If Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming organises a Christmas carol in his office for Christmas, then it is a problem, but even if Human Resource Minister Steven Sim brings in a lion dance troupe for Chinese New Year celebration in his office, then it is ok.
If Anwar dots the eyes of the lions in a lion dance performance, that is problem, but when Najib’s son not only joins in the Chinese New Year celebration, but does so by donning the get up of a Qing emperor, then nothing happens.
Why?
Because Nga Kor Ming and Anwar are seen as not being “friendly” to those who criticise them, but Steven Sim and Najib’s son are seen as friends.
In other words, it is not what you stand for or or why you do something that is of consequence, but who you are.
If you are a friend, then you have nothing to worry about, because even if you commit a big mistake, it will be seen as a “small thing”, or an inadvertence, a peculiarity of your being or perhaps even heralded as a sign that there is something special about you.
If you are seen as an enemy on the other hand, the very same mistakes that would be forgiven or perhaps even appreciated in your friend, will be taken as a proof that there is indeed something wrong or malicious about you, as suspected.
From the diametrically different way that likes of Najib’s son or Anwar are treated for committing the same act, we can clearly see that many Malaysians are likely a people that value relationship and identity much more than that they do principles or consistency.
The arbiter on how to much you can be trusted or valued in Malaysia, likely has to do with how much effort and time that you put making others feel that you are one of them or that you are a friend of theirs, than it is on how consistently you practise a principle that you believe in.
If you put a lot of attention in making others believe that you are on of them or that you are a friend to them, even if you are colossally lapse in your integrity and honesty, to the extent that you have multiple corruption charges and conviction to your name, there might a large number of people who will still value and trust you.
On the other hand, you might be as clean as a whistle and honest as the day is long, but if you don’t do anything to make those around you feel at ease or believe that you are on their side, not only will your virtues be ignored, even the slightest mistake that you do will be noticed, and make it will be exaggerated to make it seem much more grievous than it actually is.
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