MALAYSIA… THE AGE OF DESTRUCTION — Amarjeet Singh @ AJ
MALAYSIA… THE AGE OF DESTRUCTION
“If this is the Age of Destruction, it is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made one. And what is man-made can be unmade.”
Ladies and gentlemen,
I do not write this with joy.
I write this with a heavy heart — a heart that has seen boardrooms, kampungs, sports fields, factories, ministries, and mamak tables. A heart that still loves this country enough to speak uncomfortable truths.
Malaysia is not collapsing. But something is eroding.
Slowly. Quietly. Repeatedly.
And the most dangerous destruction is not caused by floods or earthquakes — it is caused by habits.
The Doctor’s Coat — Healing or Billing?
There was a time when the white coat meant sacrifice. Now sometimes it means “package”.
When a patient walks in with a mild condition, do we treat the illness… or the insurance limit?
When did a blood test become a bundle? When did a consultation become a conversion rate? When did a scan become a sales target?
Yes, there are noble doctors — many of them. Heroes who work long shifts and still show compassion.
But there are also hospitals designed like luxury malls — and patients who leave not cured, but financially rearranged.
Morality question: If your own mother had no insurance, would you prescribe the same treatment?
Lawyers — Justice or Strategy?
The law was meant to protect the weak. But today, justice sometimes feels negotiable.
When you delay a case deliberately, who benefits?
When you stretch proceedings for years, what are you stretching — justice or invoices?
If a poor man steals RM200, he is punished quickly. If a powerful man moves RM200 million, we debate procedure.
Is the law blind — or selective?
Morality question: If the system were used unfairly against your own child, would you still defend it?
Universities — Knowledge or Factory Line?
We once built thinkers. Now we manufacture certificates.
Are we producing graduates who can think — or employees who can obey?
Why are students afraid to question? Why do debates feel scripted? Why are we more concerned about rankings than reasoning?
A degree used to mean growth. Now it sometimes feels like a receipt.
Morality question: If education is expensive but curiosity is discouraged, what exactly are we selling?
The Press — Truth or Traffic?
Journalism used to expose. Now some of it entertains outrage.
Do you chase truth — or engagement metrics?
Why does nuance die in headlines? Why does outrage trend faster than investigation?
Some journalists still fight bravely — I salute them.
But if a story hurts your advertiser… do you still publish it?
Morality question: If your own family depended on accurate reporting, would you still twist the narrative?
Religion — Guidance or Volume?
Faith should humble us. But today, religion is sometimes weaponised.
Why are we loud about attire but quiet about corruption?
Why do we debate language but whisper about greed? Why are we strict with the powerless but gentle with the powerful?
True faith builds discipline. False faith builds division.
Morality question: If God were auditing your sermons, would He find courage — or convenience?
Banks — Service or Structure of Dependency?
Banks are essential. I’ve worked in finance. I understand risk, capital, recovery, debt.
Why are ordinary people drowning in compounding interest while quarterly profits celebrate record highs?
Why do collection agencies sometimes behave like intimidation firms? Why do refinancing “solutions” feel like new traps?
Are we building financial literacy — or generational dependency?
Morality question: Would you structure the same loan for your own son or daughter?
Traders, Contractors, Suppliers — What About Us?
Now let me come closer — because this is not only about “them”. It’s also about us.
Do we inflate invoices because “everyone does it”? Do we cut corners on quality? Do we bribe because “otherwise cannot survive”? Do we overcharge because “customer won’t know”?
When government tenders come, is the first question price… or connection?
When supply costs go up slightly, why do retail prices jump dramatically?
Morality question: If your own child had to buy from your business anonymously, would you still operate the same way?
The Aged Politicians
Yes, we must talk about them — the permanent faces and seasoned veterans.
- They speak of reform while defending relics.
- They warn of instability while creating it.
- They condemn corruption while negotiating alliances.
But here is the uncomfortable truth: They exist because we keep electing them.
We complain about potholes — but vote for the same road builder.
We lament inflation — but applaud the same economic architects. We say “enough” — but choose “familiar”.
Morality question: Are we victims of leadership — or accomplices of habit?
The Real Problem
Malaysia is not destroyed. It is conflicted.
We still have honest doctors, brave judges, principled lawyers, brilliant students, ethical bankers, courageous journalists, compassionate religious leaders.
But they are often quieter than the system.
The real destruction is not institutional collapse — it is moral fatigue.
When we see wrong and say: “Biasalah.” “Normal lah.” “Cannot change one.” That is when erosion begins.
The Age of Contradiction
We demand integrity — but tolerate shortcuts. We want change — but fear consequences. We complain about corruption — but celebrate when our “side” wins.
So let me ask you — not as a critic, but as a fellow Malaysian:
When was the last time you refused something unethical even if it cost you money?
When was the last time you voted based on principle instead of personality?
When was the last time you questioned your own bias?
Destruction is Not Natural
If this is an Age of Destruction, it is man-made. And what is man-made can be unmade.
Not by slogans. Not by trending hashtags. Not by angry WhatsApp forwards.
But by daily choices.
By traders who refuse to cheat. By doctors who refuse unnecessary procedures. By lawyers who prioritise justice. By journalists who risk discomfort. By bankers who structure responsibly. By lecturers who encourage thought. By religious leaders who speak truth to power. By voters who remember.
The nation is not destroyed in one scandal. It is eroded by a thousand small compromises.
And the ballot paper — simple, quiet, folded neatly — is still the most powerful weapon a citizen holds.
But morality? That is the weapon we hold every single day.
Malaysia does not need saving from enemies outside. It needs awakening from habits within.
The question is not: “Who destroyed Malaysia?”
The question is: “What are we prepared to rebuild?”
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