Are you a fan of the daily or weekly "drama swasta Melayu" (Malay drama serials/movies or "soap opera") on TV?
Do you notice that in those dramas or movies, if ever there is a problem, any problem, there is only one solution that can solve everything?
The one magical solution that solve everything?
It is marriage.
Yes, marriage is the magical solution to solve all your problems.
Your son is a playboy?
Marry him off to an innocent religious kampung girl.
(Ohh... and don't tell her that he is a playboy...hussshh...)
Hopefully, he will turn a new leaf.
Your daughter was caught "khalwat" (adulterous situation) with her potential rapist?
Then, marry her off to that potential rapist.
Your twisted sense of "honour" is more important than her safety and dignity.
You want to expand your business empire?
Or your company is facing bankruptcy and you need a rich company to merge with?
Marry off your son or daughter to another rich guy's daughter or son.
Make sure the prenuptial contract is tight.
Love is not important.
Increasing your wealth or saving your company is more important.
Your son is leaving the nest but he does not know how to manage his life?
He does not know how to manage his own bachelor pad?
Easy. Just marry him off to a simple kampung girl that can do house chores and treat her like a maid.
Your daughter is a tomboy?
Choose a man, any man, and pay him to marry her.
Hopefully, he can make her more feminine and more docile.
Your daughter is pregnant out of wedlock?
Ohh...The father does not want to marry her?
Then, choose a random stranger off the street and marry her off to him.
Pay him if needed.
Again, your twisted sense of "honour" is more important than true love and compassion.
Your son is a dug addict?
Abusive?
Does not pray five times a day?
Find an innocent religious kampung girl and marry him off to that girl.
(Ohh... and don't tell her that he is any of the above.)
["What?
This plot is the same as the "playboy son" plot?
No, it's NOT!
In that story the son is a playboy.
In this story the son is a drug addict.
It is not the same!
How dare you say my drama is unoriginal!
You are insulting all Malay dramas, Malay actors and actresses, Malay producers, Malay directors and everyone involved in the Malay movie industry!
You better apologise before I sue you for betraying the Malay race!
You are racist towards the Malays!"]
(Oh! The horror of criticism!)
Yes, all those are actual plots of our Malay drama serials.
Or if not, I would not be surprised that they will be someday.
(Don't blame me, I watched them a long time ago, but then I try to forget the banal plots and purge them from my memories. Forgive me if my memory is a bit mixed up.)
If these dramas are a true indication of Malay society, then we are doomed.
If you say Malay society are not like that, then I predict it will be, if not sooner, then later.
At the root, all of the above, are about a twisted sense of honour, where family honour is borne by the daughter, and the daughter alone.
Do you know where this can lead to, if we are not careful?
It can lead to these...
https://www.dw.com/en/a-daughter-killed-by-her-family-a-story-of-love-and-honor/a-46362212
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-48802237/every-day-has-been-hell-since-honour-killing-of-banaz-mahmod
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pakistan-honourkillings/pakistani-man-kills-wife-two-children-six-others-in-alleged-honour-killing-idUKKCN1TW2J0
(Yes, even in the story where the playboy son and the drug addict son are married off to the girl, it is about the girl restoring honour to the family. It is the girl's responsibility to change him. If she does not, she has failed to restore the family honour.
But if the husband were not able to change the tomboyish wife to a more feminine religious wife? It will be her fault for not being able to change, not the husband's.)
This is sad.
As a TV addict that like to watch TV and movies, I want to watch interesting storylines.
Stories that challenge the mind, that build civilisation, that inspire and lift spirits.
Comedies that relax the brain but at the same time tickle thought.
Heck, I even watch cartoons. My favourites are superhero cartoons.
Why?
Yes, it is childish, but they impart to the children ideas about justice, compassion, courage and honour (the right sense of honour defined in terms of personal responsibility and personal dignity.)
Watching "Upin & Ipin", I am hopeful about the future.
But for our drama serials?
Can we please have more variety and more creativity in our storylines?
I paid a lot for my cable TV subscription and I want my investment to be worth it.
Is that asking for a lot?
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