The bane of Hofstede's "Power Distance"

          

The Bane of Hofstede’s “Power Distance”

M. Bakri Musa

Feb 8, 2026

Updated excerpt from my Qur’an, Hadith, and Quran In Critical Thinking.

 

This excessive deference to one’s superior is not unique to feudal Malaysia. It is also the bane of many Asian cultures. Geert Hofstede coined the term “power distance” to describe the phenomenon. It leads not only to massive corruption as with Najib and his 1MDB heist, but also loss of innocent lives, as with Korea’s national airline’s many deadly debacles during the last decade of the 20th Century.

 

         Korean Airlines then was cursed with many fatal crashes, leading to its temporary ban from American airspace in 2001. The one major and consistent contributing factor uncovered during the ensuing investigations was that in each instance the junior officers knew that their captain was undertaking dangerous maneuvers but dared not challenge him. There are life and death consequences to this undue deference and unquestioned loyalty to one’s superiors.

 

         Fortunately, the airline’s chief executive recognized the wider ramification of the underlying pathology. In Koren culture and thus language, as in Malay, there are literally dozens of synonyms for “I” and “you” depending in the social status of the addressee and the addressor, akin to the Malay “Beta” and “patek” when a sultan addresses a peasant. 

 

         There are considerable ramifications and implications to such clear demarcations of social status. Can you imagine a “patek” correcting a sultan even when the latter is in gross error and endangering himself and others around? If a Korean First Officer is reluctant to correct his erring Captain, imagine a “patek” with a Tuanku! Therein lies the problem in Malaysia, specifically Malay society.

 

         With Malaysia modernizing, one would expect this regressive feudalistic trait to decline and fall on its own weight. Far from it! This odious cultural artifact is even more embellished, elaborate, and

becoming entrenched. Peruse Malaysia’s royal awards. Every nation has its own system of recognizing her exemplary citizens, and for good reasons. By doing so, society is implicitly displaying and honoring its values in the hope that others would be inspired to follow in the footsteps of those honored. American honorees include sportsmen Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali, writer

Toni Morrison, musician Bruce Springsteen, and physician-scientist Anthony Fauci. It would be unnecessary to mention their accomplishments; they are obvious.

 

         Contrast that to the Malaysian list. All Chief Secretaries to the government would receive a Tan Sri no matter how inept. Ali Hamsa had one; he was the top civil servant when the 1MDB heist happened. Likewise, all Chief Justices would get a Tun even those caught on tape “fixing” cases on the phone with defense lawyers, as with the infamous case of “Correct! Correct! Correct!” V K Lingam (the Datuk defense lawyer) and Tun Ahmad Fairuz, the Chief Justice involved. More than a few of those honored have been convicted of crimes, including former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

 

         These royal honors are aggressively pursued as they are lucrative conduits to riches. Government officials and others become unduly obsequious when these titled businessmen seek approvals for their projects. They get what they want, no questions asked. Thus school

roofs caving in and luxury high-rise hillside apartments collapsing at the first downpour because their contractors are titled individuals and their application permits not scrutinized.

 

         Business magnate Robert Kuok related in his memoir meeting Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tengku Abdul Rahman, soon after independence. He wanted to discuss ideas on developing the young nation. The Tengku did meet him, but Kuok could not get his attention as the Tengku was consumed with looking up ancient Malay literature for civil titles he would be dispensing on Malaysia’s first Merdeka Anniversary!

 

         The corrosive effects of feudalism are far and wide, as well as alive and entrenched. That is quite apart from its inhibitory effects on one’s propensity towards critical thinking.

 

         Next:  Language As a Barrier To Critical Thinking