Unexpected Patriotism

I don’t know why I love my country. 

I just do. 

I would have never called myself particularly patriotic. I have never had a Malaysian flag in my house during Independence day, never attended an Independence day parade, and never would have described myself as particularly traditional.

As the years went by however, it was hard to explain the changes in my heart and myself.

Despite the endless idiocy in the government, the corruption and stupidity that seeps through the cracks of society, at times I feel like change is happening, that we are on the cusp of something. 

Sometimes I see the bright sparks in people that I know and I wish I could call out to them and tell them to stay, to stay with me and build a nation that we can be proud of – to be that change. 

Some will leave, no doubt. 

Every time a friend makes a reference to migration, I have this sadness in my heart, because it feels like they have given up and have chosen to abandon our nation. I have no right to ask them to stay, to ask them to seek opportunities within our own homeland when the potential to be elsewhere seems like so much more, but I am constantly surprised at how strongly the pang of disappointment hits when someone makes that statement. 

I know the journey seems like an uphill battle, but I do feel like the winds are changing. 

I think the grass is as green as you make it. 

This is my country. This is where I will live and die. 

My blood still sings for my homeland.

Hudud: Concerns of A Medical Officer

I have doubts about the implementation of hudud in Malaysia, especially regarding the law of amputation. I'm not entirely clear how these punishments were carried out back in the day, but with the recent discussion regarding the proposal of doctors directly being involved with the amputation has brought the issue to the forefront for a lot of doctors.

As doctors, we practice by the Hippocratic Oath, part of which is the concept of do no harm, even when instructed to. The thought of being the executioners per se, of a law in place is something that needs to be thought about and discussed between authorities and health practitioners. I find it a difficult concept to struggle with, the concept of being out an executioner instead of a healer - and it was with some relief to read about the MMA's president's disagreement regarding the appointment of doctors to carry out the amputation. However, it is still something that needs a lot of discussion regarding the actual implementation of the process.

While I believe the idea of hudud is fair and just, I have my doubts of the practicality of the implementation of this system. If a system is still corrupted enough where bribery happens and people in power are protected, I don't believe we are capable enough of implementing such a law.

Actual hudud works on the concept that the individuals carrying out the law are fair and just Godfearing individuals - of good moral and religious standing. With elements of corruption, what is the possibility of the system being twisted to other means - and the effect on the life of another is severe enough. Everyone wants to be Godfearing, but what if the ones who are supposed to uphold the law are the ones who do not fear God?

We are a long way from there and discussions like this and this gives me heart that everyone is trying hard to look at the different avenues of the issues involved.

For the moment, I don't think we're there yet - there are bigger things to tackle. If corruption still runs rampant within the country and even normal laws are being flouted, where justice is selective within certain classes of society, we are not yet at a point where implementation is going to be just.

Thoughts of the FMFA Drug Deaths

The recent overdose of the teenagers at the Future Music Festival Asia, resulting in 6 deaths and another 14 admitted to hospital brought to the forefront a whole can of worms. 

The drug culture rises and ebbs with the times, but it has always something that has been part of the scene, something that started off as a seedy practice in back alleys and slowly became glamourized, and it almost seemed as if there was increased ease at obtaining drugs. Perhaps it was the media, or perhaps it was just the people I had met, both in my personal life and in my line of work, but it had brought me into a whole new world that I had no idea about before. 

It is disheartening to see the public condemnation of the individuals who were affected, and even more so by those who are spreading pictures of those deceased as a so-called ‘lesson’ to others, instead of respecting the dead – whom the majority seem to have come from middle class conservative families, whose families are already dealing with their personal losses of their sons and daughters. Let the dead rest, and put your petty vindications aside. 

There are an estimated 35000 drug addicts in Malaysia, of which 20000 are registered. This is a conservative estimate. The drug culture in Malaysia is fairly significant, and there needs to be an understanding of the nature of drug addiction. 

It is easy to condemn without understanding that many of those who use are victims of a vicious cycle. Addiction is a disease, and one that needs the support of those surrounding them to overcome this addiction. It’s a condition where the brain of the addict does not realize he is no longer under rational influence, and will continue to crave. 

Although the number of addicts have plateaued, there still is a long way to go to ensure that this problem is tackled – through the understanding of drug culture and reduction of stigma, through the decriminalization of drugs and through policies that hit the dealers, not the addicts. 

Victim blaming is not the answer – and neither is the callous disregard of those who are in need of help. There needs to be open discussion about safe drug taking, a practice that is sorely needed in harm reduction. I am not advocating illicit drugs, but there are those who choose to take drugs, and it is folly to ignore the issue completely and let people proceed blindly into this. 

Some drug takers I knew had certain rules they followed – never to take drugs alone, never to take it when you were particularly emotional, and never to associate it with your partner, which were all safe clauses to reduce potential harm. 

There is so much stigma attached to drugs compared to alcohol that this education is severely lacking – while everyone knows not to drink and drive, or not to accept drinks from strangers, people seem to see it as acceptable behaviour regarding drugs. 

I hope the families of those who passed away from the tragedy are left in peace, and that those hospitalized recover well. We all have lessons to learn from this event.