YOURSAY | ‘If people are distressed by Timah, something is seriously wrong with society.’

After Timah, cabinet to disallow products capable of causing 'public distress'

PW Cheng: "After Timah, cabinet to disallow products capable of causing 'public distress."

I don’t see any politician dares to buffer Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on his comment above which fringes on idiocy.

The word ‘public’ is too encompassing. People like me are not at all distressed by the word ‘timah’ (tin ore). It’s a very common word in Malaysian history and geography. And we also know who Captain Tristram Speedy was from our history books.

Tuan Ibrahim, please speak for yourself and if it causes distress to you, that’s just too bad especially if you don’t know how to avoid such distress.

I am also very distressed seeing how cows are slaughtered and sometimes shown on TV. But that involves certain customs and religious beliefs, which I respect. If I feel offended, it’s my duty to turn my eyes away or turn off the TV.

The only difference is we all know you are hyperbole in using religion for political interests.

If you really care for the nation, you would have condemned corruption and the multitude of wanton leakages which stinks to high heaven in our beloved country instead of harping on the word ‘timah’ and causing a ruckus as well as irreparable damage, especially on the company as well as the economy.

Which investor will want to put their money here when a make-believe offensive word can cause so much chaos?

‘Butuh’ in Indonesia means ‘need’ and in Malaysia, it’s an obscene word. Are you going to go after the Indonesians if they use the word here?

Different folks have different strokes, and you will get more respect if you respect others in return.

Newday: Who is to determine this public distress? Government religious authorities? They do not speak for all of us.

Causing public distress, causing public anxiety, causing public confusion are all phrases that are pounded into our brains in our supposedly modern, diverse, multicultural and (by law) secular society.

Announcements like this are happening way too often as the state, under the heavy influence of conservatives, increasingly impacts our lives at every level.

Just reading this announcement has caused me much distress, anxiety and confusion. Can I get the relevant government spokesperson banned or thrown in jail for causing my anxiety?

This government uses the word ‘public’ as a generic go-to word that is really quite offensive.

There are at least 10 million Malaysians that have zero issues with Timah whiskey. None of these 10 million has become anxious, distressed or confused with the release of this whiskey. By what you state we don’t exist?

This is nothing but a thin veneer covering the creeping dark form of Islam here worming its way into every aspect of all Malaysians’ existence.

AB Sulaiman: Once upon a time, there was a place in Kelantan called Pantai Cinta Berahi. Some people thought it sounded like a call for people to go there and do all sorts of funny (haram) things. The name has since been changed to something more ‘sensible’ and ‘moral’ - Pantai Cahaya Bulan.

Then there was a place called Batang Berjuntai in Selangor. This name sounded like a call for people to go there and witness males exposing generous-size organs. The name has been changed to Bestari Jaya, something less dramatic, and, yes, more ‘sensible’ and ‘moral’.

These name changes are some examples of many such changes. It boils down to the leaders’ perception that people must be shielded from things that might confuse them and cause them distress.

Let’s get real here. The world has developed into such a state that there can hardly be any word that can mean something great and beautiful to some, yet confusing and distressing to others. Keeping track of such confusing and distressful words and legislating them would truly be a futile exercise.

Better it is for the leaders to protect the people from the confusion and distress caused by mismanagement and corruption.

Now we have the issue of Timah whiskey. It’s claimed to be distressful to Muslims for it sounds similar to the name Fatimah. Drinking Timah is likened to “drinking a Malay woman”.

Leave names of people, places and things alone. They have history, imagination, character and culture with them.

Otherwise, names like Janda Baik (good widow or divorcee), Gelang Patah (broken bracelet) and Rantau Abang (male pelvic region) might have to suffer a name change for any perceived reason.

As a nation, we’ll be poorer with names like something-Indah, something-Bahagia and something-Jaya.

Jazli Salleh: If people are distressed over such trivial things, then something is seriously wrong with our society. Are we not ashamed to admit that we Malays are an insecure race and we have a lot of weaknesses?

Amadeus: This is a list of actual public distress that the government should take note of. The rakyat are "publicly distressed" over:

1. The level of corruption in the government, the scandal in the MACC, and corrupt GLC heads.
2. Inequality in the rights of citizens.
3. Level of intelligence of ministers. For example, not knowing the difference between flu and fly, always claiming statements "taken out of context".
4. What and how taxpayers’ money is being used to feed bloated and incompetent ministers.
5. Lopsided business practices in Malaysia.

So, Tuan Ibrahim, how does all the above "public distress" affect the environment and water?

I Will Keep My Promise: So from now on, based on the cabinet decision, the likes of Ramly burger, Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, etc, may cause public disorder or distress for those with ultra-low mental capacity (including a certain MP), and will also be disallowed or banned?

Yes, we must also not allow the use of Zaitun name for soap either, for men with low mental capacity may imagine or fantasise about a certain woman rubbing their bodies every time they use the soap, causing distress to their wives or girlfriends.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.