Safety or rights

Living in Malaysia is a totally lot different from living in Saudi Arabia. First of all, in Malaysia, women get full citizen rights as a Malaysian, have more job opportunities, and dress freely. Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive, have less job opportunities, and have to follow the dress code in the country. From what I have observed, you can barely see women working in companies whereas in Malaysia, a woman could hold a high position up to a senior manager. Women barely have any rights in Saudi Arabia.

The price of goods here are more expensive than it is in Malaysia. For instance, you would pay 15 riyals for a haircut, but in Malaysia you would only have to pay for 5 Malaysia ringgits (which is almost equal to 5 riyals).  In addition to that, it seems that Saudi Arabia imports more than they export. They have to import fruits and vegetables as barely any plant can grow in a desert surrounded country. This can seriously affect a country’s economy badly but fortunately for Saudi Arabia, it is an oil-rich country.

The weather in Saudi Arabia might be harsh for people who prefer a cooler climate. During the summer, it is exceedingly hot here as it is surrounded by deserts. As a dry country, it barely receives any rain, which might be good news to some but not to all. As Malaysia is situated close to the Equator, it receives a lot of rain. Malaysia is a rainforest and tropical country.

Malaysia has developed itself to a modern and developed country, keeping its heritage and Islamic values. It has grown into a modern Islamic state in addition to being one of the most influential powers in Asia. However, the crime rate in Malaysia is very high compared to Saudi Arabia. Although the police system in Malaysia is efficient, they still have not managed to overthrow CD and DVD piracy. The piracy in Malaysia is among the highest ever in the world. In addition to that, there are many rape cases and killings happening almost every day. Drug also is currently one of the biggest issues in Malaysia, considering it as a threat to the citizens.

Despite being undeveloped, Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries in this world. Saudi Arabia uses the strict Islamic code or the Sharia law to govern the country. Even though one is beheaded for a terrible crime that may not be the same somewhere else, this code ensures the country’s safety and peace. You would not find a lot of robbery, killings and rape cases as much as you do in Malaysia. As the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia retains its Islamic principles by developing constantly but not moving away from their faith. Saudi Arabia is viewed as a leader of the Islamic world, being the country where Islam originated and where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born. If it were to change to a modern and democratic country as the United States is, Saudi Arabia would’ve probably been forgotten as an overwhelmingly Islamic state. This is proven in many countries even in the Middle East, such as Palestine, Lebanon and Syria where power is contested and people would do what it takes to be the leader. The birth of democracy and republicanism in the ME has given birth to many conflicts that have remained unsolved, some even for decades. So, Saudi Arabia might not be ready for democracy but it should start giving more rights to the people, especially women.