16/09/2026

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 16, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

COMMENT by K.T. Maran

Love in the age of convenience N OT so long ago, most of us grew up with the comforting idea that marriages were written in the stars.

Today, the cynics among us might say that relationships are more likely to be swiped into existence on a dating app, measured by a bank balance and ended with a cold text message. It is a harsh take but if we are honest, it echoes something uncomfortable about the world we live in now. We are living in an era that worships speed and convenience, where our bank accounts and job titles often feel like the measure of our worth. It is probably naive to think that love could stay completely untouched by all this. Once seen as a sacred, lifelong commitment that required giving and trust, love has, for many, become something more like a temporary arrangement, kept only as long as it feels personally satisfying. If you look at how a lot of young people enter relationships today, there is often an invisible checklist running through their minds: salary, career trajectory, Instagram aesthetic, the right car and the right clothes. But what about character, kindness and the ability to listen or forgive? Sadly, these are often sidelined. When one expectation isn’t met, it becomes increasingly common to simply walk away and look for the next upgrade. It is a strange paradox: We have never had more ways to connect with people, yet loneliness, anxiety and fractured families are on the rise. Malaysia is feeling this shift, too. We see it in the rising divorce rates and the growing mental health struggles among our youths. The weakening of family bonds isn’t just a statistic; it is a warning sign we cannot afford to ignore. Of course, financial stress is a huge factor but money doesn’t fully explain the fragility we are seeing. At its heart, I believe this is a crisis of values more than it is a crisis of cash. Love, real love, cannot live on romance and butterflies alone. It needs patience when things get difficult,

“Love, real love, cannot live on romance and butterflies alone. It needs patience when things get difficult, forgiveness when we make mistakes, a decision to stay

Lasting relationships are not about finding a perfect person; they are about two imperfect people choosing to grow together, especially through the hard times. – REUTERSPIC

awfully empty if the relationship inside it is hollow. Those perfect photos on social media can rarely tell you the real story of a family’s strength. Love hasn’t disappeared from our world. It is just being tested by greed, selfishness and the relentless pace of modern life. Our challenge isn’t to despair over what has been lost but to rediscover what love was always meant to be. Maybe, marriages are still made in heaven but they can only survive if they are carefully and faithfully tended to here on earth, built on character, commitment, genuine compassion and a shared purpose – not on wealth, status and or convenience. This is the awakening our society so desperately needs. It starts with each of us choosing to value the things that money can never buy. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

professionals who are emotionally lost when it comes to their partners. Every faith and tradition reminds us that true love is not just a fleeting emotion; it is a conscious act of service, humility and responsibility. Lasting relationships are not about finding a perfect person; they are about two imperfect people choosing to grow together, especially through the hard times. This is why the question we are facing in Malaysia is bigger than just “how to find a partner”. If our families keep getting weaker, the ripple effects will hit our children, our workplaces and the very fabric of our society. A nation cannot stay strong when its most basic unit – the family – is crumbling. Maybe, it is time we rethought what success really means. A grand, lavish wedding isn’t a guarantee of a good marriage. A fancy house can feel

forgiveness when we make mistakes, a decision to stay committed, even on the days when the feeling of love fades a little. These feelings are not something you can buy, download or AI chatbot can teach. They have to be learned, passed down and nurtured through our families, schools, communities and our faith. The irony is that as a society, we pour billions into technology to make life more comfortable, yet we are shockingly neglectful when it comes to the emotional and moral education that actually makes life meaningful. We teach our children how to compete and score high on exams but we rarely teach them how to build a healthy relationship. We prepare them for careers but not for the realities of marriage, parenthood or resolving conflict. The result, we produce brilliant

committed, even on the

days when the feeling of love fades a little.