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January 30, 2005
Malaysia and its many wars
Malaysia just now embarks on a new war.
The War Against Illigal Racing has started, as reported by the New Straits Times today.
Another war? How many wars have been fought in Malaysia over the last year? With more or less success.
Let me gather my memories and see, if I can get some lines together - please see this in no particular order.
1. The war against VCD and DVD peddlers;
2. The war against illegal software (can be related to number 1)
3. The war against corruption
4. The war against incest and rape
5. The war against snatch thieves
6. The war against the speeding
7. The war against the usage of emergency lanes by cars during rush hours
8. The war against illegal immigrants
9. The war against unpaid tickets
10. The war against declining moral values
There are plenty more wars that have been fought. I am not doubting any honest intentions here but seriousely, I doubt that much has been achieved.
There are many different sayings that showcast what is wrong with that.
What about: A death by many initiatives or focus, focus, focus?
May be this is wrong with Malaysia? Why not focusing on one initiative, absolutely, and with all efforts? Once this menace or that menace has been dramatically diminished, we could move on to the next. And I believe that there is a connection.
I believe that if "they" (whoever they are) show that they mean business, that the other problems will also decline.
Crime is an epidemy. Malcolm Gladwell in his book, The Tipping Point showed that if a city (in his case New York) concentrates on fighting crime - and even a minor one such as farebeating in the underground - they are able to set a signal that crime doesn't pay off. In New York, where crime was rampant in the 1980s and beginning 1990s, the committment to fight against farebeating, graffiti on Underground Trains and so on, paid off. Crime came down - dramatically.
But how does lawlessness get started? It is a feeling that if people can do what they want, a feeling of lawlessness sets it.
It is happening when you see that something is not right in your eyes. A broken window is not repaired. Who cares? If they do it, I can do it. Nobody sees it, so I can do it.
The consequence is that people, who would not ever commit something outside the law, start committing something outside the law - like speeding, driving on the emergency lane, or buying illegal VCDs.
And soon, more people join in. Everybody is doing it. In the end, it is the environment that conditions us to do things that are not allowed. It is not always genetic, or that that the parents are to be blamed, or the sick persons who rape. This plays a role, for sure. But it doesn't explain why someone who was law-abiding yesterday now starts to act outside the law today.
My conclusion? I don't want to outline one, I want to contribute to the overall discussion. But I look forward to the day, when there is more focus in the action of the politicians.
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If you want to download the article by Malcolm Gladwell, click here:
Posted by Andreas at January 30, 2005 06:54 PM
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Comments
Anthony - I very much agree with your comment. I love the Tipping Point, and I also believe in its accuracy. Not always, may be, and may be things are a bit different in Asia, but the basic assumptions are very right!
Atiza - it is monitoring, and accountability that is missing. This is the same horn, Guy is blowing and I agree!
Posted by: Andreas at February 1, 2005 10:34 AM
the tipping point says things slowly accummulate, till just one tiny thing triggers off a big outcome. it is a scientific way of saying what this old proverb states. the last straw that broke the camel's back.
in new york, they applied it by zero tolerance, and ken livingstone in london is wanting to copy it, but the police are not too keen. it takes up a lot of policetime. i think the same result can be achieved by periodically doing a cleanup and a blitz with lots of publicity so that people know of it. it is like cleaning the house thoroughly once a month to prevent build up of dust. there is really no need to do a regular clean if u can stand a certain level of dirt. a blitz clean once in 2 wks, or 1 wk, etc depanding on ur degree of tolerance, that should be enough. This can be adapted to preventing crime build up in a city. its my theory, applying tipping point idea. what say u?
Posted by: anthony wong at January 31, 2005 05:52 PM
Many initiatives but less monitoring. In the end, all these wars became once-upon-a-time-teh-tarik-session stories. This morning I saw a car sticker 'pembangkang sifar' (zero opposition) campaign by the Selangor CM. Perhaps we'll see a war on democracy next, eh?
Posted by: atiza at January 31, 2005 04:31 PM
great post.good arguements u have there and i must say u have convinced me.:)if i might add, make politicians accountable for the "wars" they propose.
Posted by: guy at January 30, 2005 11:01 PM
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