COMMENT | The ancient Japanese proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" was popularised in the 17th century and carved in the famous Tõsho-gū Shinto shrine in Nikkõ, Japan.

Some meanings ascribe the monkeys in the proverb, as being of good mind, speech and action.

The phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety, by turning a blind eye.

As such, it is perhaps timely, and appropriate, to paraphrase the proverb, to reflect today's societal environment almost everywhere in the world, including in Malaysia.

Thus, I choose to rephrase it as see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing and I add, do nothing.

This is so prevalent now when governments and those in...