LETTER | I am writing this reflection in the hope of bringing attention to the issue of how laws and authority are being used to reprimand and punish others, rather than resolving disputes in a kinder way.
I believe that we have lost sight of the values of kindness, good leadership and role modelling, compassion, judgment, and effective management skills in our society.
The recent incident involving Patrick Khoo and his dogs is a clear example of how authority is being abused. In this case, the dog-catching team used aggression towards Khoo, who was trying to protect the dogs he had been caring for, resulting in physical and mental trauma.
To add insult to injury, Khoo was charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, while the dog catchers went unpunished.
It is not just this incident that is of concern. I have observed a trend of people using laws and authority to dictate to others in an increasingly aggressive and intolerant manner.
It is disheartening to see that people are more inclined to punish and criticise others rather than find a more compassionate and empathetic approach to resolving disputes.
As a society, we must find ways to foster and promote kindness, good leadership, compassion, and judgment. We need to instil these values in our youth and our leaders, starting with the way we educate and guide them.
Take, for example, a young school class monitor who is given the responsibility and power to be a leader in the classroom.
The teachers should guide the students to ensure that they develop strong social skills, educational absorption, and an awareness of their environment, while nurturing their humanity and soft skills. This is what our leaders should emulate in their approach to governance.
In my own community, I have witnessed the negative consequences of a lack of compassion and empathy. A resident has been feeding our community stray cats (they are neutered, vaccinated and never aggressive) in the parking lot, but some residents find it disgusting and annoying.
Instead of finding a kinder approach to solve the issue, they post negative comments in the community group chat, suggesting that the feeder be penalised.
We need leaders who are like Judge Frank Caprio (chief judge of the Municipal Court of Providence, Rhode Island, USA), who became famous for his compassionate and deeply human interactions inside and outside of the courtroom.
I hope that the judiciary team handling Khoo's case will also demonstrate this kind of compassion.
I urge all Malaysians to reflect on the values we want to promote in our society. Let us embrace kindness, empathy, and compassion, and encourage our leaders to do the same.
It is time to build a society that is more tolerant and inclusive, where disputes are resolved through understanding and compromise rather than punishment and criticism.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
