Some time ago I wrote about Huai Bin’s blog, sixthseal. I was amazed at his drug-taking antics and even more amazed at his willingness to display his face and reveal his identity online. Yesterday I saw that Huai Bin has become aware of a letter someone has sent to a Malaysian newspaper, demanding to know how a “website” like sixthseal, which is “dangerous to children”, can be allowed to exist. The letter was written in the Malay language, so yours truly quickly translated it and posted the translation up as a comment on the blog:
Sir,
I have come across a website www.sixthseal.com that frequently displays the drug addiction activities of the site’s owner, a Malaysian citizen who lives in Sarawak. This link http://www.sixthseal.com/ 001049.html for example, provides a video clip that teaches the site’s visitors how to misuse dangerous drugs. All sorts of information on the abuse of dangerous drugs are displayed on this website.The website owner is so proud of the various drugs he buys from time to time, and freely and fearlessly displays his face and real name (Poh Huai Bin) at the website, as though to challenge and insult [memperlekehkan] the authorities and the laws of Malaysia. Daily many visitors to the site write comments there and sadly I note that many of these visitors want to share their experiences of drug addiction and exhange drugs and liquor that are illegal not only in Malaysia but also in the United States.
I am very surprised, why has no action been taken against the owner of this website? Is the media not aware of the existence of this website? Should this website be allowed to continue so that our children can come across it and learn how to abuse dangerous drugs? Why are we allowing someone who admits to abusing and trafficking dangerous drugs to continue to rampage [bermaharajalela] in society?
I really hope Harian Metro will expose this website so that action can be taken by the authorities.
Thank you.
B.Azham
(I need better Malay language dictionaries. I’m sure there are flaws in this translation; if you are curious and can read Malay, take a look at the original letter. Feel free to point out better words to me – particularly for memperlekehkan and bermaharajalela.)
Looking at the comments in response to Huai Bin’s post, I’m not surprised (but sad) to see the number of racist posts. (The letterwriter was probably a Malay Muslim, Huai Bin is an ethnic Chinese, and I’m guessing a lot of the blog’s readers are non-Malays. Wikipedia has a nice, succinct entry on Malaysia for those unfamiliar with Malaysian history and society.) I remember reading usenet and groups like soc.culture.malaysia (and all the soc.culture groups, for that matter) and being shocked to see the amount of racist commentary flying around. I guess nothing’s changed, even if the Internet continues to evolve.
I refuse to judge anyone on the basis of their ‘race’ (I think the concept of race is flawed anyway) or religion. I think using racist arguments is lazy and stupid unsophisticated stupid. I mean, if you disagree with someone, surely you can find a better way of saying why, rather than falling back on stereotypes or insults? Or maybe I am overestimating some people’s capacity to think rationally…
Anyway, I hope Huai Bin doesn’t get into trouble for his blog. I don’t know what the Malaysian laws are for merely using prohibited substances like marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, but what worries me is the letterwriter’s allegation that Huai Bin mengedar dadah berbahaya – trafficks dangerous drugs – which I am sure carries a death penalty in Malaysia. I don’t think Huai Bin does – but such an allegation could get him more attention than he might want. And as one commenter pointed out, racist comments could also draw the authorities’ attention, as has happened in Singapore recently.
Categories: drugs, letter-to-the-editor, Malaysia, racism, blogs,translation
7 Comments
Wow that’s a really far out site. I never did check it out till now. He really is brave showing his full name and picture.
If the authorities wanted, they could easily tail and watch him and perhaps catch him in the act holding on to some drugs.
Which brings me to your question: technically over there, using is not a crime – possession is. And you can’t complain that a small amount is for “personal use” either like you can here I think. That is you can’t argue that you are not a dealer. And only a small amt is needed for you to be sentenced to death.
That’s how I understand it. A lawyer can help us out? 🙂
As for the racists, you can tell from the comments it’s only one or two stirring up trouble. There will always be ppl like that. Glad that most of the commentators (of all races) are civilised and intelligent.
Just read a bit more – looks like he’s off all illicits now so perhaps he has no case to answer to.
The fact his blog exists may be a grey area for the authorities though.
Ohh it’s good to know that about Malaysian law, I had no idea!
I do wonder if the authorities will do anything about the blog…
CW its really not worth our time looking at comments like that.
I’ve also seen the blog too some time ago, and personally its really not worth my time going through stuff like that either.
Israd that’s part of the joy of the Internet.. you get all sorts! 🙂
Actually in Malaysia, even being found to have a trace of THC in one’s urine is sufficient to be legally defined as a ‘drug addict’, and being sent to a compulsory two-year ‘rehabilitation’ programme. The penalty for trafficking is a mandatory hanging.
sixthseal has now had the attention of a Sunday tabloid called the Metro Harian, he has said that he will do no more posts on drugs, and is in big trouble I think… http://www.sixthseal.com/001550.html#comments
Yes, I see on sixthseal that HB has finally been noticed by the authorities.. it was bound to happen, I guess!