Be aware of FILTO

Xenophobia is certainly not good but at the same time we Malaysians must also be aware of Western crooks too, especially at this historical juncture where many people have lost self-confidence in themselves and the government in the fast changing world.

Some FILTO-type (Failed in London, Try in the Orient) Westerners may now sense a golden opportunity in Malaysia to sell their cure-all 'snake-oil', 'holy water' and 'magical stones' to those who suffer from cultural identity crisis, inferiority complexes and personal insecurity.

They may claim to be 'management', 'marketing' or 'educational' or 'governance' experts. Of course, not all Westeners who are designated as such are crooks. Some are genuine.

The point is that we must be alert and be always conscious of the possibility that no all Westerners are honest and smart. We cannot generalised and should treat them on their own merits on case-by-case basis.

Of course, there are also crooks among ourselves and within our own communities.