Overcome 'busybody' mindset best way to curb social ills
Sunday, December 9, 2007
IT IS in the common perception amongst Bruneians to not interfere with other people's business as long as it does not involve them directly.
This perception is also adopted when dealing with social ills, especially on immoral acts among the society, where most people tend to ignore the fact that it is happening where the consequences can affect everyone.
According to Jurimah Hj Abd Halim, most people would not file a report to the authorities if they, by any chance, have any information regarding immoral acts, especially when those involved were locals, neighbours, or even relatives.
"We live in a culture that, if we put ourselves in other people business, we would be labelled as a 'busybody' and from then on, they would talk badly about our individual or family matters," she said.
The teacher also expressed her concern that these 'immoral acts' among Muslim teenagers, such as hugging in public places has been allowed to become a growing trend, due to the public's general ignorance.
Not only that, they (teenagers) have become more expressive and open about their social conduct that they do not care if they become the centre of public attention, she elaborated further.
The common perception of being a 'busybody' also applied to Ardy Sabtu, who prefers to keep silent other than getting himself become involved in other people matters.
However, if these acts somehow affected him directly, he would not think twice to report it to the authorities.
"As long as they do not bother me, I do bother them, as they would be the ones who would suffer the consequences," the 25-year old explained.
He also mentioned that if he is related to those involved, he would first advise them, and if that did not he work, only then, would he report them.
"At some point, there were stubborn people that just do not listen to what people said, and if they don't, there is nothing more that we can do for them, other than hope that they would gradually realise their mistake and change themselves," he said.
A fifty year-old housewife, said it was 'kind of' her responsibility to report to the authorities if she witnessed such acts, as a mother and as a human being.
"I would report them to the authorities, and then, it is up to them to take the actions as I think I have done my part," she went on to say.
Hjh Aisah Hj Ahmad said that, it is sad to see these kind of acts, in a Muslim country and everyone should be involved in some way to help curb or eradicate these growing social ills.
Hjh Asiah attributed that, people do not report any immoral occurrences due to the general Bruneian social perception of being afraid to be labelled as 'busybody'.
"I think, if we are busybody about other people, they would then do the same thing to us," she added.
The idea to eradicate these social ills as soon as possible, is supported by Dk Effa Hayatul Pg Majida, who had a personal encounter with such occurrences.
She explained that there was a couple who performed an immoral act at a dark corner of her house, which happened almost every night.
She then told her father about the matter, who took the initiative of reporting it to the village head.
"The village head responded immediately to the matter, in which he, himself went to the couple and asked them to leave, and they never came back," she said.
Although there is no guarantee that the couple she mentioned never repeated the act elsewhere, at least, she is proud to know that she has done her part by being aware of it.
The graduate said that it was everyone's duty to help the government in reducing these kind of acts, which would tarnish the good name of the country and its people.
The Brunei Times
This perception is also adopted when dealing with social ills, especially on immoral acts among the society, where most people tend to ignore the fact that it is happening where the consequences can affect everyone.
According to Jurimah Hj Abd Halim, most people would not file a report to the authorities if they, by any chance, have any information regarding immoral acts, especially when those involved were locals, neighbours, or even relatives.
"We live in a culture that, if we put ourselves in other people business, we would be labelled as a 'busybody' and from then on, they would talk badly about our individual or family matters," she said.
The teacher also expressed her concern that these 'immoral acts' among Muslim teenagers, such as hugging in public places has been allowed to become a growing trend, due to the public's general ignorance.
Not only that, they (teenagers) have become more expressive and open about their social conduct that they do not care if they become the centre of public attention, she elaborated further.
The common perception of being a 'busybody' also applied to Ardy Sabtu, who prefers to keep silent other than getting himself become involved in other people matters.
However, if these acts somehow affected him directly, he would not think twice to report it to the authorities.
"As long as they do not bother me, I do bother them, as they would be the ones who would suffer the consequences," the 25-year old explained.
He also mentioned that if he is related to those involved, he would first advise them, and if that did not he work, only then, would he report them.
"At some point, there were stubborn people that just do not listen to what people said, and if they don't, there is nothing more that we can do for them, other than hope that they would gradually realise their mistake and change themselves," he said.
A fifty year-old housewife, said it was 'kind of' her responsibility to report to the authorities if she witnessed such acts, as a mother and as a human being.
"I would report them to the authorities, and then, it is up to them to take the actions as I think I have done my part," she went on to say.
Hjh Aisah Hj Ahmad said that, it is sad to see these kind of acts, in a Muslim country and everyone should be involved in some way to help curb or eradicate these growing social ills.
Hjh Asiah attributed that, people do not report any immoral occurrences due to the general Bruneian social perception of being afraid to be labelled as 'busybody'.
"I think, if we are busybody about other people, they would then do the same thing to us," she added.
The idea to eradicate these social ills as soon as possible, is supported by Dk Effa Hayatul Pg Majida, who had a personal encounter with such occurrences.
She explained that there was a couple who performed an immoral act at a dark corner of her house, which happened almost every night.
She then told her father about the matter, who took the initiative of reporting it to the village head.
"The village head responded immediately to the matter, in which he, himself went to the couple and asked them to leave, and they never came back," she said.
Although there is no guarantee that the couple she mentioned never repeated the act elsewhere, at least, she is proud to know that she has done her part by being aware of it.
The graduate said that it was everyone's duty to help the government in reducing these kind of acts, which would tarnish the good name of the country and its people.
The Brunei Times
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