Bribery

I was driving along the busy Jalan Pasar and it was packed like 'sardine'. Sunday, everyone is out to perform their routine errands like shopping of household item, groceries.....

It was unusually crowded today. Owing to the Fasting month and Hungry Ghost's Festival. The roads were narrowed down to a single lane. The parking lots were turned into make-shifts by traders selling clothes, cookies,...etc. One the right, was a row of Malay traders selling their Raya goodies. Meanwhile on my left were the Chinese selling praying paraphernalia during this 7th Lunar Month. Fruits, ang koo kuih, paper clothes.....
What a contrast view on both side but it shows clearly a 1-Malaysia concept.

The Chinese believes that on the 7th Lunar month the Gates of Hell will open and the hungry ghosts will be free to roam in the living world for a month. They erect sheds and make offerings to the King of Hell and the hungry ghosts. This is called "Phor Thor". Meanwhile Chinese Opera in various dialects and puppet shows are staged to "entertain" the deceased.


Heard a loud speaker from afar, the Malays..."Jualan Murah Hari Raya...baju kurung, baju melayu, kasut... semua ada..harga istimewa" and at another side was the sound of Teow Chew Opera performance...... "Tong tong Chiangggggg"
Isn't it "MUHIBBAH" ?


Not far away, a group of Chinese Aunties were squatting along the railway track. At a closer look, I noticed they were actually offering food and praying in conjunction to the the Lunar Ghostly month. They burnt stacks of paper money and 'gold silvered paper'. The joss sticks created a smoky view. This is an annual ritual. They believe by praying here will ease them from the future unfortunate and getting blessings from the death.

Come to think of this, the Chinese community likes to perform bribery. They offered bribe to the death as well as the the living beings in return of a favour.....
We bribe the death for a peaceful life, we bribe the uniformed personnel for a peaceful life.....

Are we living in a bribery world ? What say you ?