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Dec 6, 2009
A 'wake-up call'
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent
'My worry is, I don't see a sense of urgency in the community about this problem,' Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said in an interview and declared that he was embarrassed by the reports of Malay fathers and step-fathers charged with killing these young children. -- ST FILE PHOTO
This tragedy and a few others involving young Malay children from broken homes so distress Minister Yaacob Ibrahim that over the weekend, he cried out to his community to 'be worried'.
'My worry is, I don't see a sense of urgency in the community about this problem,' he said in a candid interview during which he openly declared that he was embarrassed, even 'malu' (Malay for ashamed), by the reports of Malay fathers and step-fathers charged with killing these young children.
His despair is almost palpable as he spelt out the dangers of ignoring this longstanding problem of broken homes in the Malay community, saying it will lead to an underclass.
'Once it emerges... you can never remove it,' he said as he expressed his fear of the situation deteriorating and going the way of the Blacks and Hispanics in the United States.
He said this in an interview with Malay daily Berita Harian following a meeting with 80 young Malay-Muslim professionals on Saturday to brainstorm ideas to tackle problems facing the community.
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As Yacoob famously quoted, "This incident is a once in a fifty years occurence...."
Why fret about the future? It will take care of itself when it comes.... (just like the Bukit Timah flood)