What’s in a slap? – Ice Cream Seller

Since the time the British stopped administering us (some call it Merdeka), we have had a succession of Home Ministers – and Interior Ministers before that. From the early ones who I would say drew respect from the public at large, we have moved in a downward progression to the kinds we have had in the recent past right up to the present

As a teenager, I recall the intellect of Tun Ghazali Shafie. He was a student of my father, who spoke very highly of how good Tun was in English literature.

I understand that Ghazali went to the university in Wales and later to the London School of Economics. He achieved these without the crutches and quotas of the NEP. Had it not been for shenanigans of a few, he would have been the PM we never had.

Fast forward today. Home Minister speaks Inggeris - in line with national aspirations. He is however more fiery (remember the "don't play fire with me" statement?) Given that the Home Minister is in charge of the police, the prisons and several other key portfolios, people are entitled to know how he is chiseled.

What kind of family structure did he grow up in? What kind of primary schooling did he have? Which secondary school did he attend? If he went to university, which one and what did he read? There is a "Dr" before his name sometimes. Where was this obtained from? What was the field of his study?

Why we need to know this is because we need to try and understand how any Home Minister can state that an invitation to slap someone is not a threat. I cannot imagine Tun Ghazali making such a preposterous statement.

By the Home Minister's interpretation, I can therefore threaten anyone who complains about my ice cream with a slap. Only when I slap the complainant will the police take action. Is he saying that I can threaten all customers or just some (read Chinese customers)? I would really like to know because there are quite a few pains in the neck that I would like to give a tight slap to when they come to my shop - especially the obese ones (why they need ice cream I don't know).

Or could it be he said this because he thinks it's nothing to threaten to slap people, so it is no big deal? My thoughts drift to Sweden for some reason.

Or is it a cue to the Royal Malaysian Police that no action should be taken? Or maybe even a not so subtle signal to the associated NGOs to continue their harassment of all and sundry ? Or is it our desired culture for a developed nation in 6 year's time?

On the subject of slaps, Jesus said that if slapped by someone, Christians are to offer the other cheek(en) - not get chickens and have their throats slit. For Umno and their ill camouflaged offshoots, running like headless chickens when  painted to a corner in an intellectual discourse is becoming de riguer.

I dread to imagine under what circumstances a poor goat or cow will have its throat slit for something deemed insulting, threatening or what have you - there already being the infamous cow head incident in Shah Alam. It was a different incumbent then - so perhaps the symbolic animal has to be different too - from a cow to a chicken.