Education is for all, it’s time we think of the bigger picture affecting all children.

MY colleague received a press statement sent by a very high-ranking official of a government department recently. It was personally written in English by the official and sent by WhatsApp to ensure it was speedily delivered.

The only snag was that his command of the language was so horrendous that my colleague had to suggest to him, politely, that he might want to stick to Bahasa Malaysia to ensure accurate reporting on our part. He got the message. A new version was eventual­ly sent.

Then, there are also the vice-chancellors of a few public universities who face the same language problem despite having spent much time in overseas universities to pursue their post-graduate studies.

We have also met Malaysian diplomats who cannot carry out a proper conversation in flawless English and we know some of them even shy away from social functions, which is a shame as this where they can pick up nuggets of information for their intelligence reports.

A few generations, yes, a few generations, are paying the price – unable to speak and write in proper English – because of our education system.

At best, they may have some semblance of communication English, but without the proper foundations in grammar, many are unable to even string a sentence together correctly.

Because English is just a subject, there is hardly any opportunity to use and practise the language on a regular and extensive basis within the school system.

That’s how low we have sunk. Forget about the occasional use of some Latin words to make the language more refined, if not, more classy. Getting through the basics is tough enough.

It is no surprise, therefore, that they really struggle when they reach tertiary level where much of the information is in English.

And even upon graduation, many employers are reluctant to hire them when they cannot function properly in an environment where the working language is English.

Controversial MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar became the butt of every joke on social media when he introduced a hashtag ­#earthquack for his postings on the earthquake situa­tion in his home state.

Well, we also can see that some of our Chinese politicians, from both sides of the political divide, struggle with English, judging by some of the postings they make on Facebook.

Every now and then, we have reports about bad English in an English examination paper. We have more or less gotten used to the fact that the English in many of our official websites are littered with mistakes.

It doesn’t seem to bother our politicians and decision makers one bit, as they will simply shrug off calls to allow English as a medium of instruction in our education system.

Why should they be worried as many of them are able to send off their children to boarding schools overseas at a young age? After all, the only ones that would bear the consequences would be the students in the rural areas.

The Ruler of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, recently suggested that English be made a medium of instruction – he didn’t say make English THE medium of instruction.

The reality is that English, as a medium of instruction, is already available but it is restricted only to private and international schools, mostly in urban areas.

And despite the high fees charged, more urban parents are opting to send their children to such schools because they simply want their children to be proficient in this international language.

The urban-rural divide is accentuated because while children in the rural areas are sometimes teased for using English, it is perfectly normal for English to be used at home in middle-class Malaysia.

And with greater exposure to the language, the urban children do have an edge over those in the rural areas.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. As his Royal Highness the Sultan of Johor said, these politicians are using nationalism and race to champion communal rights and the Malay language at the expense of the English language.

They are doing so to protect their interests and political positions. Unfortunately, many seem to buy into their agendas.

We must also be clear that the lack of proficiency in English cuts across all races.

Many Chinese parents send their children to Chinese schools at the primary level because they want their children to be able to speak and write basic Chinese as they eye the growing economic power of China.

Many shy away from the national schools because there is a strong perception that these schools have turned more religious in character with a single race dominant in the overall attendance.

The national schools that many of us from my generation and earlier grew up in, where English was the medium of instruction, were different as all races were well represented.

But in our current situation, many Chinese parents also find that sending their children to the Chinese primary schools does not help their children have a good command of English either.

The English proficiency of the majority of Chinese teenagers, because of their background in Chinese schools, is just as bad as their counterparts in the rural schools.

They live in the Chinese world, watching Taiwanese and Hong Kong movies, with little interest in the real world.

Their worldview is shaped pretty one-­dimensionally and because of the environment they grew up in, they are unlikely to have real friends from those of other races.

Many of us in our 50s have been lucky – we were probably the last batch of the English-medium schools where we sat for the Malaysia Certificate of Education (MCE) and the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.

The English-medium schools were neutral grounds as students of all races attended such schools and the best friendships were forged there.

We had real friends from all races because we were growing up together for at least 10 years in the schools. It was not functional friendship at work, but real bonding as we studied and played together.

I feel really sorry for many Malaysian kids who do not have friends outside their own race as they are not be able to shape their thinking in a more open way.

So, when a hot issue comes up in the country, especially those involving race and religion, they are not able to see things from another perspective.

Like many, I also worry about the future of Malaysia and our children, as the performance of our schools continues to falter. Beyond our concerns over language skills, we should be even more worried about the quality of our education.

Our ranking in Science and Mathematics is already reportedly low, although our politicians question its accuracy. But the reality is that many of us are no longer surprised by such trends.

Our politicians will continue to tell us that all is well and fine in our schools, and that we have little influence to change anything. Some of us may believe that to be so.

But if we really care for the country, we should not be afraid to propose radical changes for the sake of our future generations.

Education is for all and it is totally selfish if we only think of our own interests while the majority are stuck in a system which does not empower them to reach for the stars.

Before and after: Photos posted on Tan’s Facebook page showing her original attire (left) and the sarong she was asked to wear at the JPJ office.

IT is said that ignorance is bliss, but not necessarily so all the time. Most Malaysians must have been amused, rather than upset, over a recent Facebook posting that went viral and eventually caught the attention of a news portal.

It started with an angry customer, going by the name Mista Bob Faishah, posting on the Texas Chicken Malaysia Facebook page that the fast food chain obviously did not take into account religious sensitivities because the franchise’s brand dipping sauce is named “Church”.

“Dear TCM… Please do explain (yo)ur dipping sauce brand at Malaysia Franchises… Most of (yo)ur customers is a Muslim… AND Muslim didn’t not eat for food from ‘church’ brand,” he wrote. He also shared the image of said dipping sauce together with his post, the portal reported.

Soon, an equally outraged Facebook user, Halim Zainal, left a comment saying that Texas Chicken Malaysia should change the name on the packet as a sign of respect to its Muslim customers.

The angry person warned TCM that they would not be able to sustain their business if they were not sensitive to Muslims in the country.

The management of TCM had to patiently explain to the customer that the franchise’s “Church” brand dipping sauce was named after the founder and did not represent the Christian house of worship.

“Please be informed that the brand Texas Chicken was founded in San Antonio, Texas USA by our founder by the name of George W Church Sr — Church being his surname and the name of the brand Church’s Chicken.”

The Facebook post elaborated that the word “church” was not used in a religious context and that some of the dipping sauces were imported from the United States, where the food chain originates.

But it has ended well. The customer has now posted an apologetic comment: “Deepest from my heart that I want to ask apologized for my post (1 June). For that time I only want to inquiry regarding the brands of “church” brand. And after TCM do explain to my inquiry n I accepted that was the co brand from san Antonio, Texas.

“I hope with my apologized here can stop all the negtive things goes more bigger. That what can say I only just want to inquiry regarding that brands only..But for ur info, I stlll enjoy my meal with my favorite winglets from TCM!

“Once again..I’m apologized for my post before that I had removed because I don’t want that all people read n negtive thingking of my inquiries.”

Well, as we can see from the postings, the person’s command of the English language really leaves much to be desired.

That could have been one reason why he did not first check, via Google or other search engines, for information about this food chain and why its products are named as such.

Our English language proficiency, sad to say, has hit rock bottom and many of our Internet users are missing out a lot because they have such a poor command of the universal language.

He only associated the word “church” with religion, without being aware that it can also be the surname of many people. Christian Bale would be really worried if people stop going to watch his movies if such an association is made.

But let us keep this in perspective. We can all accept Mista Bob Faishah for sportingly admitting his mistake. We are sure he has no intention to create a controversy.

But another issue that we need to be concerned about, apart from poor English, is whether we are seeing a rise in religious conservatism where many modern-day practices that everyone in our plural society used to accept as a matter of course – from food to sports and entertainment – are being looked at from a different, and more radical, perspective.

Those who spew hate messages in the name of religion can always find a ready audience in those who are prepared to take what they say without question.

And this applies to all religions where such leaders thrive on those who are blissfully ignorant on the true nature of their faith.

Such an environment makes it easy for these people to create fears among the followers that they are constantly under threat. The bogeymen in flavour today include Christians, Jews, the LGBT community, liberal-minded people, etc.

Fortunately, we are still a country where people of different faiths can co-exist peacefully and in harmony with one another.

Faith is a matter of the heart and whatever the rabble-rousers may want to ferment, few will believe that just seeing the religious symbols of another faith will so easily shake their own beliefs.

Be that as it may, we need to also be on guard against the rise of extremism, especially when it comes quietly in every day situations.

The voices of moderation must be heard, and the silent majority cannot afford to be quiet if they value the kind of society we live in.

Why are so many Malaysians not surprised to read about the middle-aged “aunty” who was asked to wear a sarong before she could be served at a Road Transport Department office? The Rela guard felt her skirt, which was just above her knees, was too short and did not adhere to the dress code.

It may be a small matter to some, but it was good of Suzanna G L Tan to share her experience on Facebook by posting a photograph of herself outside the office, showing her attire for the public to judge.

“I had to go to JPJ personally to sign the transfer form for the car I sold. That in itself is already a pain,” Tan wrote.

“I go dressed like this. Indecent meh?” she asked in reference to her dressing in the photograph.

Tan said while she was at the counter to get a queue number, she was handed a sarong to wear “or they would not entertain me”.

The blame eventually fell on the Rela guard but none of the other officers at the JPJ office bothered to tell off the Rela guard for his over-reaction. They have kept silent over this demeaning exercise.

We used to be able to blame the little Napoleans for incidents like this but with the advent of social media, such actions can always be recorded for the public to judge.

And then we have our Malaysian gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, who has just won a gold medal at the Sea Games, being criticised for not covering up. But to be fair, there were many who came to defend her on Buletin TV3’s Facebook.

Instead of applauding her flawless performance, there seem to be those with perverted minds whose minds are focused elsewhere.

These people thrive on attention and their antics have a way of being magnified way beyond their actual influence.

But here’s the saddest part. Those who speak out for Farah Ann are the usual known personalities and non-governmental organisations while those we wish to hear from – including politicians from both sides of the divide who hold national level posts – are strangely quiet.

But we are glad that the Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who has to protect our athletes, spoke out.

“In gymnastics, Farah wowed the judges and brought home gold. In her deeds only the Almighty judges her. Not you. Leave our athletes alone,” wrote Khairy on his Twitter account.

A view of an abandoned camp in Wang Kelian, Perlis. -Bernama

IT’S totally absurd – why would any tourist want to visit a former human trafficking camp near the Malaysia-Thailand border?

Much more bizarre was the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who reportedly described the campsite as “very nice” and with “complete facilities”.

We can be sure none of the illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants who were locked up at the camp would share Shahidan’s enthusiasm.

The former Perlis Mentri Besar reportedly said “let tourists see where it all happened. With this as a new tourism spot, it will also deter human trafficking activities from taking place as there will be more people coming in and out.”

It’s mind-boggling that a federal minister could actually make such an atrocious proposal. One is reminded of macabre attractions in other parts of the world, such as the “killing fields” of Choeung Ek in Cambodia.

It has become a tourist spot because of its horrifying past, where millions of people were killed. A glass compartment with some 8,000 skulls, now a spot for selfies, reminds visitors of the horrendous genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.

But surely we cannot compare the large-scale mass killings of Cambodians with the human trafficking issue. The camp in Wang Kelian, even if transformed into some form of eco-tourism project, will hardly draw the kind of tourist revenue to justify its existence.

Instead of channelling resources to this pathetic proposal, Malaysians would surely agree that it would be better off if the government spend more time finding ways to beef up security in the border area.

The area is well-known for smuggling activities because of poor security or, to put it bluntly, corruption among the law enforcers there. Whether they are Thai or Malay­sian, corrupt officers are probably the most integral collaborators that allow the human trafficking syndicates to operate with impunity.

Are we surprised that a recent report by the Special Branch, based on 10 years of undercover surveillance and intelligence gathering at border checkpoints as well as enforcement agencies across the country, has revealed that 80% of law enforcement officers and security personnel manning our country’s borders are corrupt? Isn’t it convenient that no one has yet to be arrested after the grisly discovery of the 139 graves and 28 suspected camps on May 11?

Even more ridiculous was the statement by Shahidan to the media that his party “saw unidentified persons fleeing to the Thai side of the border as we approached the campsite”. It’s as good as saying that anyone can still walk across the border even after the gruesome discovery without the likelihood of being caught. And when it comes to crossing our borders, we know how entrenched the problem in Sabah is.

We suppose the same sentiments must be shared by the Filipino abductors who have made kidnapping Malaysians and tourists in Sabah such a regular business affair.

Yet, our authorities still get upset each time warnings are issued to tourists to stay away from Sabah, insisting that Sabah, especially the coastal areas, are safe.

Seriously, with such a pathetic record of coastal surveillance in Sabah, the strong presence of the army and navy should be a permanent feature – and not a mere show of force only after an abduction or, worse, after an intrusion by armed men into our territory.

Of course, besides the lacklustre security, we are also paying for the sins of the past, when we allowed thousands, if not, millions of immigrants into Sabah. We have come to the point where we are not even sure whether the enemies in our midst are really citizens or illegals with dodgy identity cards?

Is it the result of past political manoeuvrings to win elections without a thought for the horrible consequences to the demography and security of Sabah?

Let’s face it – we were practically handing out blue identity cards to these foreigners at one time, or are we going to deny it?

The result of the IC handouts to naturalise these foreigners has now led to some of these people actually joining political parties and enjoying affirmative privileges for bumiputras, while other real Malaysians, born and bred in Sabah, have less rights!

Has the situation become more complicated and out of control because of entrenched corruption among our security officers who choose to look the other way when these foreigners come into our waters?

The number of illegal immigrants in Sabah, excluding the naturalised ones, now ranges from a million to 1.9 million out of Sabah’s population of 3.3 million.

We have a serious security problem, if not a crisis, in Sabah. And, as the discovery of the camps in Perlis will testify, if we do not control our borders well along the Thai border, we will soon be flooded with more illegal immigrants just walking across. And let us also not forget the difficulty in controlling our coastal areas up north.

Before we become a laughing stock talking about turning the human trafficking camps into a tourist spot, we had better worry about non-tourists checking in because of our lousy security.

A file picture of Rohingya migrant men from Myanmar on a drifting boat in the Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman on May 14, 2015. – AFP

Moderate Buddhists should come up strongly to condemn what extremist personalities and groups are doing in Myanmar.

ULTRA nationalist groups and religious extremists, by themselves, are bad enough, but when brought together by a common agenda, you have the most potent brew possible.

These elements always fight in the name of country, race and religion. Tolerance and acceptance are not in their vocabulary, and they justify their ends with the most intolerant means, never mind that we all believe that all religions preach about peace and harmony.

It’s very simple – politics have no place for religious figures, especially when they come dressed in their full religious regalia.

When men speak on politics, supposedly on behalf of God, or give such an impression, that is the beginning of trouble.

The reality is few people dare to challenge these religious figures, who not only claim to speak in the name of God, but pass themselves off as experts whose interpretation of doctrines is final. To challenge them would be to risk the wrath of the community, especially in conservative societies.

Because it is regarded as a sin to question these religious figures, who are actually mere mortals elevated to near demi God status by their adherents, they can get away with the most demonic crimes.

All religions have their extremists, ­whether Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or Buddhism.

The world is now shocked to see videos of Myanmar monks making hate speeches and, in some cases, actually taking part in racial and religious violence.

It is one thing to develop a dislike or prejudice against the Rohingya people, who are Muslims, but to actually instigate an act of violence against them is a gross violation of human decency and rationality.

I have tried to understand why the Myanmar are so angry with these Rohingya that they do not count them as one of the recognised people of the country.

Surely, it cannot just be because they are Muslims because Yangon and Mandalay, two cities most Malaysians are familiar with, are filled with Muslims. Buddhists and Muslims have co-existed for centuries.

Some of the reasons given, at least from social media, seem bizarre with accusations of rape by Rohingya against Buddhist girls, and amassment of weapons. It sounds ridicu­lous. Perhaps we do not know Myanmar politics well enough but those who put up their case against the Rohingya are not doing a good job.

The Rohingya have found themselves in a tight spot and are fleeing the country. Indonesia and Malaysia, under pressure from the international community amid growing calls for humanitarian aid and compassion, have given in to housing the latest refugees numbering some 7,000 temporarily for a year.

But the likelihood is that both countries will end up stuck with this mixture of Rohingya and Bangladeshis after that. Turkey is said to be interested in them but let’s see whether that happens. Thailand has walked away from the Asean Foreign Ministers’ meeting uncommitted and has remained so until today while Australia has shut the door.

But much more troubling is the continuing dominance of the extremist Myanmar monks led by Arshin Wirantu, who heads the ultra-nationalist 969 movement.

Wirathu spent nine years in prison after being sentenced in 2003 for inciting religious conflict, but has continued to amplify his campaign since his release.

Recently, Wirathu created international headlines when he called Yanghee Lee, Myanmar’s UN special rapporteur, “a whore” and “bitch” after she objected to controversial draft legislation.

But what is disappointing is that while many are quick to condemn Islamic groups which carry out extremist acts, there is a deafening silence when it comes to speaking out against these extremist Myanmar Buddhist monks?

Where are our local non-government organisations and politicians who are often quick in condemning Islamic terrorist acts?

Surely these Buddhist extremists are no different. They have forgotten that monks should be preaching reconciliation, forgiveness and tolerance instead of hate and violence.

It is always easier to point out the weakness and failure of another community and religion but when it involves our own kind, many prefer to look the other way, shamefully. But we cannot be racially or religious selectively. What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.

Surely, this madness of burning and killing cannot be right, no matter how much one dislikes another race.

And at a higher level, we also want strong voices to speak out. In this context, the Dalai Lama should be commended for speaking out – and also asking that fellow Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Syu Kyi to do more to help the persecuted Rohingya Muslims in her country, Myanmar.

These Myanmar extremist monks are giving Buddhism a bad name. Surely this is not what Buddhism is about.

But it will help if moderate Buddhists all over the world come up strongly to condemn what these extremist personalities and groups are doing in Myanmar, whipping up the emotions of the people in Myanmar by feeding on their ignorance and prejudices.

The bottom line is that men of the faith should practise faithfully what they preach. Politics and religion simply cannot mix.

Sam Kian Seng, who has already spent 27 years in prison and who is making a difference in the lives of his fellow prisoners, harbours hopes of being a free man again.

IN the course of my work, I have met all kinds of people. From kings to prime ­ministers to even former terrorists but one person – a prisoner – has remained very much in my mind.

In fact, his case has continued to haunt me ever since I met him a few years back. It started with a telephone call from a very senior Kajang Prison official.

He said I should meet up with Sam Kian Seng as he seemed to have a gift that has fascinated him and other prison officers.

It isn’t every day that prison officials would call up a journalist to help seek the release of a prisoner, whom they feel has transformed himself into a model citizen.

“We see him every day from the day he stepped in here. We know him better than anyone in the Pardons Board. He has changed and, more importantly, he has been changing the lives of other inmates,” the official told me.

The long-serving prisoner is able to do what many prison wardens and counsellors cannot do – he turns hardcore criminals into church mice, literally.

He readily gives away soap and toiletries to other prisoners and he encourages inmates to go for rehabilitation.

He counsels the inmates, leads daily worship and conducts Bible classes in cells, and provides information about non-governmental organisations like Malaysian Care and halfway houses to prisoners about to be released.

Every Sunday, over 60 inmates, including former hardcore criminals, spend their time in worship under his leadership.

But Sam is serving a natural life jail sentence where he will have to die in prison. He was also given six strokes of the rotan. (A normal life sentence only requires a convict to serve 20 years with the usual one-third remission.)

In short, Sam who was arrested for gun possession in a 1988 robbery will never be able to get out from prison alive. The authorities said he should have been sentenced to death, by right, but he escaped the gallows because he was not the principal offender.

He has continuously appealed to the Pardons Board to have his punishment reduced to life imprisonment but he has not been successful.

His appeals file is thick with letters written by the most prominent lawyers and even prison officers who see his work and know him, but it has not worked.

When his parents died, he was not given a chance to attend their funeral. After all, he is a nobody, not a popular politician.

Every warden in Kajang prison, who are mainly Muslims, and almost every counsellor who does prison work, knows of this man, Sam Kian Seng. There is plenty of sympathy and support for him but it remains just there.

When I visited this man, the prison officials told me I could have all the time I wanted. After all, time passes by very slowly behind prison walls.

There was plenty of awkwardness as I barely knew this man. I was asked to read up all the appeal letters before I met him. Some, who wrote these appeals passionately on his behalf, have themselves passed way.

He spoke to me in English, which he taught himself, as he was told that I could not speak Mandarin. He was also told that I would struggle with my Cantonese or Hokkien. But we managed well. I was facing a man who would most likely die in prison and yet, he spoke about his plans to carry on with his counselling work once he was released from jail.

I let him speak, not interrupting at all, and when he finally ended, I told him that I would try my best to help him.

I have sought the audiences of two Sultans to alert them of this case. Unfortunately for Sam, the crime took place in Kuala Lumpur – and any appeals for a lesser sentence, or even pardon, would have to come from the King.

The Pardons Board, which includes the Attorney-General, would have to make their recommendations to the King but unfortunately I have no access to His Majesty The King.

But the process to grant a pardon is the same, whether at state or federal level, so I felt sharing my views with the two Rulers would help as they have direct access to their fellow Rulers.

The two Sultans have suggested that he should write, or at least I should write on his behalf, to the Conference of Rulers and that they would bring this matter up for discussions with their fellow Rulers, if there is a merit to the case and whether what I have heard is the truth.

I have not met Sam since our one meeting. Church workers who regularly meet up with him said he always asked about me. They swore that Sam is a changed man. His conversations with them have always been about God, forgiveness and how to help others.

Sam’s dilemma is constantly on my mind because of the recent audience I had with His Royal Highness the Sultan of Johor.

On the occasion of his coronation, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had issued a royal pardon for a man on death row who has been in prison for the past 11 years. The pardon was for the 29-year-old man who was sentenced to death for murder in 2004.

Johor State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim said the state government hoped that the released prisoner would put to good use the second chance given to him to improve and develop his life, his family and also for the country.

Sultan Ibrahim also reduced the death sentences of 10 other prisoners to life imprisonment and natural life sentences.

Six prisoners were spared the gallows through the royal amnesty by only serving life imprisonment. They were originally sentenced to death under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.

Four others who also faced the death sentence were granted amnesty where they will serve natural life sentences. They were previously sentenced to death under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and also Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Early this month, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, pardoned a prisoner and granted a commutation of the death sentence of two prisoners to life imprisonment, in conjunction with his enthronement.

Perak Pardons Board secretary Datuk Razali Othman said the decision was made by the State Pardons Board conference chaired by the Sultan at Iskandriah Palace.

Razali said the Sultan had issued a reminder that any appeals from prisoners must be submitted by the prisoners themselves or through the channels prescribed and not forwarded by a third party using other channels.

He said the Sultan also decreed that a sentence was imposed to act as a lesson to the public to respect the laws of the country.

He added that a pardon or lessening of a sentence that had been decided by the court would be considered when prisoners who filed the appeal showed remorse, had repented and apologised, with promise of good behaviour and would not repeat the same offence.

Reflecting on these remarks on when a pardon can be issued, my mind goes back to that day with Sam once again.

It has been hard for me, after that meeting, to simply put his case aside and to tell myself that there’s only so much I can do as an ordinary person.

But as I pressed my hand on to the panel which separated us to say goodbye, he told me that he believed that he would walk out of prison one day and continue his mission work outside.

When I asked him why he should be optimistic, he looked and me and said: “Sir, even the word hopeless begins with hope.”

I learnt something from Sam, the ­prisoner serving a natural life sentence, that day. Surely, there is a need to strike a balance between the interests of the public and the interests of the offender. A ­repentant person deserves a chance in life, especially if he has paid his debt to society.

I do not know what else I can do but to make a direct plea to the powers that be, those with influence and authority at the Federal Pardons Board. You have been put there by God; I hope that this article will strike a chord among all members of this Pardons Board.

Please revisit the case of Sam Kian Seng – Number 1000 2901 – who has already served 27 years. Let his hope to walk out of prison a free man not be in vain.

Rohingya migrants waiting inside a boat off the coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. -AFP

MALAYSIA has to be real careful in sending the right message to the migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh. If we are seen to be soft and seemingly ready to accommodate them, our shores will soon be filled with them.

Malaysia and Indonesia are preferred destinations because the perception is that both these countries are Muslim-majority and have shown sympathy for the Rohingya people in the past.

And this is further accentuated by the presence of a huge foreign workforce in Malaysia, comprising both legal and illegal workers, that gives the impression that Malaysia is an attractive destination to eke out a living.

The recent events where boatloads of these migrants have suddenly made it into Malaysian territory have made us more aware of the different ways through which these migrants have landed on our shores.

First, it shows how porous our borders are. It is so easy for foreigners to enter our seas and our shores with little prevention or detection by our authorities. That is, of course, nothing new with Malaysians already, especially in Sabah.

The Abu Sayyaf has long found out how easy it is to come over to Malaysia and to grab a few Malaysians and foreigners and hold them for ransom.

It is a lucrative business for these kidnappers who amazingly still think of themselves as freedom fighters in the name of religion. In reality, they are not even terrorists, but just plain criminals.

Much more brazen are the recent reports of how the Thais involved in the syndicates, using fishing boats, had unloaded these migrants on our shores, treating Malaysia as a dumping ground.

Who were these people who brought them to our shores – Thai fishermen, Thai army personnel or the Thai courier service? Again, how did they enter our coastal jurisdiction with such ease?

Unlike the Indonesians, who have sent these migrants off after giving them water and food, Malaysia has actually taken them into the detention centres with no time frame of when they will be asked to conti­nue with their journey.

The Indonesians seem to have spun their story pretty well – they are saying that these migrants do not really want to stay in Indonesia but their destination is Malaysia.

Arrmanatha Nasir, a spokesman for Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, reportedly said an Indonesian ship had given provisions to a migrant boat it encountered on patrol in the Straits of Malacca before the boat continued its way to Malaysia, which he said was its intended destination.

“The people on the boat did not want to go to Indonesia, but they asked for help, clean water and food,” he said. “After the aid was given, they parted.”

That’s brilliant, Pak, and certainly very much in the spirit of Asean solidarity and the much touted brotherhood ties between our two countries. It was only later that the Indonesians took in about 1,400 immigrants in Acheh.

Let’s face it, Malaysians are people with loads of sympathy and compassion. Then, there is the added dimension of religion.

But we have to use our heads too, not just our hearts, in dealing with the increasing number of migrants coming to Malaysia.

We cannot afford to give the impression that we will take them in, even temporarily, because news will soon travel back home that they were welcomed in Malaysia.

Yes, it is painful to read news reports of overcrowded traffickers’ boats with their human cargo including women and children, but Malaysia is already overflowing with immigrants, many of whom are illegals.

Older Malaysians will recall that in May 1975, the first boat of 47 Vietnamese refugees arrived in Malaysia from Vietnam.

Pulau Bidong in Terengganu was used as a refugee island to house the trickling boat people but two years later, boats arriving from Vietnam became a near daily occurrence.

It was reported that by January 1979, there were 18,000 Vietnamese on the island and by June 1979, it was said to be the most heavily populated place on earth with about 40,000 refugees crowded into a flat area hardly larger than a football field.

The Pulau Bidong camp was finally shut down in 1990 and the refugees were moved to Sungai Besi in Kuala Lumpur. It took Malaysia 20 years before the last of the 250,000 Vietnamese refugees here finally left the country.

But compare the situation then to the estimated millions of registered and illegal foreign workers in Malaysia now. It would not be wrong to say that it has become a security issue.

The majority of Malaysians are sick and tired of the huge influx of foreigners, mostly unskilled, into Malaysia.

It is reassuring for Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Jaafar to say that Malaysia cannot welcome them here. He has rightly said that “if we continue to welcome them, then hundreds of thousands will come from Myanmar and Bangladesh”.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has so far registered over 35,000 Rohingya migrants in Malaysia but most people believe the number is much higher.

Turning these migrants away would invite criticism by non-governmental organisations and activists but no country has joined in the chorus of support because governments know they cannot simply accept them and, if they do so, it would be hugely unpopular with their electorate.

Despite the hypocritical criticism by the United States against Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, the US will surely not accept these Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

In fact, the US appears reluctant to even provide direct help in search and rescue, with US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke saying “this is a regional issue, it needs a regional solution in short order”. We will be quite happy to send these refugees to the US.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak meanwhile has said that Malaysia will not tolerate any form of human trafficking, adding that the government would take the “necessary action” and that anyone found to be perpetrating this injustice and contravening Malaysian laws would be held accountable.

“I am very concerned over the plight of migrants in our region, some of whom have already reached our shores and still others who are trying.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Council are taking the necessary actions to deal with this humanitarian crisis,” the Prime Minister reportedly said.

Najib is right in condemning the human traffickers who have given false hopes to these helpless people but no one should interpret this concern as a sign that Malaysia is welcoming these people.

The source of the problem is Myanmar. Malaysia should exercise its authority as the chairman of Asean to deal with Myanmar for its persecution of the Rohingya minority who are effectively stateless.

No one would leave his country in a rickety boat, gambling with his life, unless the situation is so desperate.

Worse, it is shocking to read of extremist Buddhist monks calling for the killing of these Rohingya people.

With the Malaysian and Thai authorities cracking down on the smuggling of these people via the jungles, the sea which is more dangerous has become the optional route. But Malaysia should chart its course correctly too because it is one problem that Malaysia does not need.

Don’t we have enough problems already?

It is tough enough for the government to deal with an electorate still adjusting to the GST. But it puts itself in double jeopardy when it does not provide more information on the 1MDB.

EVERY businessman knows that April would be a tough month with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) but many have been hit much harder than they had anticipated.

I know of one watch dealer who did not make a single sale for a day in April – it has never happened before in his entire career.

The hardest hit were the electrical appliances dealers, where profit margins are already low, with many consumers joining in the pre-GST rush to buy these products. So in terms of sales, April was practically a dead month for them.

One jewellery businessman said sales were 30% to 50% down in April compared to the same month last year. In the first week of April, the jeweller recorded a 70% decline in sales.

The media industry has taken a beating as well with slower advertising revenue recorded for the month of April.

There is serious concern now that the weak consumer sentiment will drag on for the next two months, and that the second quarter would not be a happy one.

With the fasting month coming up in June and Hari Raya in July, media houses would traditionally see early bookings but everyone is worried. There does not seem to be any enthusiasm.

In a recent report, the Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) had predicted that Malaysian consumers would buy earlier in the year in anticipation of higher retail prices after April 2015.

However, retail sales performance during the first two months of the year was actually below expectations.

That is from a business perspective but for many Malaysian consumers, the reality is that they now have to pay more, even for their daily needs. Many have resisted spending on items they feel they do not need because of the GST, and the weaker ringgit hasn’t helped either.

Some have however expressed cautious optimism, believing that there would be a correction by next month, insisting that there would be more spending with the Hari Raya festivities coming up.

The reality is that the GST has taken a much greater toll on consumer sentiment than expected.

Yes, we can say that glitches are expected. We can say that Malaysia is among the last countries to impose the GST and that we have to start living with the new tax system.

Malaysians have also been told that the GST is necessary if we want to improve our deficits and to prevent our credit ratings from being downgraded.

But while our leaders expect the ordinary people to make these sacrifices for the national good, we also expect them to live up to our expectations.

Reports of lavish spending on themselves or their family members, whether real or otherwise, are not going to endear them to the people.

In fact, there is a lot of grumbling among the people that some of our leaders have become disconnected and are not hearing the loud murmurings on the ground.

If they were to listen hard enough, they would realise that all those statistical ­figures that have been tossed around to justify how well the country is doing have not shifted the people’s thinking one bit.

In fact, not many people even believe in these magical numbers because the rosy picture is not being felt by the rakyat who are struggling to pay their bills.

The situation is made worse by reports of public money being purportedly siphoned off. To be clear, we are talking about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad issue. No one seems to have been hauled up for investigations even as we eagerly wait for some action to be taken.

All those high-powered teams comprising our top investigators are supposed to have been set up but none of us can tell for sure if they have actually started work.

Instead of going after the whistle blowers, we are sure most Malaysians want to see our police channel their resources and energy pursuing those who have allegedly dipped their fingers or, rather, their hands, illegally into the money pot.

It would help if fresh information is made available regularly on how our police and others have progressed in their work. Instead, Malaysians are getting their daily dosage of allegations via social media but without any rebuttal or strong clarification from those implicated.

Perceptions are important, and if those aggrieved do not respond fast enough, and provide more information, it will have a serious impact on their positions and eventually their legitimacy.

Until these issues are tackled, they would continue to disrupt the running of the government and put the government in a defensive mode.

It is tough enough for the government to deal with a dissatisfied, if not angry, electorate, still adjusting to the introduction of the GST. But it puts itself in double jeopardy when it also has to deal with the detractors with their constant barrage of exposes on the 1MDB.

The concert venue at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan stays empty after the concert was cancelled.

IF you want to watch a good concert without having to worry about our Malaysian authorities throwing a spanner in the works at the last minute, then just head to Jakarta, Bangkok or Singapore.

Talk to concert promoters in Malaysia – there are not that many in this financially risky business – and they will tell you that Malaysia has a bad reputation among artistes in this region. Bad is an understatement, really.

Some Malaysian concert promoters have moved to China to stage shows there as they find dealing with the communist authorities is actually simpler. Not to forget, the market in China is huge, with the potential for larger audiences, like in Jakarta and Bangkok.

Our problem is that just about ­everyone in Malaysia wants to have a big say over how concerts should be organised, or whether they can be organised in the first place. And what is ridiculous is that most of them do not even know who the artistes are, yet they have strong opinions over whether they are “morally suitable” for the impressionable young minds in our country.

The most powerful body is the Central Agency for Applications of Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes or Puspal.

The agency was set up by the Cabinet in 2001 to coordinate and consider all applications for filming and performance by foreign artistes. It has so much clout that no concert promoter would dare to make a comment, even a little squeak, about Puspal, for fear of being blacklisted. Puspal reports to the Communications and Multimedia Minister.

Then there are the authorities at other levels. And the hottest issue now is that even the district police headquarters can stop an event. Last week, the highly awaited “Thirst 2015: We Are All Stardust” event, which was scheduled to take place at Mines International Exhibition & Contention Centre (MIECC), was cancelled at the last minute.

Never mind if it was supposed to be a closed-door dance music event with only non-Muslims allowed, since beer would be served. For the organisers, one year of planning went down the drain, thanks to the fickleness of the police and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

According to reports, on the afternoon of April 24, the day before the event, the police sent a letter to MPSJ stating that they would not support the concert. This led to the MPSJ withdrawing the entertainment permit that had been issued to the organisers. It has also been claimed that the Serdang police had initially issued a letter on March 25 stating that they had no objections to the staging of this event.

MPSJ then issued a temporary permit to the organisers, Future Sound Asia Sdn Bhd, on April 21, to stage the concert, subject to certain conditions. They included ­ensuring that there would be no one under the age of 18 attending the concert, and that Muslims are also forbidden to attend.

The police have cited security reasons for their decision and have denied that they acted following a complaint by Seri Serdang state assemblyman Noor Hanim Ismail, who wrote an official letter objecting to the concert.

The PAS representative reportedly said it was her responsibility as a Muslim legislator to stop the concert, which is sponsored by beer company Heineken, as it would have an adverse social impact on society.

Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma)’s Youth wing has also reportedly backed the authorities’ decision to withdraw support for Thirst 2015, claiming the event encourages the consumption of alcohol.

Pardon the expression but these objections have left a bitter taste in my mouth. As a non-Muslim who drinks, I believe I have the right to enjoy a party with alcohol served. It is not for PAS or Isma to pass moral judgement on non-Muslims as the conditions clearly stated that Muslims would not be allowed to participate.

Thank you very much to non-Muslims who cast their votes for PAS candidates in the 2013 general election. Thank you for believing that PAS policies, including the implementation of hudud laws, would not affect non-Muslims.

Before this issue broke out, there was also a lot of debate generated when it was revealed that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had proposed that males and females be segregated during concerts. Its guidelines included a section on dealing with the organisation of entertain­ment events whereby Jakim said such programmes should not allow “mixing (percampuran) of males and females in the audience”.

The guidelines were endorsed during the 107th National Fatwa Committee Meeting held on Feb 10 and 11 this year.

According to reports, the guidelines also specified that concert organisers should not allow pergaulan bebas (mingling) between men and women during rehearsals.

Needless to say, it created a furore among Malaysians of all races for its impracticality and the controversy was also widely reported in neighbouring countries.

Jakim subsequently backpedalled and clarified it was merely a guideline. Well, if Malaysians had not spoken up, it could well be regarded as a regulation.

It would appear no one gave any thought as to how the gender segregation proposal could be implemented. Would it mean married couples have to be seated separately? And does the rule apply to non-Muslims as well? If it is a yes, the rights of non-­Muslims would surely be infringed. And we all know that some members of our royalty, including certain Sultans and their families, like attending concerts. Would the regulation be applicable to them as well?

It has also been reported that Jakim has ruled that jokes made during performances must be appropriate and cannot lead to “excessive laughter”.

Now, who is to decide what kind of jokes would be deemed appropriate and is there such a thing as “moderate laughter”? This sounds really absurd, even to an advocate of moderation like me.

But by now, Malaysians have got used to such absurdities. Three years ago, a Singaporean dance troupe was denied a permit to perform here owing to their “indecent” costumes. Puspal was reportedly against the female dancers wearing tutus as well as the tights worn by men.

If ballet dancers do not wear tutus and tights, then what are they supposed to wear? In the end, it had to take the minister to knock some sense into them.

The point here is this – do we always need to run to the Prime Minister or Minister for something as ordinary as holding a concert?

Back in 2008, the promoter of the Avril Lavigne concert, someone I know, was in tears because there was pressure from PAS leader Nasruddin Hassan for the show to be cancelled. Imagine the financial losses he had to bear. Even though the argument was frivolous, there were few Umno leaders who had the courage to speak up against this politician.

Lavigne may just be a skinny artiste to most of her fans but Nasruddin, now the MP for Temerloh, found her too sultry and sexy to be allowed to perform in Kuala Lumpur. The promoter was desperate but thankfully was able to seek the help of then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to intervene and allow the show to proceed.

Interestingly enough, in the 2013 elections, there were enough Chinese voters who supported Nasruddin to help him defeat the incumbent MP, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, now a fellow moderation advocate.

Malaysia is in danger of becoming a basket case with extreme theologians and communal champions appearing to combine their strengths to push their agendas.

If moderate Malaysians do not speak up, or prefer to let others do the job, we will be heading towards a Malaysia which our founding fathers never envisioned.

There will be no turning back if we do not speak up for a moderate Malaysia. We must insist on the middle ground.

Building caretaker showing the empty space where the Cross was brought down following a protest by residents at Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya.

LIKE most Christians in this country, I am sad rather than angry over the protest staged by about 50 people demanding the removal of a cross at a church in Taman Medan in Selangor.

In fact, if some of the protesters have their way, they would want the church to leave the area because of its predominantly Muslim population.

This flawed argument feeds on the fears of these people, and we are not even sure if they actually represent the views of the majority as they claimed. The demonstration may well be the work of some local politicians.

But it is clear enough that some of the remarks made at that demonstration last Sunday seem to stem from ignorance, prejudice and even plain bigotry.

They include the claim that the sight of a cross in a Muslim area challenged Islam and could influence the young.

Just a few months ago, hundreds of protesters gathered at a development site in Taman Keramat, claiming that their Malay-majority neighbourhood would be overrun by the Chinese because of the ongoing project.

The rowdy protesters stormed into the construction site of the condominium project, Datum Jelatek, after tearing down its zinc hoardings.

It was revealed later that their fears were unfounded, or rather false, as the developer, the Selangor State Development Corporation, confirmed that the majority of bookings were by the Malays.

Although it is wrong to play the racial card, we must acknowledge that the fears of the urbanites being pushed aside by development in their own areas are real.

Many of them, especially the urban poor, struggle to own homes in the areas which had been their home for generations because the new developments are beyond their reach.

Still, incidents like these, which smack of racism, have left many Malaysians, especially non-Malays, wondering about the state of affairs in this country.

We love this country, like the rest of our brothers and sisters, regardless of their race and religion. Malaysia remains our country and our only home.

There is nowhere else to go. Just because we are of ethnic Chinese and Indian origin does not mean we can just pack our bags and head to China and India, as some ignorant ones think.

Our hearts bleed when such incidents happen. Worse, despite the inflammatory racial remarks made at Taman Keramat, no one has been arrested or charged over that incident so far.

Can cynical Malaysians be blamed if they assume that no one would be arrested or charged over the Taman Medan protest as well?

We salute the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Cabinet for their strong stand against what had taken place.

Our politicians, as well as some individuals and groups, should stop harping on the wrong belief that Malays and Islam are under siege in our country.

The statistics themselves already prove that this is not possible. The Malays are the substantive majority, and their fertility rate is such that their numbers are growing. In contrast, both the Chinese and the Indian communities are shrinking.

As for religion, Islam is firmly entrenched as the religion of the country, even as the freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Constitution.

The official statistics reveal that Muslims constitute 60.4% of the population, Buddhist (19.2%), Christian (9.1%), Hindu (6.3%), Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions (2.6%), other or unknown (1.5%), and none (0.8%).

It is unfortunate that so many issues today are still seen through racial and religious perspectives.

Which is why many are under pressure to only speak out for their own community and faith, right or wrong. Those who are prepared to point out the flaws in some of the extreme arguments of their own communities are often condemned. And many just remain silent.

But talk of moderation would remain hollow if we are not able to take the internal pressures.

Our conscience requires us to speak up against those who cannot draw the line between right and wrong. How can we remain silent when something that is so fundamentally wrong happens in front of our eyes?

Coming back to Taman Medan, the argument that a place of worship belonging to a minority cannot be set up in a Muslim-majority area is deeply flawed.

Everyone is entitled to profess and practise his faith freely. That is clearly defined in our Federal Constitution.

Although our nation is predominantly Muslim, there are also many areas in states like Penang, Sabah and Sarawak where they are actually in the minority. But like everyone else, they too have the right to set up mosques and worship freely even if their numbers are not large.

No one should tell Muslims to pray elsewhere in areas with more Muslims, for example. That would surely be unacceptable. The protesters in Taman Medan obviously never thought of this angle.

Likewise, in Europe and the United States, Muslims should be given the right to build mosques and should not face any form of restrictions in the practice of their faith.

What has happened in Taman Medan should open the eyes, the ears and most importantly, the hearts of all Malaysians on the predicament faced by Christians in this country. The fact that Christians have to set up places of worship in commercial and industrial lots should lead us to question why this has become the norm.

These are certainly far from perfect refuges to worship God. It is not unusual to have churches being set up above coffee shops, and the worshippers just have to bear with the din downstairs.

The traditional churches, with all their architectural grandeur, are relics of the past. These were churches built during the British colonial days and they cannot accommodate many of the new Christians who have their own denominations.

Today, Christians have to fight bureaucracy, mostly at council level, and other obstacles, just to set up a church where they can pray and worship the God they believe in.

It is even more difficult for independent churches like the Community of Praise in Taman Medan, with only about 20 people in its congregation. It is not part of the mainstream church with its proper structure and support facilities.

But the incident has certainly put this relatively unknown Tamil language church located in a shoplot in the national spotlight.

The future of the church is not clear. Obviously, the congregation does not want any controversy or conflict with the local community. That is not the Christian way.

The fact that they were quick to take down the cross, as demanded by the protesters, shows that they are peacemakers in line with the teachings of their faith. But the action itself must have broken their hearts.

We all need to understand the religions of fellow Malaysians. We must not be suspicious of each other because there is beauty in all religions.

No religion teaches bad things. We need to emphasise on the common values such as compassion, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, mutual respect and acceptance.

It is dangerously selfish of anyone, especially small time politicians, to use race and religion to win votes.

And when such personalities spew racist and religious rhetoric freely, without the fear of facing the wrath of the law, it only emboldens the extremists to continue what they are doing. And others will join in believing they have the superior right to do so.

Those on the receiving end will assume, rightly or wrongly, that there are different sets of laws for different people, or worse, different communities.

Our leaders must understand they represent all Malaysians. A government of one faith or one race has no legitimacy in multi-racial Malaysia.

Any political party that assumes it does not need the support of other races is simply arrogant. Such a belief is surely a recipe for disaster at the polls.

The Rukunegara is clear – Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan – or the Belief in God. We pray for Malaysia and its leaders to do the right thing and to right the wrongs.

The reality is that politicians, as public figures, can no longer ask for privacy. After all, no one asked them to be politicians and they cannot cherry-pick their choice of publicity.

WELL, it was only a matter of time before this came out. Images of Malaysian politicians wearing luxury watches, as well as cheap ones as a comparison, have gone viral on social media.

Those named have chosen to remain quiet except for Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was clearly peeved.

He defended his purchase of three luxury watches allegedly worth more than RM1mil in total, saying he was a corporate figure before becoming a politician.

The Umno vice-president questioned the need for the Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) to monitor watches worn by politicians.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan also quickly defended himself on Twitter although he wasn’t highlighted prominently in the expose, saying he has never owned a RM40,000 Rolex Submariner.

Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin were implicated in the watch issue.

Social media has become both a boon and bane to politicians everywhere. From their choice of restaurants to how they shop and what they want to buy, politicians and their spouses have never been so openly scrutinised.

It is no longer about the paparazzi or press. Anyone who has a smartphone is able to capture anyone else in a public place and post that image online.

The reality is that politicians, as public figures, can no longer ask for privacy. Public figures only have public lives. After all, no one asked them to be politicians and they cannot cherry-pick their choice of publicity.

Politicians with expensive watches are now the talking point of the Malaysian public, but they are not the first to come under such scrutiny.

Four years ago, Chinese officials wearing such high-end watches found themselves being watched. An official of ministerial rank earned only RM50,000 a year, so questions were raised on how certain officials could afford luxury brands like Rolex, Piaget, Omega and Cartier, which probably cost more than half of their annual income.

Those caught in the exposé by the Chinese Internet activist included China’s railways minister Sheng Guangzu.

Among the reported glittering timepieces identified by an activist when he zoomed in for a closer look at Sheng’s wrist were a Rolex Oyster Perpetual DateJust, a Piaget Altiplano and an Omega Constellation.

Together, these three timepieces were worth a total of 400,000 yuan (RM237,000).

Ironically, Sheng took over the job after the previous railways minister Liu Zhijun was arrested and investigated for corruption, with reports in China’s official media alleging that he had taken up to RM500mil in bribes.

Sheng lost his job after the ministry was dismantled.

Nearer to home, Indonesia’s military commander was photographed wearing a watch from Richard Mille brand’s Filipe Massa collection, reportedly worth more than RM360,000.

Gen Moeldoko quickly refuted the accusation, saying the timepiece was actually a cheap Chinese fake worth only five million rupiah (RM1,400).

To prove his point, he removed his watch and showed it to reporters who were covering his press conference, saying “this is a Chinese-made fake watch… how could such a watch be original?” while slamming the watch onto the floor.

A Singapore website had also shown photos of Moeldoko wearing other luxury watches.

Moeldoko appeared unnecessarily defensive as he actually comes from a very wealthy family with numerous land assets.

In fact, he had reported to the anti-graft commission last year that he had assets worth about 36 billion rupiah (RM10mil).

Back to Malaysia. There must be something about watches, especially for male politicians. There could be a correlation between an expensive watch and the male ego but for sure, a watch can land many male politicians into trouble.

Well, it happened to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in that infamous sex video involving a man resembling the opposition politician.

To refresh our memories, a mysterious video purportedly featuring Anwar surfaced in Kuala Lumpur in 2011, allegedly showing him having sex with a Chinese woman believed to be a prostitute.

The trio of Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik, Datuk Shazryl Eskay and Datuk Shuib Lazim, who referred to themselves as “Datuk T”, showed the video to some members of the press, including this writer, at Carcosa Seri Negara.

The single luxurious fashion accessory that was mentioned was an Omega watch said to be worn by the man resembling Anwar on that day.

One of the Datuk Ts was allegedly asked by the person in the video to pick up the watch, which the latter had accidentally left in the room.

That Datuk T, who is actually Shazryl Eskay, claimed to have the watch in his possession before handing it to the police for further investigation.

Of course, Anwar was challenged to reproduce the infamous Omega watch but he denied that he was the man in the video.

Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has insisted she has in her possession the expensive watch, which some said was a gift from a Saudi Arabian royal family burnished with a royal crest, but until now, no one has seen it.

While Malaysians do not expect our politicians to live like paupers or lead a pretentious life of poverty, what most of us find hard to swallow is the flaunting of wealth. Such a blatant show of extravagance will certainly not go down well with most Malaysians struggling with their daily lives.

Malaysians already find it hard to understand why many of our politicians must go everywhere with an entourage – don’t these government officials or party leaders have work to do?

If only they could emulate the likes of Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Wahid Omar and Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who are all so simply down to earth.

Travellers taking the ERL from KL Sentral to KLIA have often seen Mustapa travelling alone with no hangers-on.

The reality is that political leaders are being watched closely – not just them, but also their spouses and children. And it is not just about what they indulge in, but also their behaviour.

Our leaders need to stay connected to ordinary Malaysians. They need to be sensitive so that they can understand fully how most of us cope on a daily basis.