Of lain padang, lain belalang...

Whilst 1MDB is spinning stories..let's venture into other issue...

This time, we cgo New Delhi as well as Indonesia...



In getting news scoop, agencies will go to great lengths to get the juicest part of stories. In doing so, sometimes those seeking sensational news will breach etiqquetes to get what they want, be it good or bad.

Remember the New Delhi rape case? The case push to the spotlight, how women are treated in India and how they are seen as objects to release men's sex desires. In this particular case, six male raped a 23 year old girl and subsequently assaulted her viciously with iron instrument. The girl lost her life later.

Her case caused an outburst of grief and demand for justice. In meeting these demands, the Indian police apprehended six male and in the trial, four were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging, one died before the trial concluded and the last one, a juvenile was sentenced to three years in a juvenile facility.

As I said earlier, "Lain padang, lain belalang". It literally means that different places has different set of rules/customs. When BBC film maker interview one of the convicted rapist cum murderer in "India's daughter", the convicted rapist who is now on the death row did not show any remorse to his crimes.

Instead, he blame it on the 23 year old female student for venturing out past 8:30 pm with an unrelated person. The same thing will not be said in Malaysia where there are those who finished their work at 10:00 pm or those who goes watching late night shows with their boyfriends. It is also unheard of in UK or USA for a lady to be accused of being immodest if she goes out past 8:30 pm.

But, then again...this is India. One of the convicted rapist, Mukesh Singh was quoted saying "A decent girl won't roam around at nine o'clock at night. A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,". Mukesh did not show any remorse. In fact, he provided a new insight on how to destroy evidence/witness. He suggested "The death penalty will make things even more dangerous for girls. Now when they rape, they won't leave the girl like we did. They will kill her. Before, they would rape and say, 'Leave her, she won't tell anyone.' Now when they rape, especially the criminal types, they will just kill the girl. Death."

If you are in the pardon board looking into his appeal, what is your decision? Can a person who show no remorse, a person who thinks that it is better to finish off the victim to avoid witness be granted a pardon?

This same person thinks that on 20 % of the girls going out after 8:30 pm are good. Is this how girls should be perceived?

Some may say that that is the mindset of a convicted rapist/murderer. Wait! It does not end there. one of Mukesh lawyers claimed "In our society, we never allow our girls to come out from the house after 6:30 or 7:30 or 8:30 in the evening with any unknown person.You are talking about man and woman as friends. Sorry, that doesn't have any place in our society. We have the best culture. In our culture, there is no place for a woman."

Another defense lawyer opionioned " "If my daughter or sister engaged in pre-marital activities and disgraced herself and allowed herself to lose face and character by doing such things, I would most certainly take this sort of sister or daughter to my farmhouse, and in front of my entire family, I would put petrol on her and set her alight."

Yes..it happens in India. Different places, different set of values. I will not take sides to say which is ok and which is not. However, even if I accept India's set of values, as in the eyes of Mukesh lawyers, I will certainly not sided them in case of criminal acts.

Well, there might be ways to curtail a woman's movement after 8:300 pm but to say that they are the reason for rape is not right. To me, a man must respect a woman's dignity and it is not our right to judge another person by where she is at any particular time. If a man does thigs against the law then he should pay the price.

Being unremorseful is worse. That shows the man did not repent and is proud of what he did. Then he should not deserbe to be pardon.

At the time of this writing, India has secured a court injunction to block the documentary to be aired this weekend.

Of late Indonesia gain international coverage with their execution for drug exporters/importers. Malaysia too use strict laws when it comes to drug-related crimes but Indonesia recent case deserves coverage.

Despite diplomatic pressures, Indonesia's president Joko Widodo adopted a tough stance against drug traffickers and others on death row, denying clemency. Now 2 of the Bali Nine drug traffikers are being transferred to an island for execution.

Indonesia has been on friendly terms with Australia. However, when it comes to drug smuggling, Indonesia's tough stance deserves to be honoured by others. Like "Berat mana mata memandang, berat lagi hati memikul". Joko can be accused of many things but his tough stance when it comes to drugs should be applauded. This is Indonesia's problems and Indonesia image. Joko do not want Indonesia to be seen as a transit point for drug traffikers.

Australia may have its own reasons for diplomatic efforts to avoid the execution. You see, the convicted criminals are their citizens. Yest, Australia must respect Indonesia's laws regarding drug traffikers.

Malaysia? I did not see the same tough stance because if it happens in Malaysia, Australia may have bargaining chips. Australia can offer Sirul back to Malaysia, if it can be exchange with the convicts, they also MH 370 task force leverage. With the 2 leverage on the tables and maybe with a side offer, the two convicted drug traffikers may be set free. They call in diplomatic efforts. I call it bargaining chips...

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...