Trading on daddy's name

What's in a name? In Malaysia, everything!

In Malaysia and many Third World countries, your father's (or grandfather's) name, can mean the difference between a life of untold riches, without having to work. Or a miserable existence.

The right name opens up a world of business, educational and business opportunities. With the right name, the victim of any burglary would receive a speedy police response, jump the queue for medical attention, or easily obtain a loan.

The children and family members of the top politician, and civil servants who trade on their fathers' names, deprive other hardworking Malaysian adults of a fair chance at the economic pie. The "right names" grab the lucrative contracts.

At one time in Perak, a company which was allegedly owned by the MB's wife was envied, despite her lack of business acumen.

The nephew of the Selangor MB is alleged to have been involved in illegal sand mining operations. Would he have been arrested by the MACC if he were just another Joe Bloggs and not Azmin Ali's nephew? Perhaps he was roped into the "business" because he was Azmin's nephew?

Would Red Granite Films have done business with Riza Aziz, if he was just boring Riza Aziz bin Mat Temberang, and not the stepson of the second most powerful man in Malaysia?

If one was called Juwiza binti Mat Tembak, and did not have a former top-cop as a dad, would one have been able to enter the firearms trade?

The former inspector-general of police (IGP), Khalid Abu Bakar, said that there was no conflict of interest between him and his daughter's firearms business. She had been awarded the licence before he became the IGP. He failed to mention that the list of potential candidates, to succeed the retiring IGP, was an open secret...