“WHERE romance meets finance.”
Just reading out the words displayed on a Malaysian money-for- love website ‘The Sugarbook’ leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Keep an open mind I told myself, as I clicked through the application, operated by a very proud 29-year-old Darren Chen since 2016. The app currently has 28,500 Malaysian users.
As I learn more about the concept of sugar daddies, sugar mommies and sugar babies, it becomes more apparent that this is simply a wannabe tool using the excuse of convenience and some old-fashioned tricks to lure ladies into the submission of their dignity.
To be a sugar daddy, you have to pay RM195.81 monthly, RM505.12 for a three-month subscription, or RM845.59 for a six-month subscription. Sugar babies only pay RM39.01 monthly, and students bag free membership using their university email addresses, under a promotion with the tagline, “discover the modern way to avoid student loan debt”.
In short, only rich men can afford this, and with their ample wealth, can shop around for females purely based on preferred looks, figure, breast size, skin colour, hair length, etc.
I’d imagine these women would feel pressured to look a certain way, and they may resort to tummy tucks, face construction, and starve themselves in craving acceptance. Personally, I would feel violated, being constantly judged and treated as a disposable object.
This dangerous obsession could lead to mental health issues, eating disorders and in some cases, suicide. People will lose faith in the sanctity of marriage, and accept the culture of being able to sleep around with no strings attached, at their discretion and convenience.
With the availability of such portals, married men may even be encouraged to have affairs, knowing there are no strings attached.
This concept of encouraging wealthy older men to approach younger average girls who are evidently desperate for the money sickens me. Even worse, encouraging students to sign up by using education as bait, baffles me as to why these ‘educated’ girls don’t see a problem with this.
The app states that women are not obliged to have sex on the dates. However if she receives around RM20,000 a month (an average arrangement), it makes me wonder if she would succumb to sexual favours if her provider requests; because “nothing in life comes for free” right?
I am immediately overcome with sadness and pity for these girls who I suspect lack attention and direction in their lives. Could it be a void that needs to be filled with these temporary satiations?
I come from a broken family and we have gone through financial difficulties. There was even a time when we could not afford to buy soap for a month. But I’d imagine if I even dared resort to the Sugarbook, my mother would have shoved me to the sidewalks, and told me to have some decency, dignity and self-worth.
In the end, it all boils down to this: A strong support system, a true understanding and foundation in religious faith and loving yourself.
While Mr Chen is laughing his way to the bank with RM1.4 million profits a month, I sure hope you find a purpose in everything you do. Know exactly what you are getting yourself into, know all the consequences of partaking in the Sugarbook app, and be prepared to take responsibility for all your actions.
