A Beacon For Senior Citizens

In the heat of debate and condemnation over his sexual misbehaviour, Dr Chua stood out as a testament to senior citizens that life, particularly the appetite for sex does not diminish with age. Regrettably, he lost his Health Minister’s post which few men could ever dream of holding; true, he was subjected to public ridicule; true his wife and family publicly stood by him resolutely, though in private few women would ever forgive their husbands’ transgressions; true, he was bitter at being caught; true, he was naïve at being caught literally with his pants down, or to be more exact, his underwear; and true, he became an instant ‘celebrity’ over the internet.

But what of it? What’s wrong with indulging in a past-time that provides pleasurable cardiac stimulation as recommended by Japanese doctors and, what more for a man of his age who has become a beacon of sexual health? Many senior citizens would grind their teeth in envy over his his lustful behaviour. Conservative Malaysia has condemned a 60 year old man, and for that matter all men of that age and beyond to a life of a celibate. He probably could not do it with his wife as menopause would have robbed her of all carnal pleasures.

The discovery of Viagra has led to a sexual revolution among men who are impotent and men who have passed their prime and have hitherto resigned themselves to a celibate lifestyle. He is proof of the power of modern medicine in rejuvenating life’s essential function, that is, presuming that he had availed himself of the miracle drug. If he hadn't, he would be the exemplar and envy of all 'dirty old men'.

Which leads us to the question: should senior citizens continue to enjoy sex, even if it is not with their wives or partners? Or should they continue in a state of self-denial over their libido which is still largely alive and screaming? Young adults would have laughed and contemptuously dismissed him and all others like him as ‘lecherous old men’.

Now that he has been caught, he would have to tame that raging fire within, which simply means that in deference to society’s moral conviction, he would have to remain celibate for the rest of his remaining years, and discharge his excessive energy into more appropriate channels.

May I suggest gardening, house-cleaning, cooking or child-minding as worthwhile alternatives?

Sex And The Minister

Pity those who were fined and jailed for possession of the dvds featuring the ex-minister's sexcapade. He remarked bitterly that he had made the mistake of going to the same hotel, and presumably the same room for convenience. That observation apparently was aimed at those who indulged in the same pastime but was smart enough not to be caught. Malaysia Today has a story of another incident. How much of the content is true is debatable, but it provides an interesting read. Here is the excerpt from "Warlords and Heavyweights: two peas in a pod":

... while Dr Chua Soi Lek was set up to be sent into permanent retirement, not many noticed the outburst by the Umno (United Malay Organization) Secretary-General who said that Shahidan Kassim, the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Perlis, should go. No doubt the excitement of the Soi Lek DVD overshadowed this episode and not many took much notice of the UMNO Secretary-Gen's outburst. This outburst, however, was not a mere outburst but a cry of frustration by the Sec-Gen who was so depressed that the Umno President a la Prime Minister failed to act on a certain matter that places the Soi Lek DVD scandal way at the bottom of the serious matters scale.

Earlier, the Sec-Gen had brought a Thai girl together with the brother of a certain state Ruler, who was also a Wakil Rakyat (member of parliament) to meet the Prime Minister. A lady doctor was also in the delegation. The girl then testified that Shahidan had made her pregnant and then arranged for her to have an abortion. The lady doctor confirmed that this was so and that she had performed the abortion. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appeared perturbed and asked the Wakil Rakyat whether his brother, the Ruler, knew about this matter. The Wakil Rakyat replied that the Ruler has all the facts and is fully aware of the matter.

The Sec-Gen then told Abdullah that this was not the only girl whom Shahidan had made pregnant. He personally knows of three such cases and has heard that there are many more. The Sec-Gen added that Shahidan's sexual trysts are perpetrated in the country home of another Minister from Perlis, Azmi Khalid, and sometimes in the office of the Menteri Besar, in the surau or prayer-room of the Menteri Besar's office to be exact.

Abdullah took all this in with a troubled look on his face and promised to do something about it. He then referred the matter to his son-in-law who replied that Shahidan is their strongest and most loyal ally. He, in fact, was instrumental in blocking Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from entering Perlis. They just can't afford to sack Shahidan. If they do, then the opposition would have a better chance of taking over the state as Shahidan and his team of gangsters is the only thing they have to keep Mahathir and the opposition out of the state. For purposes of political expediency, Shahidan has to be retained.

So Abdullah did nothing and this was what upset the Umno Sec-Gen. Instead, Shahidan, dropped both the Sec-Gen and Azmi from the candidates' list. Abdullah can't afford to lose Shahidan but he can afford to replace the Sec-Gen and Azmi. Perlis has only three Parliament seats and there are many others waiting in the wings to take over as Members of Parliament. But there is only one gangster who can mobilise an 'army' of bouncers to keep the state under a short leash...

On a lighter note, in the wake of the Dr Chua's revelation, politicians and corporate figures have scrambled to buy spy camera detectors to ensure their privacy. Read the New Straits Times report.

A Minister's Indiscretion

The latest sex scandal involving the Minister of Health, Dr Chua Soi Lek must have set tongues a-wagging, coffee-shops a-buzzing, and lascivious hunters a-searching for copies of the dvds featuring the sexual indiscretion of the honourable minister. Police have started to conduct a blitz on legitimate and illegal video vendors and warned of a house-to-house search. Someone made an interesting observation that it would have been more fruitful if the police had focused on the higher echelon of the MCA leadership.

The minister has been quick to admit his indiscretion to the public, and thus prevented further feverish speculations over who the transgressor is. His confession was admirable.

However, he was initially reluctant to resign voluntarily, explaining that the decision was in the hands of the government, the party and the people. But after having received feedback from the public, he pointedly said, he had decided to relinquish his ministerial post as well as all posts he held in the MCA (the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component part of the ruling coalition government). His resignation must have brought sighs of relief to the government as well as the MCA as it would contain the political fallout that would have resulted from the scandal.

Resigning from his post is a foregone conclusion whether the public forgave him or not. He was visibly disappointed with the 'holier than thou' posture adopted, presumably by some leaders and the general unforgiving reactions of the Malaysian society, but he should have expected it. While some may argue that he has been an effective and a no-nonsense minister and his private life is his own, he is no ordinary citizen and his private life is subject to public scrutiny whether he likes it or not. While ordinary citizens may be forgiven for their sexual transgressions, a minister and for that matter, those who are in public office must be seen to be morally upright. Leaders who violate this unwritten law in a moment of weakness will be punished severely. That is the price they have to pay.

Now that he is a private citizen, how he conducts his private life is of no concern to the public.

Dr. Chua was visibly bitter in a press conference after his 'entrapment' by his political rivals. Should he have said all those things? Read here for more.