Scriptures say that the love of money, and not having money itself, is the beginning of all evil. This lesson has become obvious for all to see from the political corruption of leadership in Malaysia. Where there is greed; hate will also prevail! Therefore, we are today the favourite whipping boy of the world in terms of this culture of kleptocracy; thanks to the Americans and their Justice Department (DOJ) case.

But, somehow we do not yet feel any shame at all. Why? “Belum malu lagikah?”

Needs versus wants

As a grandfather of two, I tell all my five children that there are only two lessons I want to teach each of the grandchildren. The first is to know the difference between the two words; needs and wants. What is a need? It is basic necessity for life and living; and I would add, to live a simple and basic good quality of life anywhere in the world. To live that experience, knowing what is not a need is most essential. Essential needs have high value.

A want is a human desire for amenities and facilities that are not considered essential for basic survival but are instead wanted or desired, for comforts or improvements in quality of life. That agenda drives our acquisitive ways of life. Therefore while water is a basic need, ice-cold drinking water, or warm water for showers is a want and more than just a need. Grandeur in buildings is a want; not need.

If our grandchildren do not understand and know the difference between needs and wants; we have moderated the next generation of spoilt kids or grandkids. Nevertheless, fathers will always be held responsible for such failures in teaching. And consequently, the per capita income needed for such a quality of life for every human is unsustainable within current global resources.

Abraham Maslow made famous one motivation theory for appreciating our hierarchy of basic needs. Maslow's (1943, 1954) hierarchy of needs in psychology comprising a five tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.