12/12/2025

FRIDAY | DEC 12, 2025

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Building character in children Q : My husband and I are expecting our first child – a boy. We want to raise him to be kind and respectful but It is a lofty goal and a long-haul journey but it is worthwhile. We have resources to help and support you at family.org.my. words than their husbands, though this can just as easily come down to individual temperament and personality.

partner to be heard and understood. If a time-out becomes necessary, schedule a follow-up session within 24 hours to continue the discussion. This will help provide both partners with reassurance and a sense of safety. If you need any guidance, consider scheduling an appointment with one of our counsellors. This article is contributed by Focus on the Family Malaysia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and strengthening the family unit. It provides a myriad of programmes and resources, including professional counselling

when parents put their own interests ahead of their children’s or try to live vicariously through them. Maybe Dad never made the football team or Mum never learned piano, so they are determined to see their child succeed in those areas whether it’s in the child’s interest or not. The second style to avoid is child centred parenting. This happens when parents allow the home to revolve around the children, giving them whatever they want. It puts parents in a subservient role and teaches children the opposite of kindness and consideration. The parenting style we should all strive for is character-centred parenting. This means parents say “yes” or “no” not to pacify their children but to help them develop positive traits and respect for others.

as we watch other parents, we are beginning to realise that it may be easier said than done. Do you have any suggestions? Focus on the Family Malaysia: Most couples would agree that raising children seems easy until they become a parent. Teaching children to be polite and considerate is a long-term journey and it requires us to stay engaged. Author Jill Rigby, an advocate for manners and respect, identifies three parenting styles – two to avoid and one to embrace. The first style to avoid is parent centred parenting. This happens

Opposites often attract at first but once the honeymoon phase ends and couples face the real work of living together and understanding each other, the differences can start to strain the relationship. We recommend scheduling a dedicated time to talk, with a mutually agreed-upon duration – 20 to 30 minutes is sufficient initially. Commit to staying engaged but allow for a pause if the conversation becomes too intense. Begin by identifying your individual needs for communication and quiet time. Use “I” statements to express your feelings, avoiding blame or attacks. The goal is for each

Q: My wife always wants me to talk to her even when I’m tired and just want to relax. She always launches into an emotional outburst about how we don’t “communicate” the way we used to. I have to leave the house to get some peace. What can I do to make her understand? Focus on the Family Malaysia: It is not unusual to find that spouses differ radically when it comes to their needs and desires for verbal communication. In many cases, these differences are influenced partly by gender. Many women tend to use more

services, to the community. For more information, visit family.org.my. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

The Hong Kong incident demonstrated the importance of rapid response and effective coordination. – REUTERSPIC

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

Towards a corruption-free Malaysia: Leading with integrity IN conjunction with the

The Auditor-General’s Report 2/2025 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat last July, highlighted three serious governance irregularities and weaknesses, amounting to RM460 million. These are not merely statistics but reflections of the price paid by the people. In the digital era, the adoption of technologies – such as artificial intelligence, integrated databases and real-time monitoring – can strengthen transparency and reduce opportunities for manipulation. However, technology will only be meaningful when accompanied by the institutional courage to uphold integrity without compromise. A culture of zero tolerance towards corruption must also be continuously nurtured through education that is critical, evidence based and grounded in societal realities. A society of integrity can only be shaped through systems founded on the same principle. At the same time, collaborations between the public sector, private sector, NGOs and civil society must be driven by professionalism and openness, not by sentiments or narrow interests. Governance reform requires a consistent and high-quality collective effort. Malaysia will not progress if corruption continues to burden the nation economically and morally. International Anti-Corruption Day reminds us that the country’s future depends on the courage of institutions and society to reject corruption in all its forms. Masa will continue to speak firmly, professionally and with principle to ensure that institutional reforms take place with honesty, transparency and true justice. Azril Mohd Amin Chief Executive Officer Institut Masa Depan Malaysia

International Anti-Corruption Day 2025, observed on Dec 9, Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (Masa) emphasised that the fight against corruption is not merely a policy demand but also a moral duty and a national trust. Malaysia will not achieve genuine prosperity as long as institutional integrity continues to be compromised and public trust eroded. Since its establishment, Masa has remained committed to the agenda of institutional reform and integrity-driven governance, which form the core foundations of any long-term development vision, including the aspiration for shared prosperity. These principles remain firm across changes in administration because integrity is not a political matter; it concerns the nation’s future. Masa acknowledges the various initiatives outlined in the national anti-corruption framework, including the National Anti Corruption Strategy 2024–2028. However, more important than the policy is the firmness and transparency of its implementation. Every measure to combat corruption must be carried out professionally, with principle and free from any form of external influence to ensure that institutional integrity is truly safeguarded. Current realities show that significant challenges persist. Malaysia remains at the 57th position in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 – unchanged from 2023. The 12th Malaysia Plan target of being among the top 30 by 2025 and the 13th Malaysia Plan goal of breaking into the top 25 by 2030 are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve without stronger structural reforms.

Lessons from Hong Kong fire incident THE recent fire disaster in Hong Kong, which claimed multiple lives and injured many others, is a stark reminder that fire safety can never be taken for granted – not even in modern, highly regulated cities. Safety upgrades Many fires in Malaysia are caused by faulty wiring, overloading and

Rescue Department with modern equipment, advanced communication systems and specialised rescue training. High-rise firefighting capability should be prioritised, given the increasing vertical development in our cities. Stronger regulations Entertainment venues and facilities with heavy electrical use or cooking activity need stricter licensing requirements. These premises should be subjected to more rigorous fire safety certification and regular re evaluation to ensure safety standards are always met. A tragedy we cannot ignore Every major fire disaster around the world teaches the same painful lesson: complacency kills. Malaysia must not wait for a similar catastrophe to occur before strengthening our fire safety culture. This is the right moment for the government, local authorities, building owners and the public to recommit to fire safety. Fire safety must be seen not as a bureaucratic checklist but as a shared responsibility and a moral obligation to protect lives. Only by learning from tragedies elsewhere can we prevent our own. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye Chairman Alliance for a Safe Community

outdated electrical systems. This tragedy should prompt mandatory periodic electrical system audits – especially in older buildings – and ensure that all rewiring is carried out by certified electricians. Strict oversight of renovation works that could compromise a building’s fire integrity is equally critical. Safe escape routes Blocked staircases, locked exits and cluttered corridors remain a problem in Malaysian buildings. This is unacceptable. Clear escape paths must be a non-negotiable requirement, and building managers should face immediate action if escape routes are found obstructed. Public preparedness Fire safety is not just about infrastructure; it is also about people. Regular fire drills in malls, offices, hotels and high-rise residences must become routine, not symbolic. Malaysians must know how to respond in an emergency, where the nearest exits are and how to assist vulnerable individuals. Improved response capability The Hong Kong incident demonstrated the importance of rapid response and effective coordination. Malaysia must continue strengthening the Fire and

For Malaysia, this tragedy should serve as an important lesson for everyone. We must look at the causes, understand the failures and take corrective action to prevent such an incident from happening here. Strict compliance Early reports indicate that the building design, layout and safety compliance contributed to the scale of the tragedy. Malaysia must intensify enforcement of fire regulations, ensuring that all premises – especially older buildings – meet requirements for fire escapes, fire doors, alarms and sprinkler systems. Non-compliance must carry serious penalties, and enforcement should be consistent, not episodic. Regular inspection Old commercial buildings, entertainment outlets, mixed-use premises and densely populated structures require more frequent fire inspections. The Fire and Rescue Department must be adequately staffed, well-resourced and empowered to carry out surprise inspections. We should also publish inspection data for transparency and public awareness.