The “Macam Mana Mau Settle” Syndrome

Mariam Mokhtar in her article in Free Malaysia Today on 24 January 2024 highlighted the above syndrome. I have based this article on what was expressed by her.

Malaysians are aware of the depressing feeling when a policeman waves them to stop their car by the roadside. Many pretend to be calm as they wind down the window, only to be told they have just broken the law. The policeman will allege they were speeding (or some other infringement). But many could have sworn they were driving well within the speed limit. Some panic, because they know they will be late for an appointment or cannot think how they are going to get out of this predicament. 

The policeman will avoid all eye contact as he removes the little notebook from his breast pocket and flips it open. Many of us will try to explain that we could not have   possibly been speeding. Sometimes, it was recorded on a laser gun. However, in a confused state we may forget to ask him at what speed were we driving.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org

This thrust and parry will continue until we are at our wits’ end and we are resigned to receiving a summons. Nothing said had made any difference. The policeman may pretend to scribble into his notebook but writes nothing down. Then he utters the magic words: “Macam mana mahu settle?” This is his opening gambit to a quick resolution. The whole exchange may take a few minutes, but it seemed like eternity.

The question, “Macam mana mahu settle?” had broken the ice. A whole new set of possibilities opens and the future is not as bleak as before. Most of us will breathe a sigh of relief.

This is presumably what happened to the British couple on a world tour driving their campervan. On Jan 28, the couple posted a 51-second video clip on X, about a policeman allegedly suggesting an alternative method to quickly settle their purported speeding fine. They could pay an on-the-spot charge of RM100 instead of receiving a summons for RM300 for speeding, with a trip to the police station to settle the fine.

Who would not be pleased to settle the fine at a third of the cost of the original RM300 summons? The couple agreed and paid the policeman RM100.

As the British tourists attracted a lot of negative publicity, Bukit Aman was prompted to warn the Malaysian public against speculating about the incident. They asked anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

The “macam mana mau settle?” syndrome has been around for decades. When will Bukit Aman take the Malaysian rakyat seriously? Will they appreciate that few, if anyone, will come forward, because they fear repercussions from rogue policemen? This activity intensifies before or during festivities! And has become too much of an accepted norm. Then there is the 50% discount for those who have not paid the RM 300 fine. So, isn’t it better from a financial perspective to delay payment and wait for the discount announcement and then pay the reduced fine?  

 Can’t the authorities take some initiative and find ways to stop it? 

Reference:

Will we be rid of the ‘macan mana mau settle’ syndrome? Mariam Mokhtar, Free Malaysia Today, 30 January 2024