20-point booklet to guide the gullible

Star: PUTRAJAYA: The MCA and the Federation of Taoist Associations of Malaysia are drafting a 20-point guideline to safeguard the public from bogus mediums who cheat them of their money and ask for sexual favours.
MCA Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Tan Chai Ho said the booklet would be published soon and would be available for anyone who wanted help in identifying mediums and what they should and should not do when seeking help from them.
The guidelines include advice to the public to seek professional medical treatment instead of mediums’ help when they fall ill, as well as to believe in religion rather than superstition.
“But if they need a medium’s help for other matters, they can study the guidelines listed in the booklet first,” he said.
Tan, who is Deputy Home Affairs Minister, advised people not to be unaccompanied when consulting a medium.
He was speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow after chairing a meeting with members of the association and of the Malaysian Buddhist Sangha Association.
Fu said the federation had recommended that the Government take serious action against those posing as mediums and monks to cheat people by using the law on Restricted Residence.
He said this was because there were times these people could not be charged in court due to the victims being willing partners in sexual acts and also having willingly parted with their money before discovering they were cheated.
“The police cannot take Restricted Residence action very quickly and this matter will have to be discussed in detail,” he said.
Since the criminal act of a bogus medium is non-violent, he said, the person has to be proven to be a threat to the community or society for such severe punishment to be warranted.
In recent cases in Klang, Fu said two women have alleged they were raped by one medium.
Fu also reminded the public not to be fooled into giving money to those posing as Buddhist monks as Buddhist monks are not allowed to beg for money but only for food.