Chua Soi Lek Sex Video: Why the double standards?
Looks like the cat is really out of the bag on the Chua Soi Lek sex video. The matter which was first hinted at in Jeff Ooi’s article on the MoH curse has become a full blown sex scandal saga. Well, although our ex-Minister of Health is an old man, at least nobody can accuse him of not being a man of vigor. That said, it is really none of anyone’s business what the man does behind closed doors. If the matter does not impair his work and duty, then why should the public care what his personal (and private, one might add) life is like? Even his own family has decided to forgive him and stand behind him on the issue. Should the Malaysian public let bygones be bygones?
Well, yes and no, actually. It is true that the leaders of a country should be held to a higher standard of conduct compared to everyone else. After all, that’s why we elect them to lead. It is expected that our “betters” should conduct themselves in a manner worthy of a one who has earned our trust. On the flip side however, it is also true that one must not have double standards when judging/punishing a leader who is guilty of misconduct. All who have erred should be punished in a manner befitting the severity of their transgressions, no more and no less. Which is why it is puzzling that the brouhaha has resulted in the government forcing the MoH to resign, although he has pledged to continue his work.
Let me put this into perspective. On one hand, we have the ex-MoH, Chua Soi Lek, who is guilty of having an affair and forced to resign from all positions. However, he has broken no laws and it is unlikely that his affair would have affected his work and duty to the general public. On the other hand, we have the likes of the MP of Jasin, Said ‘Close-One-Eye’ Yusof who abused his power and position by demanding that the Customs release lawfully and rightfully confiscated timber belonging to his company. The timber consignment was earlier confiscated for exceeding regulated size limits. When the affair blew up, he was let of with barely a slap to the wrist before the matter was closed. At the same time, we also have Works Minister Samy Vellu, who has presided over a host of serious and potentially lethal disasters in projects commissioned by his ministry. Disasters such as defective, cracked and landslide-prone highways (MRR2, Karak etc), as well as shoddy workmanship in buildings and other structures (Parliment, Jalan Duta Court Complex, Immegration Department HQ, Hospital Sultan Ismail etc), all the time putting the blame squarely on “God” for the sending down such disasters. Samy Vellu is still the Works Minister the last time I checked.
It appears that while others in authority have done far worse things than sexual misconduct, they have been let off with little or no punishment in spite of their actions being criminal or having directly put the welfare of Malaysian citizens at risk. Why then, the selective punishment for Chua Soi Lek because of something so personal with no direct bearing on the nation? Why not catch whoever was behind the recording anyway? Looks like once again, emotion has won over our mental faculties, and saving face is the order of the day. Or was it something else?
