Malaysia - The land of idiotic laws

Just like any other sovereign country, Malaysia has its many laws and regulations too. We probably have one of the most compared to other countries. Good to keep peace in our multi-racial country one might say and I tend to concur except when it just gets plain bloody stupid and ridiculous. Here are the 2 most recently exercised idiotic laws.

Law #1: It is a road safety law and after much resources spent on researching and tests, Malaysian road transport department together with the traffic police started to enforce laws that require the back seat passengers of vehicles to buckle up. It is for the safety of both front and rear passenger so why not right. Makes sense and anything that can save lives is always good isn't it.

So if its all good then why say idiotic???

Well, the authorities are saying now that because rear seat belts can only install to a maximum of 3 so the fourth passenger is exempted from wearing it. Indirectly it is implying that the fourth passenger in the back seat is not and will not endanger their own lives and the lives of the people seating in front upon collision.

Is the Government also implying that we can have a fourth passenger at the back??? Actually what would happen if you were stopped over by the authorities is, firstly, they would check that front seat passengers are buckled up then secondly check the rear seat passengers. As the rear seat belt law does not comply to the fourth passenger so they are off the hook but then you're still slapped with a traffic violation and summoned. Why??? What for??? It is because your vehicle registration card clearly states only 5 persons are allowed in a vehicle when mobile and on the road. So your ticket is for overloading!!!

Law #2: This is even more a joke than the first but it doesn't concern all Malaysians as yet unless you are a Muslim or until the day that PAS actually wins the general election and implements its hudud and qisas laws. What happened was a man and a woman, both Muslims, in separate cases was recently sentenced in Syariah court for drinking alcohol. The punishment was 6 canes of the 'rotan' and a RM5,000 fine. The canning was also ordered to take place in a prison. Why prison, I mean they are not by any means a criminal now are they. The rotan to be used is to be of not more than 1.22 metres (4 feet) long and not more than 1.25 centimetres (half an inch) thick. It is good that a religion does not compromise against those who go against its teachings but isn't the punishment for such a little misdemeanour too severe. That kind of punishment is almost equivalent to that of a rapist. Malaysia prides itself for its communities that are modern, civilised and intelligent but law makers are making a joke out of us by still practicing such back dated laws.

There are many laws in Malaysia may it be the common civil laws or religious laws that the penalty for breaking them is just bloody moronic as the idiots that passed them through Parliament. Misdemeanour of drinking punishable by canning but you get nothing but a slap on the wrist for crimes like burglary and thieve. Punishments in Malaysia just doesn't fit the crime. Real criminals should be the ones punished severely and deserved to the 'rotan' and not the ones that drink alcohol, don't you think so.....