08/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 8, 2026

10

Under One Roof

Setting limits on children’s gaming Q : I agree that children should only play positive video games but that is not our issue – ours is time.

leakages, abuse of power, patronage deals and more – the entire “cable culture” has become embedded in the nation’s bloodstream. What is even more dangerous than corruption itself is that we have stopped being shocked by it. When a scandal breaks, many simply shrug it off – and that is when decay has truly taken hold. We have reached a troubling point where honest politicians are no longer admired for their sacrifices, integrity or leadership while others are celebrated for their wealth and power. Our young generation is watching all of this unfold. Many are beginning to believe that honesty is irrelevant and that only manipulation leads to success. That is how a nation loses its moral compass. The tragedy is that Malaysia is not a poor country. It is rich in resources, yet we are steadily losing something even more valuable – trust. Every ringgit stolen through corruption is not just an abstract figure. It is medicine that never reaches hospitals, a rural road that is privileges. The remedy is to use a reliable timekeeping device. A timer on your phone, for example, can help limit video gaming to 30 minutes per day and perhaps an hour on weekends. These days, many devices come with built-in timers that automatically shut them off at a predetermined time, so you do not always have to play the bad guy. What better way to ensure gaming remains within the limits! Q: My husband is a compulsive and addicted video gamer. It seems that all he does is go to work, come home and play video games. Sometimes I wish it were one of our three children with this problem. At least then I would know I have options. But with my husband, I feel helpless. Is there anything I can do? Focus on the Family Malaysia : We can certainly understand your frustration, especially when it feels as though there is no end in sight. However, there are some steps you can take. First, we are assuming your husband already knows, in a general sense, how you feel. He has probably seen you roll your eyes or heard you tell a friend or family member how disappointed you are. But have you ever had a calm and respectful heart-to-heart conversation with him about this? We are not talking about saying, “You have got to stop all this video gaming;

Both our children only play games with suitable content but it is like pulling teeth to get them to stop. Please help. Focus on the Family Malaysia: As you have discovered, even games you do not mind your children playing can still consume a great deal of time. Video game makers have mastered not only how to attract children to play but also how to keep them hooked and constantly coming back for more. A good rule of thumb for curbing the tendency to overindulge is to encourage your children to read a book for 30 minutes in exchange for 30 minutes of video game time. Alternatively, you can require them to read for an hour in return for 30 minutes of screen time, whether that involves television, computers or video games. We suggest developing and implementing some type of coupon or reward system as a form of currency. However you choose to enforce this, your children will emerge as winners. They will broaden their horizons, improve their reading skills and expand their knowledge, all while keeping gaming activity under control. A related challenge you may encounter is that your child’s internal clock may “run slow” when it comes to those 30 minutes of gaming

A good rule of thumb for curbing the tendency to

overindulge is to encourage your children to read a

book for 30 minutes in

exchange for 30 minutes of video game time. – BERNAMAPIC

It is also important to come prepared with ideas that may help improve the situation. Would a weekly date night help? Perhaps an after-dinner walk together? You should also think about how much gaming time you feel comfortable with. These ideas can help guide the discussion in a constructive way. If you have this conversation and still feel you are not making progress, we would suggest that the two of you consider meeting with a counsellor.

it is driving me crazy!” Instead, we mean a private and honest conversation in which you say something like: “Honey, I love you very much and that has never changed throughout our marriage. What has changed is the amount of time we spend talking about life and sharing interests together. I feel as though I have slipped down your list of priorities, even below gaming. That is not what either of us envisioned for our marriage. How can we work together to change this?”

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

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

When politics becomes a shortcut to wealth, nations begin to rot THE Sultan of Selangor recently reminded us of what former President Harry S. Truman once said in warning against politicians enriching themselves – a wake-up call for every Malaysian. Most Malaysians no longer see corruption as the work of a few bad apples; they see it as deeply entrenched within the system. Inflated projects, procurement never built, a school left to crumble, a flood barrier that fails, scholarships that disappear and trains that never arrive. It represents millions of lives quietly robbed of opportunity.

Religious institutions, schools, universities, civil society and the media must all consistently reinforce the understanding that public office is amanah – a trust, not a business opportunity. That is why the Sultan’s message carries such weight. Our constitutional monarchs rarely speak on such matters unless the situation is serious. His reminder reflects what many Malaysians feel privately: that corruption is no longer an exception but is becoming part of the political culture. Corruption may not cause countries to collapse overnight but it erodes them slowly. When institutions weaken, integrity becomes negotiable, laws are applied selectively and citizens begin to lose faith in justice. Malaysia still has time to change course. We must ask ourselves: Is politics meant to serve the people or has it become a means to enrich those who know how to game the system? The day citizens fully believe that political power exists mainly for personal gain is the day democracy begins to lose its legitimacy.

lawmakers and their immediate families should be made public and independently audited. If politicians are genuinely serving the public, they should not fear transparency. Third, the MACC must be granted real independence. When people suspect selective prosecution or political interference, anti-corruption efforts lose credibility. Too often, small offenders are punished while the powerful are protected through influence, delays and legal loopholes. That cannot continue. Fourth, anti-corruption education must go beyond memorising textbook definitions. We are producing students who excel in ethics examinations yet grow up surrounded by dishonesty and eventually begin to accept it as normal. Integrity must become a lived culture, not merely a subject to be tested. Fifth, we need to stop glorifying wealth and start questioning where it comes from. There is a dangerous sickness in our society – the tendency to admire luxury more than honesty. Social media has only intensified this obsession with status, branding and extravagance. When wealth becomes disconnected from ethics, corruption begins to look spirational.

So why does corruption continue to survive? It is because too many of us still tolerate it. When a politician is accused of corruption, supporters often refuse to demand accountability if he belongs to the “right” race, “right” religion, “right” party or holds the “right” ideology. Instead, they attack the investigators. Political tribalism has become a shield for unethical behaviour – and that must stop. We cannot become a mature nation if our standards of integrity depend on which political team someone belongs to. What we need is genuine structural reform, not recycled slogans rolled out during every anti-corruption campaign season. First, political financing must be fully transparent and mandatory. The rakyat has a right to know who is funding political parties, campaigns and politicians. Hidden money creates hidden masters, and democracy cannot survive in the shadows. Second, asset declarations for ministers, senior civil servants,

He stated that “no one can get rich in politics unless he is a crook” and that if the wealthiest people in a society are its politicians, then that society is fundamentally corrupt. These are not just clever quotes to be shared on social media; they are moral warnings for any country where public office has quietly shifted from being a sacred trust to a fast track to wealth. We need to ask ourselves an uncomfortable question and answer it honestly. How do some politicians become wealthy so quickly while ordinary citizens struggle to earn a living through honest work? We have seen the luxury cars, mansions and designer watches, along with the political dynasties and shady business networks linked to certain leaders. Meanwhile, ordinary Malaysians are grappling with rising food prices, stagnant wages and soaring housing costs. Yet, they are repeatedly told to tighten their belts and remain patient. This contradiction is steadily eroding public trust.

K.T. Maran Seremban