I Met Malaysia’s Biggest Twitter Celebrity, Rais Yatim! (#yorais, Maya Karin, mixed marraige and more)
Celebrities, Sharing February 26th, 2010
I recently went for a launch function where Communications, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim was the guest of “honor”. I use honor in quotes because er, well…why don’t you read Eu Veng’s blog for more details.
Okay, maybe I didn’t really meet him. No I didn’t get to talk to him. But as you can see I got close enough to take a picture. Hahaha.
Notice someone with male progressive baldness on the bottom right? Yes, it's him. Rais Yatim!
If you’ve been on Twitter and are following more than 10 Malaysians, chances are you’ve heard of the #yorais hashtag. Heck, the world has heard of it. It’s Malaysia’s second ever trending topic on Twitter. (Rais Yatim has Net users boiling, creates global sensation).
In short, Rais Yatim is “famous” on Twitter because of several things that he has said, and some unwise actions. As you can guess, these are unpopular opinions. These include:
- “Twitter and Facebook are tools of the west and can erode Malaysian culture”
- Making anti-communist statements just as PM Najib was visiting China. Not very smart for bi-lateral relations.
- Prying open a safe left by Tunku Abdul Rahman without informing the late Tunku’s children, or the person that discovered it.
- And most recently he mentioned “7 out of 10 mixed marraiges end in failure. Learn from that. Don’t marry white guys.” (Okay I am paraphrasing but that’s what he is clearly implying.)
To his credit, he has said some things that make sense. Check out the article, he talks about how religion has to be balanced in government schools, and how teachers in government schools need to be improved. And also, that local radio stations must play songs by local bands.
And well, possibily the most truthful one of all:
“Rais: Malaysians aware of online laws but just don’t obey them.”
Yeah, because you’re setting the rules right. How to obey stupid rules? Yo Rais, remember Samy Vellu increased the speed limit because Malaysians kept breaking them? Maybe you should take a cue from him.
But Rais Yatim saying things that make sense, is rare.
Anyway, the #yorais hashtag has recently become popular again, due to Rais’s recent comments on mixed marraiges. They can best be described as misinformed, which is ironic for a Minister of Information.
From Utusan Malaysia:
Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, kajian ilmiah yang dilakukan oleh beberapa ahli sosiologi di negara ini antara 1995 hingga 1998 mendapati dalam setiap 10 perkahwinan campur, hanya tiga berjaya.
Malah, kata beliau, kegagalan perkahwinan campur amat ketara apabila melibatkan pasangan dari kalangan warga kulit putih atau mat saleh.
”Tetapi perkahwinan campur di Malaysia melibatkan si lelaki atau wanita dari kalangan bukan Islam yang kemudiannya memeluk Islam begitu berjaya berbanding kahwin campur dengan warga asing dari barat ini.
”Ini sudah jadi lumrah, jadi, orang muda termasuk kalangan artis boleh mengambil iktibar ini dan sekiranya mahu menelaah kajian ini yang turut dilengkapi dengan panduan, anda boleh mendapatkannya daripada bahagian pendaftaran perkahwinan sivil dari rekod simpanan syariah di Johor dan Wilayah Persekutuan,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia hari ini.
Rais ditanya pandangan beliau berhubung keretakan rumah tangga aktres Maya Karin, 31, yang dilaporkan sudah tidak sebumbung dengan suaminya.
Summary in English: Rais Yatim says that according to some sociology study, only 3 in 10 mixed marriages work. The rest fail. He says that it becomes worse if it is an ORANG PUTEH! (white man) Here’s where the statement gets funny: He says that other marriages are okay (to other races, who then embrace Islam because they married a Muslim), but the with the ORANG PUTEH BARAT (white people from the white west world) it doesn’t work. He then goes on to summarize that young people should take it as an example.
As an appropriate visual aid, here’s a picture of Maya Karin, to give you some context.
MAYA KARIN: RAIS YATIM DOES NOT WANT YOU TO MARRY THIS WOMAN!
Er, okay, now I need your focus back. Let me continue…
Here’s his thought process:
1. Maya Karin’s marriage is on the rocks.
2. Maya Karin is in a mixed marraige. (an Italian, Steven David Shorthose)
3. Thereby all mixed marriages will end in failure.
This makes as about much sense as this:
Logic Fallacy
Let’s say one thing. Maya Karin herself is the product of a mixed marraige.
Her parents are still together.
And well, Rais Yatim’s son, Dino Rais (probably named after Rais’s prehistoric pet that he had back then) is currently being sued for not performing his duties as a husband. Also, perhaps the fact that he divorced his wife BY SMS of all things might have something to do with it.
Perhaps he should talk to his son first about the sanctity of marriage before telling Malaysians who to marry.
It’s funny that that Rais Yatim didn’t think of a variety of other reasons why celebrity mixed marraiges fail in Malaysia:
- Celebrities are subject to a higher amount of media scrutiny than most. Buying groceries is tough enough, let alone sustaining a marriage.
- Converting to a religion for someone you love may not always work out well in the long run.
- An increasing amount of marriages in general are failing.
- Beautiful people have more options.
- The younger generation in general do not feel the need to stay in unhappy marraiges as much as their parents before them.
- The possibilities are endless!
Good luck Maya Karin. I hope things pan out well in your favour. It’s unfortunate that Rais Yatim capitalized on your distress to make an unsavory statement that Malaysians don’t agree with.
Let’s summarize this.
It seem that Rais Yatim is just jealous he didn’t get to marry Maya Karin.
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[...] here, translation below by Google Translate and refined/reworded by Josh Lim. And of course, see this post for more about the issue. And if anything, let me know if my translation is [...]
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by joshlim: I actually met #yorais and snapped a picture with him: http://bit.ly/cjMoGF...
it got nothing to do with marrying orang puteh for maya karin case, that shorthose guy is a total slimy douchebag, i never understand why my fren’s sis married this guy the first place..(i kinda know them…)
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Now I know how Rais Yatim relates to penguin
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Hi Josh, this was really delightful! You’re funny! I’m glad I came across your blog when I was searching for our beloved minister’s quote.
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Hi Shahirah! Thanks, glad to know you like the post. Came across your blog from my referrer logs, thanks for the link!
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I was married to one - lasted for only 18 months. I thought a 63 year old will be different married to a 49 year old me!!! I was wrong - he changed when he got here - everybody said he is handsome so he felt like a stud hence the straying started. In his western world, no one will look up at a 63 year old! One of the many reasons orang putih like it here very much….they are like celebrities!!!!
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I am planning to marry one soon. I Have two failed marriage ( a chinese and ceylonese). Now it is going to be an american. Iam 63 and he 47. Lets see if it works this time round. My kind is only after my money.
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Ok, so alot of mixed marriages fail. They dont fail because of racial differences I sm sure, but mostly because they hate themselves for making wrong choices. You wont know what is right and wrong till you actually do it, learn from it then get over it. But to say that the marriages are successful after conversion to islam is wrong!!!
My cousin brother married an ardent muslim malay girl and the marriage lasted for 2 years. She slept with another guy and my cousin wanted to divorce that slut and she had the nerve to ask for a car to ok the divorce. I am sure religion is not the key factor here because he converted and had his foreskin cut off!
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Disgusting… How can the minister of a country say these type of xenophobic stuff and get away with it? Aren’t they supposed to be a ‘role model’ or a good ‘example’ to the younger generations?
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im not supporting his statement.but lets not be too negative,lets look at the good side of the statement..his statement was based on the statistics provided by academic professionals.they studied about the mixed marriages for years.and easily we say he’s wrong.im not sure this is something to do with politics or not..n i don’t see that he prohibited the marriage.instead,he said they have to think twice,thats all.about maya karin,he never mentioned about maya karin.maya karin’s name appear only after he was asked about her.he didn’t even answer directly about her case,but answer it generally(to artists n young ppl)..about the whites n muslims.he is not saying marrying muslims will be lasted n it is the best.in practice,yes,often times marrying muslims also not lasted.end up with divorce.but if compare it to marrying whites,muslims r better.thats all what he wanted to explain..im not sure some of u don’t understand the statement or supposedly u understand,but appear to be ignorant because or the word ‘muslims’..
anyways,i like white chicks hehe..for me,among the barriers i guess different religions,different cultures n different environments.these r among the factors that can leads the marriage to be a failure marriage..
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im not supporting his statement.but let us not be too negative for just a few seconds,lets look at the good side of the statement..his statement was based on the statistics provided by academic professionals.they studied about the mixed marriages for years.and easily we say he’s wrong.im not sure this is something to do with politics or not..n i don’t see that he prohibited the marriage.instead,he said they have to think twice(think thousands times),because there r many obstacles to go through,thats all..about maya karin,he never mentioned about maya karin.maya karin’s name appeared only after he was asked about her.he didn’t even answer directly about her case,but answer it generally..about the whites n muslims.he is not saying marrying muslims will be lasted n it is the best.in practice,yes,often times marrying muslims also not lasted.end up with divorce.but if compare it to marrying whites,muslims r better.thats all what he wanted to explain..im not sure some of u don’t understand the statement or supposedly u understand,but appear to be ignorant because or the word ‘muslims’..
anyways,i like white chicks hehe..for me,among the barriers i guess different religions,different cultures n different environments.these r among the factors that can leads the marriage to be a failure marriage..but if everything is ok,the marriage will be just fine..
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rais ayim, i’m just wondering how u got there. u are such a biased idiot. if u knew mat salleh and their culture ( so many of them ), you’d just be overwelmed, shut up AND STAY IN YOUR TREE. COME ON, LETS FACE IT… YOU DONT MEASURE UP , YOU ARE A STUPID MAN, VERY VERY STUPID
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First you said that RY made an anti commnist statement in his speech. I really cant comment on that because you did not restate what ever he had said. In regards to the issue of failing mix marriages I don’t see anything wrong with Rais’s statement because he is not making a conclusion based on Maya Karin’s case but rather he was quoting that as an example. The statistic produced by the Department was actually the base of his claim. Obviously you are twisting the fact, despite all your logical deduction and critical thinking methods, you are the one who is actually mastering the fallacy here. In fact I think your tone is rather arrogant and ridiculing.
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I was married white for once and most of my sister and immediate family married white too, i dnt think religion or culture are the problem becos before you marry the person you must be in your right mind that who is the person you gonna marry. To marry a foreigner is not easy as what ppls used to say either to live in their country or here in malaysia. Any marriage has a problem regardless who you are marrying,no one is free but again problem occurs simply because both are too stubborn to admint the mistake or to realise what is missing in their marriage. Common guys..marriage problem is a worldwide issue..dont u read or watch telly..so obvious even celebrities in sport or movies are facing the same issue…so what the different here?????
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There is no need to make a silly statement on mixed marriage there is plenty of issue in this country that need wise statement for god sake dnt be a mooron..arent you worried..has anyone watch aljazeera news…?????
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Well guys everyone has the right to marry anyone they want but its a well knon fact that many Asians will sell their ass for some white skin. Many of us know y. One of the main reasons is simply cos they feel inferior abt the way they r n marring a white guy or woman will make them be seen different in the society. Many Malaysians r racist n they forget that many of them r dark like Malays or yellow like chinese
Another thing is that many Malay man r being useless nowdays thats y many malay ladies go for non muslims who convert in Islam and never practice Islam even the basic one
White skin wont bring happiness trust me. Marry the one that will love u in good n bad days n someone who has similarities with ur religion n customs n not simply cos he or she is white.
Ciao a tutti
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hey saimatkong do you know them or not? Kinda? That means NO. I do, and you know NOTHING. And will everyone stop saying Steven is Italian…he is English, they just got married in Italy.
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Its about time that Malaysian muslims stop being so selfrightous and hipocritical.Its high time we lead by example and be sincere abt it.As for the minister,work on the real issues for example,unfriendly imigration laws on foreign spouses and chldren married 2 locals, true justice for women and children during divorce procedings and the list can just go on and on!!!!I lived here for 16yrs and has experience all of the above
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