The Fundamental Observations that Needs to be Observed
For many years, Historians have been busy recording the series of events that shape our world today. In those accounts, often times it gives you a glimpse of what actually happened as perceived by that author of the paper. Most of it, goes unchecked nor verified nor disputed. Take for example, the freedom fighters and the protectors of Malaya in the 1950s. Without divulging into the issues, what we read today is a result of what the rulers and people in power currently have intended. In any war, may it be in Ancient China or the sizzling-hot wok of the Middle East, ultimately it is the winner who decides which course History takes.
I find that amusing; for in a 10 year period since 9/11, you will find plenty of full-length books, articles, conspiracy theories, science journals, myth-busters and various social commentary by Economists, Psychologist, and the lay man on the street explaining the series of event that unfold and how things panned out. Depending on whom you trust, the story of that single event can spew into many variations and spin-offs. That’s just 10 years!
And that is what makes humans unique.
We have amazing senses to guide us. Some claim a sixth sense of ‘intuition’ on top of their senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. A while ago, computer scientists determined that our brain receives 11.5 Megabytes of input from our 5 senses a second. If you are talking 1990s era computing, that would be about 36,000 floppy diskettes every hour! As our brain capacity is limited, the filters which have been pre-programmed by ‘evolution’ through our observations have determined the 0.1 Megabyte of processed information that might be useful in our future decisions. The 99% of the other data is deemed background noise, good enough that our brain ignores it completely.
I have been fortunate to visit different countries around the world. When visiting some of our poorer neighbours in the ASEAN region, two things strike me. Firstly, is their sense of community. Most of them live peacefully together, helping one another and regularly fellowship with one another. Compare that to the busier developed cities like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. People live in gated communities and guarded service apartments; and even so they seldom make contact with their immediate neighbours.
Jesus Christ said “Love your neighbours as you love yourself”. The sense of community is deeply rooted in tradition and cultures back then. The muslim Prophet Muhammad when asked “who should be considered neighbours?” to which The Prophet replied, “Anyone living forty houses to the North, South, East and West – he is your neighbour”. *citation required (productivemuslim.com/increasing-productivity-lesson... for more accurate translation in English)
It is quite obvious that the trust between neighbours have evaporated. Greed has crept in to our society, from the top to the bottom into the core. As the world gets from 5 billion people in the 1980s to the 7 billion by 2012, scarcity of resources and uncertain times lie ahead. Improved medical healthcare, better knowledge of a good healthy diet, deep understanding of well being means that people live longer and fall sick less often.
Let’s talk about migration. Back in 1994, my family were immigrants in Brunei Darussalam. Dad was a Deputy Principal of a school there (which I also attended for the whole 9 years). The year was 1415 Hijrah and I was in Standard / Primary 2. They made me learn all 12 months of the Muslim calendar, Muharram, Safar, Rabiulawal, Rabiulakhir, Jamadilawal, Jamadilakhir, Rejab, Syaaban, Ramadhan, Syawal, Zulkaedah and Zulhijjah).
Back in 1994, most of Brunei were either locals (The Awangs and Dayangs, Pehins, Dato’s and Pengirans) and then there’s the workers – the imported Brits, Aussies and Filipinos. There’s a nice bunch of Malaysian workers too as the country borders three towns – Limbang, Miri and Lawas. And to reach the Duty Free port of Labuan, one had just to take the speedboat ride an hour away from Muara Port in Brunei.
Cars were cheap; and petrol is cheaper than water (USD 0.40 / litre) It has been 53 Brunei cents since 1994 til today. Price of Crude oil must have exploded from US$30 a barrel to the US$120 levels today.
As a family struggling financially, going to Brunei was quite a dream. Dad, being a powerful teacher’s union leader prior to his appointment in Brunei, made a visit there during one of his meetings. Being told, and seeing first hand of the pot of gold in the land of milk and honey they call “the Abode of Peace”, he packed his bags and family of 4-5 people (brother never lived there, and two sisters “took turns” due to situational circumstances).
Come to think of it, the only time it was the full 6 of us in my family was only between 1986 to 1991 (when I was 5-6 years old). Brother went to Singapore for greener pastures and opportunities. Elder sister finished art and design college in Penang and joined us in Brunei later. Second sister finished 2 years ‘O’ level education before her further studies in K.L. Remember, this was all back in the mid-late 1990s. As for me, I stuck with both parents for quite a long while! I participated in the SEA Games 1999 opening ceremony, where my Form 1 education was virtually halted for this mega event the small country of 320,000 people (at that time). I was the bee in a dance and the good memories will forever be etched in my head.
In the area of friends, I was quite popular. Not because of my merits or appearance, but the fact was my dad was the Principal – easy target! There were a huge expectations for me; to score well, to behave well, and to be a role model. On the subject of scoring, I was once accused to have access to the school exam papers before the exam. The funny thing was, IT WAS TRUE! The papers were sitting in my dad’s office, but of course he knew I was a bad liar and didn’t bother leaking anything to me! No actually, it wasn’t my inability to lie, it was rather my inability to keep my mouth shut. I love sharing. I love creating excitement and inspiring others on my beliefs.
And funnily enough, that’s what I enjoy doing to this day – inspiring.
Immigrants are always a threat to the locals. Today, work 9 hours a day, about 20 days a month (total 180 hours) and still I am complaining. I know of security guards and toilet cleaners who come to Malaysia (in search of greener pastures) and work 12 hour shifts 30 days a month. No rest, low pay, poor living conditions. I think that is exploitation, but in this competitive world, having shelter, food and clothes is now a luxury for the few fortunate people who made it here.
Finally, I would like to muse about life and death. People spend all their effort and energy to live a comfortable life. Some go to great lengths on their diet; by not eating oily food, sinful Chinese delicacies (you know what I’m talking about!) and buying tonnes of Insurances to ensure their sustainability in this world.
My question is: Is it worth it?
A smoker and heavy drinker may live up to his late 70s or 80s before dying of liver cancer of other chronic illness. A perfect gentleman who inhales the second hand smoke and rarely drinks have a slight, mind you, very slight chance of living longer than the smoker, don’t you think? The government propaganda to incriminate the smokers seem feeble. On one hand they are receiving huge “sin tax” on cigarette purchases and on the other hand, slapping the smokers with guilt inducing foetus deformed babies and funky testes of cancer patients on the cigarette boxes.
Double standards. As painful and unjust as it seems, the bottom line in this: In Malaysia, the certain quarters have it all. They have it easy and the “pendatang” or visitors have to compete on separate playing fields for the same privileges. The irony is that, Indonesian neutralised “privilege groups” are rampant. Since the turn of the new millennium, immigation rules have been relaxed for pendatangs not only to enter the country but to be given “privileged group” treatment and status. Imagine the rage of the Chinese and “others” when this happens. Most of our grandparents live all our lives working the land, equally as hard or perhaps harder for it to be this successful. And in one populist move “vote hungry politicians”, it means nothing as our country “moves towards an era of gloablisation”. Pffft! It is all political.
In the end, our country suffers brain drain. The majority of the top 5% of the good gene pool leave the country to Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK and the USA where equal rights are given and their talents appreciated; as long as you can deliver the goods. The salaries abroad are mouth watering.
£ 3,000 a month (RM 15,000)
€ 4,000 a month (RM 15,000)
¥ whole-lotta-zeros a month
US$ 4,000 (RM 12,000)
A$ 3,500 (RM 11,000)
We at Malaysia? RM 2000 if you’re lucky. RM 3000 for a big company with experience RM 4000 and above only if you do sales, the pushy-rely-on-misinformation type of sales/schemes.
On a brighter note, here are the 5 things I am happy for in Malaysia and what’s keeping me here:
1. Family; being close to my family is very important.
2. Good food – Chinese, Indian, Western, anything I want – reasonably priced.
3. Reasonably free to worship / freedom of religion.
4. Good highways connecting big towns.
5. Good entertainment options – cinema, satellite TV
Would I leave the country? Stay tuned for the next installment.
