private matter gone public. To lose one of our better leaders in such fashion is simply wasteful.
Let's do a quick recap on other crimes that surely deserve or exceed the same measure of public disgust.
Wasteful Spending
Right, so what happened to all those government departments implicated in the Auditor General's sweep? A few low-level, mid-level executives questioned and sacked?
Imagine gallons and gallons of liquid gold spent on such essentials as:
- Screwdrivers,
- Digital cameras,
- Computers,
- Pencils, and my personal favourite
- Car jacks.
After the rape of Nanjing, our leaders probably decided to up the ante and stage:
The Rape of Lojing.
An entire mountain range was given the greatest haircut in Malaysia (Malaysian Book of Records) when a few state government officials decided to sell all the trees to loggers and plant, ostentatiously, ferns.
Yes. Those itsy-bitsy-teeny-greenish-weeds that kids (both human and animal) step-on on their way to the local municipal playground.
The White House
Not suggesting someone would go so far as to build a replica of the symbol of American democracy in Malaysia. Only going so far as to suggest flagrant flaunting of wealth and power.
So what happened to the politician who steamrollered his way to a new house and a satay restaurant sans official approval?
Apart from the now familiar official denial of any wrongdoing ("The architect did it!"), the man with a face thicker than the length of the Great Wall of China decided to invite a few dozen orphan to stay over at his new dig for one night.
Only thing he lost was his eatery, not is job.
Hmm...
Have Sex, Will Tell
This article is in no way meant to defend the good doctor from further jibes. What he did was wrong, if one subscribes to the Koran and Old Testament.
Secular-wise, he broke the unspoken laws of social propriety. Malaysian laws of social propriety.
But when left with two obvious choices, to keep quiet and his job, or to speak and get out, Dr Chua did the unthinkable.
He admitted his mistake, and left government.
That is a remarkable thing, considering Barisan Nasional could just as easily preserve his job by withholding comment anyway.
Alternative Future
Imagine this.
- If Dr Chua kept his flap shut and asked press aides to deny everything,
- and Badawi spoke of the lack of evidence,
- and the press were directed to the greater issue of our floundering education system, flood mitigation tactics, the Royal Commission, and other more pressing issues,
- Dr Chua Soi Lek would remain Health Minister.
He had no charisma, but Dr Chua was a reassuring figure.
In a country that officially denies the existence of gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, bisexuals and any other word ending with -sexual, he pushed for the use of condoms; the distribution of condoms.
Whatever his fallacies, it would be prudent to note: Dr Chua's mistake did not cost the nation taxpayer money, or taxpayer time (though we all know that's not really high up on any agenda here).
I don't believe the same fingers now pointed at him can claim the same.
1 comment:
wel i think the person who has committed the bigger crime was the one who planted the hidden camerar in his hotel room.
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