Voice of Insanity
The voices in my head… they talk to me…
Political Islam
Feb 1st
As a Malaysian and a Muslim, I’m ashamed at the lynch mob mentality of *some* fellow Muslims in Malaysia. Think about it, the level of thinking of some of today’s Malay Malaysians are in the same level as Americans who a few hundred years ago who in groups accused people of performing witchcraft and who then were subsequently burned at the stake.
I blame this solely on the UMNO propagated education system that deviates a lot of Malays from true Islam. Instead they are force fed garbage churned out by UMNO linked NGO’s and religious bodies. In order to push "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay Supremacy), they needed to push "Ketuanan Islam" (Islamic Supremacy) to the Malay masses.
While Islam says you have to be fair and just to everyone, these mob push the idea that in Malaysia, because Islam is the "official religion of the federation" – as a Muslim they get to do whatever they want even if this violates Islam. Muslims must not be seen anywhere near a pig. Heck, its even censored from the movies. But the cow, the holy animal for the Hindus can have its carcass proudly displayed in night markets. Islamic preaching can be heard demeaning non-Muslims through blaring microphone after prayers. Hindu temples get demolished while mosque spurt out everywhere, even in locations reserved for community playground. It seems that if you’re a Muslim in Malaysia, you do not have to consider anyone else.
“Islam is the official religion of the federation” is corrupted to mean “Islam supersedes the constitutional rights of Malaysians”. By giving Syariah courts credibility, they mock the long standing equality of the civil courts giving rise to a whole group of problems when Islam mixes with other religions.
Syariah law enactment and state laws furthered this "supremacy" but setting up rules and regulations for non-Muslims. Because Syariah law is sold as "God’s law" in Malaysia – non-Muslims fight a losing battle from the beginning. These laws give religious enforcement bodies to pretty much whatever they want to do and not even the police can question them. Even constitutional rights of a citizen does not matter to these mob for as far as they are concerned, they are Muslim, they are Malays and that gives them the rights to pretty much rape the system!
A few days ago I was told that religious enforcement officials were citing an Indian curry house because they had their deities in the shop. The reason : Because Malays cannot enter the shop to eat! Such feudalistic approach to religion is borders blasphemous to Islam itself. These so called religious officials are rewriting Islam to suit Malaysian political needs – and Malaysia is paying the price for it.
All one has to do is look though the publication of IKIM etc to see that these organisations have not one ounce of credibility. They portray Islam being fair and just but feed the opposite to the Muslim community. For a Muslim, it is wrong to be come a munafiq (hypocrite) but these Islamic Political Opportunists are pretty much breeding munafiq Malay Muslims. A fine example is this the Allah Issue. Some how, Malaysian Islamic laws is opposite of how the rest of the world practices!
As a Muslim, I am now at a crossroads. I find that I can no longer trust what is preached by these religious officials. In fact the more I discuss Malaysian Islam with Muslims from the Middle East, the more I’m convinced that we have it wrong here. Just a few days ago there were reports that Malaysian religious bodies are giving lectures and warning the Muslims there is going to be a civil war over the Allah issue. Just when you think that these UMNO goons cannot possibly sink any lower – they surprise you by showing how slimy they really are…
The problem is, we are a multi racial country. Muslims fail to fathom that for this country to prosper we need everyone – to work together. If Malaysian Muslims keep pushing their will onto the non-Muslims, sooner or later even the most submissive will start to push back.
Allah in Context
Jan 14th
Common statement : "It is a proper noun exclusive to the Islamic faith"
This is a not true. Allah is an Arabic word for God. Its used very widely in the Middle East. It was not "created" in the Malay language but "borrowed" from Arabic.
Prophet Muhammad was an Arab. His language was Arabic. The Angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad in Arabic and Allah conveyed his message initially to Muhammad through Gabriel.
So in what way all this is specific to only Islam ? Not all Muslims speak Arabic for one and isn’t Allah’s revelation is for all of mankind ?
Besides, if Allah is the name of the God of the Arabs, why are some Malaysian Malays making a fuss over it ? As far as I know, Malays are not Arabs. Even the Arabs seems to be happily going with their business with their Christian brethren over centuries without a fuss – why are some Malaysian Malays ?
All over the world, with any language with some roots with Arabic, like Persia and Punjab, Allah is used to mean God.
Hence no one in Malaysia can "copyright" Allah.
By seeking to "copyright" Allah in Malaysia, it is the most deviating from Islam because in Islam, Allah is universal and supreme. There is no such thing in Islam that says Allah belongs to Malaysian Muslims.
This is why even our most religious Muslims in Middle East did not seek to "copyright" Allah. In fact Quran specifically says that Allah is for "people of the book", the followers for Abrahamic faith. So are Malaysian Muslims changing the Quran now ?
A lot of people talk about "context of usage" when it comes to Allah. But Allah isn’t about context. As a Muslim we should know that if not we are munafiq. What does this mean ? It means just because we technically pray five times a day, fast etc doesn’t make us automatically a Muslim.
Being a Muslim is about understanding. Islam is about brotherhood. We stand united in prayers because of this. But aren’t all people bothers ? Allah created them too. So what right do we have to destroy Allah’s creation if we disagree ? Aren’t we disagreeing with Allah then ? Islam is about charity. Why then do we look at only to serve Muslim needs in Malaysia. Why not help all our brothers. Islam is about compassion and servitude. Why is it then we talk about being Malay more than being a Muslim ? Is being a Malay is more important than Allah ?
Remember, rejecting Christianity means rejecting the Quran as well as Quran talks a lot about Jesus. We were blessed with the Quran for the benefit of all mankind. Not only for Muslims.
As Muslims, we have to open our arms and trust in our faith. If we think that the moment someone says Allah, our faith will erode – that makes us munafiq.
Allah for all.
Owning Allah
Jan 13th
It really makes me wonder about some Muslim Politicians. They love to go about trying to portray as if Malaysia is a lawless country where everyone can do anything they want.
Malaysia has a legal system. Its legal system originates from England because our forefathers chose it to use it as a base. If our forefathers, who were really good Muslims, wanted a Syariah based legal system, they would have implemented it yonks ago. Instead to be fair to all races and religions – they chose a common law to ensure everyone is equal under law.
First and foremost this must be understood by Muslims and non Muslims alike – we already have a legal system and a good one at that. Why segregate people using Syariah law ?
Second, Syariah law may be God’s law, but its implementation is still by human beings and everyone knows when it comes to religion – its full of ulterior motives. Syariah is biased when it comes to non-Muslims. With current Malaysian constitutional law, there could be chance that one day a non-Muslim could become the prime minister. Syariah removes all abilities of that. It hands Muslims a silver platter and removes the rights of individuals – Muslims and non Muslims alike. It leaves the rule of law to theology and politicians with ulterior motives than to benefit the common folk. The state of Syariah implementations in countries across the world shows this clearly.
Third, forcing Syariah into a country with existing laws is a form of extremism. Think about it. The National Registration Department registers births, deaths etc. So if someone walks into NRD and wants to change their religion – what business does NRD or anyone for that matter (except God) to the choice of the person ? Why should a person who doesn’t want to practice a religion be forced to stay in it ? Muslims talk about progressive and intellectual thinking but when it comes to God, they act as if they are cave people. Why regulate something that doesn’t need regulating. Why is it that when it comes to Islam, the states are so insecure in thinking that everyone is just waiting to leave Islam ? Is there something they are hiding that is a ticking time bomb which is going to make Malaysian Muslims leave Islam in groups ? What do they mean by regulation – flogging people until they submit ? Is this what Syariah and Islam is all about ?
Fourth, while Islam does not have moral policing, Syariah and its implementers actively encourage it. More often than not this brings more harm than good. So giving Syariah law criminal jurisdiction encourages abuse. Leave policing to the police. That’s what they are paid to do.
Fifth, its a fallacy and outright lie that Malays are automatically Muslims. East Malaysian Malays are Christians. They have been Christians for generations.
Islamic politics in Malaysia are causing Malaysian Muslims to deviate away from the true Islamic religion to deviant fundamentalism by the day. The current issue with "Allah" is the perfect example… Malaysian Muslims seem to want to *own* Allah in a misguided attempt to achieve superiority over other races. This is not Islamic in any way. Malaysian Muslims are confused in thinking that Allah belongs to the Muslims. This is how deviant they have been from true Islam. Allah is an Abrahamic God. It is the same God for Jews, Christians and Muslims. This is repeated multiple times in the Quran. Here lies the bigger problem. The average Malaysian Muslims doesn’t read the Quran. He merely memorizes it and leave it to some religious leader to fill in the blanks. When you don’t go to the source, you get a lot of crap in the mix. This is why Malaysian Muslims in general have become so deviant. They have become so ignorant about the fundamentals of Islam. Islam is about brotherhood. This means you cannot go kill someone just because you disagree with them. Islam is about charity. Every year, in the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast to remind themselves of this important thing. Charity means the ability to share and give. So why do Malaysian Muslims need to own Allah? Islam means submissive. Why is it for some Malaysian Muslims, being Malay is more important than being a Muslim ? Why do they need their affirmative policies when Islam says everyone is equal ?
Finally, Muslim politicians must understand that we are in a country with laws. And that law is absolute and for everyone. Over the decades this law has been raped by UMNO politicians to suit their own agendas – the last thing we need is politicians from other parties doing the same thing – in the name of Islam. Religion and politics should not be mixed in anyway because it will always be biased towards the religion – no matter how good the intention may be. The more biased it becomes the higher chance of it being deviant from the true teachings of the religion. Islam is in very big danger of this.
I’ll leave you with this thought : God blesses all humans with money, health, wealth, rain and food. Why should Muslims discriminate non Muslims over the same thing ? Are Muslims more important than God ?
Indoctrination
Dec 9th
Response to this article on The Nutgraph.
A very good observation about indoctrination. BTN and indoctrination exists because :
1. To ensure that UMNO’s version of Islam is permeated throughout the nation. Think about it. Every single religious official is hand picked and fed UMNO’s version of Islam. That it is ok to tread on non-Muslim rights, its OK to be racists, corruption is OK and that Malaysian Malays are better than anyone else.
2. To ensure that citizens, especially those in government have the servitude mentality especially to the powers that be. To unconditionally serve UMNO’s purposes. Anything less than that – you are made to believe that you are the enemy of the state.
3. To ensure that every citizen, especially Malay Malaysians are suspect of other citizens. Only UMNO can be trusted. This *trust* cannot be extended to any other BN component parties and other races. Ever wonder why all top government posts are now filled with specifically of Malaysian Malays ? Specifically Armed Forces, Police including Special Branch, Rela etc. Who will these security forces serve should the opposition ever win the elections ? Worse still, will they serve UMNO and destabilize the country ? As it is no secret that the Royal Malaysian Police along with its Special Branch exclusively work in unison with UMNO.
4. The education system is politically motivated to ensure maximum indoctrination about the Malay race. Historical facts about Parameswara, Munshi Abdullah, Hang Li Po have been systematically eradicated from the syllabus or reduces to mere lines. Why? It doesn’t fit into the Malay supremacy ideology. Neither does archaeological studies on chandi in Bruas Kedah. Terms like Merong Mahawangsa, Chola Empire, GanggaNagara etc have all a distant memory. Ask any school going kids these days – they never heard of it! But, instead students are made to learn about Arab culture which have no bearing on Malaysia or Malaysian Malays. Sure Islam is the "official" religion, but since when Malay Muslims became Arabs ? The identity of Malay Malaysians have slowly been turned into Arab culture over the decades to fit into UMNO’s Islamisation policies.
Has anyone stopped to ask why indoctrination and BTN so important so much so that BTN reports to the Prime Minister’s Department ? The answer is : Dr. Mahathir. If you have all your citizens under your thumb you can do whatever you want. Every single government department under Mahathir’s rule was filled with UMNO loyalists who exist till today. And Mahathir got away with it for a long long time. He had the citizens and even the royals under his thumb. His fatal flaw was he didn’t realise how popular DSAI is.
Still BTN continues the damage control on Mahathir’s behalf – painting DSAI as a traitor to the Malay race. BTN is the remnants of the Mahathir legacy. His gift to the average Malaysian from all walks of life. BTN is the reason why government service desks are rude. BTN is the reason why corruption is rife in the police force. BTN is the reason why people like Kugan are treated like animals by the police. BTN produced generation of "Cow Head Protestors". BTN produced religious extremists who now are in high religious positions pumping out fatwas like printing press.
BTN and its indoctrination is Dr Mahathir’s view of Malaysia but just has Adolf Hitler envisaged his Aryan race – its only a dream. Or is it ? Every day we hear Utusan and other Malay propaganda machinery warn us "Do not mess with the Malays". What is it that they know that they rest of us don’t. Is there a Plan B for UMNO ? Will there be a martial law exercised should the current government fall ?
In order for UMNO to set up an indoctrination plan – it first must believe that there is a clear and present danger of dissent in Malaysian society. BTN is the first line of defence. If so, what is the last line ?
Objectivity
Nov 24th
My response to this article in The Nutgraph.
Dear Deborah,
Thank you for taking your time to write to us. I really appreciate that you take your time to look at your work objectively and it really reflects in your articles.
Allow me to defend my fellow Malaysians for a moment. A lot of us grew up learning that submission to higher authority was the key to a better Malaysia. We grew up during scandals of Pewaja, Judicial Crisis and the infamous Anwar trials. Everywhere we turned we were facing corrupt cops, corrupt system, corrupt politicians.
Malaysia has to be the only country in the world that every Malaysian know every dirty little dirty laundry of the government and is discussed at every Mamak stall.
When we turned to religion – we were again found that our choices were again taken away from us. Especially for Muslims we have our rights stripped away from us. But the fact of the matter is, no one is even allowed to question these rules whether they are even truly Islamic at all!
The result – we Malaysians are a jaded bunch. We are cynical of everything and we don’t trust the system. So at every opportunity we try to beat it.
The result, from every single parking ticket to the ministerial appointment – we just don’t believe in it. Our lives is spent trying to make the most of what we have.
But something happened in the last decade. Malaysians became more organised. They realised they are not alone in thinking that there is a lot of pent up frustrations around them. Years of neglect by the people whom they voted for some of them came to the realisation that – thinks may never change so they accepted their fate. Others however wanted change so bad their voices in the dark grew louder.
So you see dear Deborah, its not hard to understand why Malaysians seldom take middle ground in anything. Most of us are just kids rebelling against the elders for the first time in their lives. We never learnt the subtle art of diplomacy – it was either submit or resist.
With every single avenue such as mainstream media, police, MACC, EC (and even the royalty) under the tight leash of the ruling party its hard to voice our opinion and be head. So when we do voice it out, how can we not be biased ?
In fact I find most Malaysians most restraint because they have been putting up with our leaders under the most difficult conditions and yet give respect to them instead of throwing sandals like in other country. In return, this respect is paid back by unleashing the police, firing tear gasses at women and children and arresting lawyers.
Unfortunately Deborah, my fellow Malaysians don’t know when to stop. They dump everyone they come across into the same bowl and come out with stinging critiques to friend or foe. How could they – they never learnt rationalisation. When you write something they like – you’re a hero. If not – you are devil incarnate. Nothing is taken with a pinch of salt and taken time to reflect.
Look on the bright side Deborah. For the first time in the lives of most Malaysians, old and young, we are truly expressing ourselves – because powers that be cannot stop us. They can kill our spirit, they can kill our body – but they cannot kill the idea of a better Malaysia. And this Deborah, why you and I are here.
Deborah, I believe its apt to finish with the lyrics from Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire (for those who are used to this song, it is about the defining moments in US history…) :
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggioJoe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn MonroeRosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I", and "The Catcher in the Rye"Eisenhower, vaccine, England’s got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbyeCHORUS
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itJosef Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist BlocRoy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron
Dien Bien Phu Falls, Rock Around the ClockEinstein, James Dean, Brooklyn’s got a winning team
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, DisneylandBardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, Peyton Place, Trouble in the SuezWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itLittle Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, Bridge On The River KwaiLebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California Baseball,
Starkwether, Homicide, Children of ThalidomideBuddy Holly, Ben Hur, Space Monkey, Mafia
Hula Hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-goU2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the CongoWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itHemingway, Eichmann, Stranger in a Strange Land,
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasionLawrence of Arabia, British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats PattersonPope Paul, Malcolm X, British Politician sex
J.F.K. blown away, what else do I have to sayWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itBirth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rockBegin, Reagan, Palestine, Terror on the airline
Ayatollah’s in Iran, Russians in AfghanistanWheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide
Foreign debts, homeless Vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie GoetzHypodermics on the shores, China’s under martial law
Rock and Roller cola wars, I can’t take it anymoreWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still burn on, and on, and on, and on…We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire…
The meaning to the lyrics above is available here : http://www.school-for-champions.com/history/start_fire_facts.htm
Malaysian Indians
Nov 20th
More than three years ago I wrote to Malaysiakini warning that Malaysian Indians were in danger of becoming insignificant and a pariah in their own country.
Malaysian Indians are good for only one thing – they are hard workers. They will give their life for their employer while getting paid pittance. Apart from that they are mainly ignored by the politically empowered Malays and the business minded Chinese.
The few Malaysian Indians who make it don’t bother to help their kind. The entire community is stuck in a rut fuelled by ignorance and frustration based gangsters.
Malaysian Indians, like there overseas cousins in India have also absolute loyalty to their leader to the extent of devotion. How else would a thug and a gangster who became a leader of MIC would be at the helm of a political part for multiple of decades?
Tamil schools in Malaysia are in shambles ignored by the Ministry of Education. At work they are overlooked for promotion. They are few options for Indians to be successful in Malaysia. The one place they truly excel is in the field of law.
The Malays are united by their religion and politics. The Chinese are united by their love of money. But little unites Indians. They don’t help each other. How else do you explain that Hindraf was formed after decades of silent suffering of the Indian community.
It is sad to the a race that is more than five thousand years old that have forgotten where they came from. It is sad to see them live and idle life filled with tragedy and violence. Indian men lead the statistics in alcohol abuse and violence against women.
It is of no surprise that last week a young mother killed herself and her children in grief over her brother who was shot dead by the police.
At this day and age, one would think that you would only see such things in Indian movies. But for many Indians, this is a reality. The harshness of surviving in Malaysia.
They were brought in as indentured labourers by the British. In their minds they are still in shackled by their need to be mastered. Their need to serve.
What is the future of the Malaysian Indians ? Will they accept their destiny of once great Indian empire that nations across the world feared or will they quietly disappear into the void forgotten in the still of the night ?
How To Promote 1Malaysia Overseas
Oct 30th
Source : Sydney Morning Herald
‘Marry single mums instead of young virgin girls’
October 30, 2009 – 7:02AM
Malaysia’s conservative Islamic party has urged Muslim men to marry single mothers as additional wives instead of “young virgin girls”, a state official said.
Wan Ubaidah Omar, a cabinet minister from northern Kelantan, which the party controls, said the proposal aired in state parliament this week was needed to help single mothers and widows in the under-developed region.
“Muslim men usually like young girls or virgins as their additional wives, so I suggest instead of taking these young virgin girls, why don’t they marry the single mothers as their second or third wife?” she said.
“This will ease the burden of the single mothers as the men can help them to take care of their children. The single ladies have no burden,” said Wan Ubaidah, who is in charge of women, family and health affairs in the state.
Muslim men in Malaysia are allowed to marry up to four women but Islamic courts must approve multiple marriages before they take place. About 60 per cent of the country’s 27 million population are Muslims.
Women’s groups here have campaigned against polygamy, saying it is cruel and has deviated from its original purpose in Islam, which was to protect widows and orphans.
Wan Ubaidah said her call was not meant to encourage polygamous marriage but as a way to help at least 16,500 single mothers aged under 60 in Kelantan, a state that has one of the highest divorce rates in the country.
“Even if I don’t make the suggestion, these men are going to marry the second, third wife anyway but I have to emphasise that under Islam, only those who have the social and economic capacity can have additional wives,” she said.
The minister also called for husbands who leave their wives without good reason to be whipped under religious laws.
“Some of these husbands just go missing in action suddenly, and leave the wives without any food or money. These kind of men should be whipped, they deserve it,” Wan Ubaidah said.
“This punishment is not in the state sharia law at the moment, but we can make it a law to make men more responsible; there is a lot of room for improvement in the legal system to protect the welfare of women,” she added.
AFP
Sheer Stupidity!
Oct 29th
Once in a while you hear things that happen in Malaysia that defies sanity. The sheer stupidity of what is proposed is only superseded by the arrogance of Malaysian politicians.
Here it is :
Published: Wednesday October 28, 2009 MYT 3:53:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday October 28, 2009 MYT 4:10:09 PMAwards for reps who take single mums as 2nd wives!
By SYED AZHAR
KOTA BARU: Kelantan Women, Family and Health committee chairman Wan Ubaidah Omar suggested that awards be given to assemblymen for marrying single mothers should they decide to take another wife.
Her suggestion drew support from backbenchers — all of them men — who started thumping their palms on the table at the Kelantan State Assembly on Wednesday.
She said the assemblymen could increase their quota to help single mothers with young children and it would help greatly if the assemblymen assisted by marrying them.
Her statement prompted house speaker Nassuruddin Daud to ask Wan Ubaidah to explain the word “quota.”
“What I meant by quota is the number of wives; awards should be given to learned House members who take the lead in doing this and also for those who have already married single mothers.
“This would help to reduce the number of single mothers in the state,” she said in reply to a question by Hassan Mahmood (PAS-Tawang), who had asked what was being done to reduce the number of divorce cases and what efforts were being taken by the state government to help single mothers.
To a supplementary question, Wan Ubaidah said that based on state records, there were 16,500-registered single mothers below the age of 60 in Kelantan and this figure did not include those who had been left in the lurch by their husbands.
She said one dilemma facing some single mothers in Kelantan and the country as a whole was that many of them could not register at the Welfare Department or related agencies because their husbands had left them without filing for divorce.
She said that she agreed with the call by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Nik Mat to whip irresponsible husbands who left their wives high and dry without any reason.
She said Kelantan spent RM2mil annually to look after the welfare of single mothers who had no source of income.
“Apart from that, we have organised entrepreneurial workshops to help single mothers earn a living.
“The government has also organised talks to educate the immediate families of single mothers to take the initiative to help and not leave them alone to fend for themselves.
“We have had similar educational talks for husbands who had divorced their wives to encourage them to pay alimony to help their ex-wives get on with their lives,” she added.
Credit Cards
Oct 28th
My comment on this article in TheNutGraph.
Tony, I agree with you. Its time to move away from credit cards. I used to have three of them with a total credit of AUD35,000. I cancelled them all. Now I have one National Australia Bank Velocity card – with a limit of AUD2000 and I get frequent flier points on Virgin (and Malaysian Airline) flights.
Its not that I can’t afford it. But years in the financial services sector made me realise that banks and financial institutions WANT you to be a debtor.
They make money from debt. Having money in the bank doesn’t do much. But having debt makes money for them. See if you have a cards worth $35,000 that’s the amount of interest they make on your card – even if you don’t use them, through various surcharges.
This is why companies are tripping over themselves to give you credit. They want you to spend. They want you to be in debt.
This is also why the the rich get richer and the the middle class and the poor are stuck in debt. We have moved form having cash in hand to a world where "we could potentially have cash".
So if you want to get out of the rut :
- cancel as many cards as possible.
- remove cards that don’t provide benefit.
- choose the lowest interest best value cards.
- use cards as a nice to have, not mandatory.
- shop around for best prices.
- buy only what you need.
One more thing, I noticed when I was in Malaysia that most merchants charge a certain percentage as a fee for using credit cards. Do not fall into this trap. The charge is supposed to be a charge for the merchant, not you. They shouldn’t pass it to you.
Mark my words, to encourage the sale of credit card applications, most credit card vendors will find a way to "absorb" this new tax or pass it to you in a way you will not notice. Very few card vendors give you any real value for the cards they provide.
CTOS, Malaysia’s leading credit mis-information organisation is excellent at providing outdated credit information for sale. Should you cancel credit cards, please update your information with CTOS, or it might affect your future loan application.
Bottom line, nothing beats having cold hard cash in your bank account. Its just a choice between lifestyle and prudent spending. When I found that I was spending too much time going out, I confined myself to a self imposed exile. The result, my bank balance was AUD10,000 healthier.
Do what works for you. But the reality is too much credit is bad. Najib’s idea of imposing this tax is a silly idea consumers have to be smarter. Its your money you’re voting with.
I will also leave you with this website : http://www.creditcardscompare.com.au/
Its an Australian site that compares all the cards on offer here so people can make informed choice. I am not sure if there is a similar Malaysian site but the point being find something that matches your requirement.
CTOS Reloaded
Oct 26th
Once in a while I do a bit of research about CTOS, and I come across some good articles. Here is one.
I do agree, I don’t expect CTOS to be close. I expect them to be more accountable. Especially when they deal with private and confidential information.
It seems to me that private financial records are available to anyone – including loan sharks in Malaysia. Who is responsible for providing such information – CTOS.
In most countries, Privacy Act ensures that outdated information is expired after 5 to 7 years. Not CTOS, it keeps the information forever – which is unethical.
Worse still, banks use this information as a primary source of credit reporting. So should CTOS be regulated – absolutely. CTOS must be accountable for the information they carry.
At the moment they wash their hands on the public by saying two things :
- they pick up information from public domain. (E.g. newspapers, government published documents…)
- its up to the public to update their information.
I’m sorry, you are running a business. The onus is on you to update the information to ensure you are providing the most recent information. If you didn’t know that I, am a senior manager working overseas earning a tidy sum in Australia, its your fault and not mine. Why? You are in business selling information.
This is why companies like Google scramble to provide the most current information. This is why news agencies provide the most current information – especially where financial records matter.
CTOS must be regulated to ensure :
- they provide a quality service.
- they provide the information responsibly.
- they expire information for higher accuracy.
- they take greater onus to ensure information is current.
- they are transparent on the source of the information.
- they are transparent on the users of their information (if Ah Longs have access to my financial details, I’d be worried)
So does CTOS do any of that at the moment – absolutely not!
I am absolutely convinced that no amount of publicity will change CTOS. Its sitting on an easy cash cow. Bank Negara Malaysia really has to pull its finger out and do something about CTOS and come with some proper guidelines for credit reporting agencies. Until then, consumers in Malaysia will be at the mercy of immoral information vendors like CTOS.
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