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Sunday October 4, 2009
Politicians causing heartache for girl

Dear Thelma,

I AM 19 and in college. My father owns a large company and he has been given many titles by the government. Since young, I have had a comfortable life.

I am grateful for what my parents have given me. However, I am not happy. My father is very close to many important politicians. On the surface he seems to be good friends with them but he always complains to my mother that all they want is his money. For his business to survive, he says he needs to give a lot of money to these politicians.

I feel very guilty about all this. I am worried that my father may get caught and jailed. I’m becoming very disillusioned about life. These politicians are supposed to be the leaders of our country but they are deeply involved in corruption. Sometimes I feel like running away from home or even committing suicide.

Disillusioned

(Terjemahan): Usia saya 19 tahun dan sedang menuntut di sebuah kolej. Bapa saya mempunyai sebuah syarikat yang besar dan beliau dianugerahkan banyak pingat kebesaran oleh kerajaan. Sejak mula lagi kehidupan saya cukup selesa.

Saya bersyukur dengan apa yang telah diberikan oleh kedua ibubapa saya. Bagaimanapun saya tidak senang hati. Bapa saya berkawan rapat dengan beberapa ahli politik yang penting. Pada luarannya, nampak seolah-olah mereka kawan karib tetapi bapa saya sentiasa mengeluh dan mengadu kepada ibu saya bahawa ahli-ahli politik ini hanya mahukan wang dari beliau. Demi masa depan perniagaan beliau, bapa saya terpaksa memberi banyak wang kepada ahli-ahli politik ini.

Saya berasa amat bersalah dengan perkara ini. Saya bimbang bapa saya akan ditangkap dan dipenjarakan. Saya mula hilang daya untuk hidup. Ahli politik ini merupakan pemimpin kita, malangnya mereka melibatkan diri dengan gejala rasuah. Ada ketikanya saya berniat lari dari rumah dan ada kalanya berniat untuk membunuh diri.

Jawapan Thelma

RUNNING away or killing yourself will not make the world a better place. If you feel so strongly about values and ideals, talk to your father.

You are a good person with a conscience. However, you need to understand the ways of the world before you learn to deal with the wrongs. Your father is not a victim of the system but part of it. In order to get what he wants, he supports corruption and this is wrong too.

Unfortunately, we all want wealth, glory and power at whatever expense. He will tell you that you are enjoying all the wealth and benefits because of his contacts in business.

We cannot hope to change the people around us. But if individually we can care enough to fight for what we believe in, things can improve.

You are young and have time and opportunity to make changes. No matter how little you achieve, it is a significant step. We need young people like you to carry on the fight for our future.

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/10/4/lifefocus/4772783&sec=lifefocus