01/03/2026

ON SUNDAY March 1, 2026 theSunday Special V

3. Silent treatment or withdrawal Perhaps one of the hardest moments for SDUWQHUV FRPHV QRW LQ WKH KHDW RI D ¿JKW EXW DIWHUZDUGV ZKHQ RQH ZDONV DZD\ VKXWV GRZQ DQG UHIXVHV WR HQJDJH In a multicultural and often socially FRQVHUYDWLYH HQYLURQPHQW OLNH 0DOD\VLD couples may avoid confrontation out of IHDU RI VKDPH DQJHU RU ³ORVLQJ IDFH´ 7KHUH LV DOVR D VWURQJ HPSKDVLV RQ SUHVHUYLQJ jaga aib or jaga muka DYRLGLQJ JRVVLS DQG SURWHFWLQJ WKH IDPLO\¶V UHSXWDWLRQ W RUNLQJ ZLWK PDQ\ FOLHQWV IURP GLI IHUHQW EDFNJURXQGV )RR QRWLFHG WKDW PRVW $VLDQ FOLHQWV ZDLW XQWLO ³WKH HOHYHQWK KRXU´ EHIRUH FRQVLGHULQJ SURIHVVLRQDO KHOS 7KLV PD\ DOVR EH LQÀXHQFHG E\ IDPLO\ XSEULQJLQJ ZKHUH LQ HDUOLHU WLPHV LW was considered best for men to stay quiet ZKHQ WHQVLRQV DURVH UDWKHU WKDQ OD\LQJ WKHLU FDUGV RQ WKH WDEOH DQG GLVFXVVLQJ problems in a healthy way as the modern JHQHUDWLRQ GRHV ³7UXWK LV ZKDW PD\ IHHO OLNH VHOI SURWHFWLRQ LH VXFK DV VLOHQW WUHDWPHQW RU VKXWWLQJ GRZQ RIWHQ KXUWV PRUH 6LOHQFH leaves the partner stranded in uncer WDLQW\ TXHVWLRQLQJ ZKDW WKH\ GLG ZURQJ RU ZKHWKHU WKH UHODWLRQVKLS LV VWLOO DOLYH 2YHU WLPH WKLV HPRWLRQDO ZLWKGUDZDO EHFRPHV D TXLHW HURVLRQ ´ )RR DGGHG In a world that idealises romance DQG FKHPLVWU\ LW LV HDV\ WR IRUJHW WKDW UHODWLRQVKLSV DOVR UHTXLUH PDLQWHQDQFH As the relationship researcher John Gott PDQ LV RIWHQ TXRWHG ³(YHU\ UHODWLRQVKLS GHPDQGV H̆ RUW IURP ERWK SDUWQHUV ´ I Q WKH 0DOD\VLDQ FRQWH[W HVSHFLDOO\ XQGHU SUHVVXUHV VXFK DV EXV\ VFKHGXOHV ¿QDQFLDO VWUHVV RU H[WHQGHG IDPLO\ H[SHF WDWLRQV WKDW FRQWLQXRXV H̆ RUW FDQ IDOWHU XQOHVV ERWK FRPPLW WR UHWXUQLQJ WDONLQJ DQG KHDOLQJ 4. Unspoken disappointment or sadness 6RPHWLPHV ZKDW ORRNV OLNH DQJHU RU disinterest on the surface is really disap SRLQWPHQW IHDU RU YXOQHUDELOLW\ XQGHUQHDWK

Small, repeated frustrations can build over time and quietly erode respect and connection.

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7 he American author and cultural critic bell hooks wrote in her book All About Love: New Visions that to love - truly ORYH ZH PXVW FRPPLW WR WHOOLQJ WKH WUXWK HYHQ ZKHQ LW LV KDUG ³/RYH LV DQ DFW RI ZLOO ,W¶V QRW MXVW D URPDQWLF IHHOLQJ ,W¶V DQ RYHUDOO LQWHQWLRQ DQG DQ DFWLRQ ´ )RR DUJXHG 6 he stressed that to keep a relationship VWURQJ FRXSOHV PXVW SUDFWLVH LQWHQWLRQDO KRQHVW\ QDPLQJ VDGQHVV GLVFXVV LQJ GLVDSSRLQWPHQW DQG DGPLW WLQJ IHDU DOO RI ZKLFK FDQ

Love is an act of will. It’s not just a romantic feeling. It’s an overall intention and an action.”

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A partner may lash out or ZLWKGUDZ EXW ZKDW WKH\ UH ally feel is sadness that the UHODWLRQVKLS LVQ¶W ZKDW WKH\ H[SHFWHG WKDW WKH RWKHU SHU VRQ GRHVQ¶W VHH WKHP SULRUL WLVH WKHP RU XQGHUVWDQG WKHP :KHQ WKRVH GHHSHU IHHOLQJV UHPDLQ KLGGHQ XQVSRNHQ WKH relationship becomes a place of SUHWHQGLQJ UDWKHU WKDQ WUXWK 2YHU WLPH VXFK FRQ cealment builds a wall between WZR SHRSOH

help partners walk towards HDFK RWKHU DJDLQ LQVWHDG RI GULIWLQJ DSDUW LQ VLOHQFH Wanita dan lelaki, urban or rural Malaysia is a country of FKDQJLQJ VRFLDO VWUXFWXUHV More women are study LQJ ZRUNLQJ DQG HDUQLQJ 7UDGLWLRQDO UROHV DW KRPH DUH EHLQJ UHQHJRWLDWHG

Juggling work and daily pressures can strain emotional connections in relationships.