From MM Online (extracts):
Five deaths from methanol poisoning in Perak, says state exco
By John Bunyan
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State Health, Consumers Affairs, Civil Society, National Integration and Human Resource Committee chairman A. Sivanesan inspects a liquor shop in Bercham May 14, 2019 Picture by Farhan Najib |
IPOH, May 14 — State Health, Consumers Affairs, Civil Society, National Integration and Human Resource Committee chairman A. Sivanesan today said that a total of five men had died of suspected methanol poisoning in Perak.
He said the victims were three foreigners and two locals who died after consuming alcoholic drinks.
“From April 30 to May 12, a total of 13 cases were reported of suspected methanol poisoning due to alcohol consumption.
“Out of the 13 cases, five were reported dead,” he told reporters after inspecting a liquor shop in Bercham here.
Sivanesan said the victim were aged between 23 and 73-years-old and included a woman.
“Five cases involved foreigners and eight cases involves the locals.
It's sad when such tragedies occurred, and seemingly always with Indians.
Why?
Years ago (2006?) I penned that probably the most deprived and marginalised ethnic group in Malaysia, a land of bountiful plenty, was and today still is the Indian community. Well, everyone knows though many would deny such a status. Eff, that's why Indian students need Matriculation far more than Malays.
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Look, the Malays and other natives have their land, and except for some that are truly struggling along without even piped water, electricity and other basic amenities such as health or educational facilities, are in the main coping well.
Likewise with the Chinese – I know of several who still don’t enjoy piped water nor electricity but the rest are comfortable. Like some elite Malays there are of course Midas-rich Chinese. But the general group of Chinese ranges from upper middle class to some really poor, but as with most in Malaysia, even those at the lower economic rungs of society don’t suffer from 3rd World deprivations leading to hunger, malnutrition or rampant diseases.
But the Indians! What can I say?
Ironically the richest Malaysian until in recent times was an Indian, Ananda Krishnan.
Why?
Years ago (2006?) I penned that probably the most deprived and marginalised ethnic group in Malaysia, a land of bountiful plenty, was and today still is the Indian community. Well, everyone knows though many would deny such a status. Eff, that's why Indian students need Matriculation far more than Malays.
Look, the Malays and other natives have their land, and except for some that are truly struggling along without even piped water, electricity and other basic amenities such as health or educational facilities, are in the main coping well.
Likewise with the Chinese – I know of several who still don’t enjoy piped water nor electricity but the rest are comfortable. Like some elite Malays there are of course Midas-rich Chinese. But the general group of Chinese ranges from upper middle class to some really poor, but as with most in Malaysia, even those at the lower economic rungs of society don’t suffer from 3rd World deprivations leading to hunger, malnutrition or rampant diseases.
But the Indians! What can I say?
Ironically the richest Malaysian until in recent times was an Indian, Ananda Krishnan.
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Ananda Krishnan among the richest Malaysians |
And indeed there are other well known Midas-rich and powerful Indians.
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Tony Fernandes |
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Kenneth Eswaran |
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Mohan Swami |
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P Kasi |
But the majority of Indians are struggling - truly truly struggling. I call the manifestation of their suffering, to wit, the 'toddy syndrome', a cruel but reasonably true observation.
The gap between the rich and poor Indians are unlike other ethnic groups. Their wealth distribution bell curve is distorted and squashed towards the lower values.
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if 'x' represents the wealth curve for Indians, minus 10 being bloody poor whilst positive 5 to 10 is wealthy, the Indian ethnic group is represented by the black Bell distribution curve, with most being in the negative sector - Ananda Krishnan would be one of the very few on the right side |
The typically hardworking but unskilled Indian struggles at the lower scale of employment, earns enough to live from hand to mouth day after day, has no or little after-hours amenities, has many children as a result of his sole entertainment (not unlike Chinese farmers in remote rural areas).
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S. Sukumaran Sanmugam washes cars so he can buy his daughter some school books at one stage he and family sleep in a bus shelter |
At the end of work he (not necessarily Sukumaran Sanmugam) dashes off to the local ‘pub’ for several tin mugs of watered toddy, gets himself pissed drunk to blank out his agonising frustration, apprehension, worries, physical/mental pain, hopelessness and anger at his-fate-decided-by-the-gods.
If not knocked out by the toddy by then, he comes home and, where in many cases, tries to solve his problems a wee bit by thrashing the hell out of his wife and kids. I apologise for stereotyping very poor Indians but alas, I have often witnessed such scenes in my village (I lived next to an Indian Labourers' quarters).
The evil toddy has become the proverbial 'last straw' for many socially-drowning Indians to hang on (even though kaytee admits he loves a drop or two of this brew occasionally, but of course in moderation).
Its devastating after-effect produces the syndrome, but the cause of the disease is hopelessness in an increasing competitive world that is rapidly leaving many Indian Malaysians behind.
Like Sukumaran, their children are born into immediate disadvantage. Their community is looked down upon, and worse, they are assigned ownership of Malaysian crimes which cannot be attributed to foreign migrant workers. They have become the debris, flotsam and garbage of Malaysian society.
Then, apart form being economic pariahs (excuse my rudeness in exploiting this word but I have done it with mucho sympathy for Indians) they are further afflicted by many forms of racism.
Punjabis (including and especially Sikhs) and Sri Lankan Tamils seem to escape this vicious intra-racism. And I wonder about Gujeratis, Sindhis, Pakistanis, Indian Muslim, etc.
Indeed their unique sub-racial groupings are possible further disadvantage, because of the Indian Malaysian narrow politics based on sect, religion, linguistic differences or parochialism.
Wait, there is yet another odious factor, namely, that of religious affiliation, whether an Indian is a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, etc. All these were exposed in an article written by Malaysian veteran journalist Baradan Kuppusamy writing in Malaysiakini.
And then there is caste!
With their multiple disadvantages, namely, race, sub-race grouping, religion, caste, it's very little wonder the very poor Indian man resorts to his 'last straw'.
Thus such tragedies resulting from poisoning by toxic brew have to happen mainly and often to Indians.