Saturday, 13 September 2008
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Mr. Ong's Hillman
I have recently read a blog that expressed the wish that products sold in America be made in America which would mean more employment opportunities for Americans. It reminds me of the situation in my country and the progress that we have made.
I remember back in the 1960s when I was a young boy almost all of us were riding bicycles. In my village, there was only one car – a black Hillman saloon owned by Mr. Ong, the owner of a grocery shop. Back then, Mr. Ong was the most popular man in our village, even more popular than our village headman, Mr. Tan, and it was all because of his car.
You see, Mr. Ong’s car was borrowed by all of us for weddings, funerals and any occasion that required transportation like sending a sick villager to the hospital. Mr. Ong was a friendly and amiable man and would never refuse us but we had to compensate him for the petrol so the angpow (red packet) was a must.
A few of us had motorcycles like the BSA, Triumph and Norton which were made in the West. Later there were the Lambretta and the hugely popular Vespa.
A few households also had television sets and you could recognize these houses by the large number of people crowded around the front door and windows when the television set was turned on.
Our country was poor then depending on the export of tin and rubber to the West. We had no control over their prices too because every time the price went up, the western nations would release their stockpile to bring the price down again. Later when countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong industrialized and started to buy our rubber and tin, we felt a little easier. Now, of course, we also export to India and China, both huge markets.
Back then, most of us were rubber tappers, tin panners or workers on tin dredgers. The ladies could not afford much so their favourite purchases were the cheap textiles from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Then in the 1970s, our government decided that for us to survive, we have to industrialize. We had no money and no skills and so had to depend on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The problem was, and still is, that FDIs were coveted by many countries and even though ours is a stable country with no security problems, we had to make a lot of concessions to attract these investments like tax exemption, cheap land, cheap labour, work permits for foreign staff and other incentives. In return, we got technology transfer and job creation.
So the Kamunting Industrial Estate near Taiping came to be. Most of the factories were textile factories and the investors were mostly from Hong Kong and Taiwan who shifted their factories here. The textile factories in these countries and Singapore closed down and they started to manufacture textile machinery and accessories to sell to us instead.
We have become factory workers with a stable income and a little money to spend. More of us can now afford television sets. During this time too, the Honda Cub, a small motorcycle with a 50 cc engine, was brought in from Japan. Because it was cheap, it became hugely popular and motorcycles from the West were priced out. Soon, bicycles gave way to these ubiquitous kup chais as they were fondly referred to. Later on, cars began appearing on the roads. The favourite brands were at first Volkswagen, Morris Minor, Mini Minor, etc. Then came the Honda Civic - a car derided as junk by the West. This was quickly followed by other Japanese cars like Toyota, Datsun and Mitsubishi and, very soon, they conquered the Malaysian market. Mr. Ong’s Hillman was no more the only car in our village.
Soon it was our turn to close down our textile factories when the owners decided to shift to other countries like Thailand, Vietnam and China. We, in turn, started to manufacture textile machinery and other machinery such as fans, ovens, refrigerators, television sets, etc while countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore invested in High Technology industries. I think this is known as globalization. We established Proton Holdings, our national carmaker which produces Proton cars. We found oil and gas and founded our national oil and gas company, Petronas. Investments continued to pour in and soon we began to manufacture, among other things, computer accessories and electronics for companies like Hewlett Packard and Intel. We are also a major exporter of rubber and palm oil.
Now we have more money and we have more brands of cars in the market like Audi, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Korean cars like Hyundai and Kia. When I go to Kamunting village, the narrow roads are jammed with cars and motorcycles and the air is filled by the foul smell of exhaust fumes. Mr. Ong’s Hillman is nowhere to be seen and largely forgotten.
Now if America were to manufacture the products sold there and other countries were to follow suit, it would mean the end of globalization. Our manufacturing sector would suffer and our exports greatly reduced and confined to oil, rubber and palm oil. The only jobs available would be in these three industries. We would then be poor again.
We would have no money to buy computers which means companies like Hewlett Packard, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, etc would lose a large part of their businesses. We would not be able to afford drinks like Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola and eating at places like MacDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Kenny Rogers Roasters would be out of the question. Instead of watching Western shows in cinemas and on television, we would be watching cheaper local productions or those from Singapore, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. (There is no way that we would be able to watch American Idol!) We would be smoking rokok daun (tobacco rolled in palm leaves) instead of Marlboro, Rothmans or Benson and Hedges. We would be drinking Samsu (Coconut wine) instead of beers like Heineken, Tiger, Anchor or Guiness Stout and Rice Wine instead of whiskey, brandy or champagne. We would also be drinking local tea and coffee instead of those at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Delifrance or Starbucks Coffee Houses, and these would all have to close shop.
We would be riding bicycles again. Only a few would be able to have motorcycles and none of these would be Harley Davidson or Honda GoldWing. There would only be one petrol station for the whole of Taiping and it would be Petronas and not Esso, Shell, Mobil or Caltex.
And for occasions that require transportation like marriages, funerals and sending a villager to hospital, we would be borrowing Mr. Ong’s refurbished Hillman again.
I remember back in the 1960s when I was a young boy almost all of us were riding bicycles. In my village, there was only one car – a black Hillman saloon owned by Mr. Ong, the owner of a grocery shop. Back then, Mr. Ong was the most popular man in our village, even more popular than our village headman, Mr. Tan, and it was all because of his car.
You see, Mr. Ong’s car was borrowed by all of us for weddings, funerals and any occasion that required transportation like sending a sick villager to the hospital. Mr. Ong was a friendly and amiable man and would never refuse us but we had to compensate him for the petrol so the angpow (red packet) was a must.
A few of us had motorcycles like the BSA, Triumph and Norton which were made in the West. Later there were the Lambretta and the hugely popular Vespa.
A few households also had television sets and you could recognize these houses by the large number of people crowded around the front door and windows when the television set was turned on.
Our country was poor then depending on the export of tin and rubber to the West. We had no control over their prices too because every time the price went up, the western nations would release their stockpile to bring the price down again. Later when countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong industrialized and started to buy our rubber and tin, we felt a little easier. Now, of course, we also export to India and China, both huge markets.
Back then, most of us were rubber tappers, tin panners or workers on tin dredgers. The ladies could not afford much so their favourite purchases were the cheap textiles from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Then in the 1970s, our government decided that for us to survive, we have to industrialize. We had no money and no skills and so had to depend on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The problem was, and still is, that FDIs were coveted by many countries and even though ours is a stable country with no security problems, we had to make a lot of concessions to attract these investments like tax exemption, cheap land, cheap labour, work permits for foreign staff and other incentives. In return, we got technology transfer and job creation.
So the Kamunting Industrial Estate near Taiping came to be. Most of the factories were textile factories and the investors were mostly from Hong Kong and Taiwan who shifted their factories here. The textile factories in these countries and Singapore closed down and they started to manufacture textile machinery and accessories to sell to us instead.
We have become factory workers with a stable income and a little money to spend. More of us can now afford television sets. During this time too, the Honda Cub, a small motorcycle with a 50 cc engine, was brought in from Japan. Because it was cheap, it became hugely popular and motorcycles from the West were priced out. Soon, bicycles gave way to these ubiquitous kup chais as they were fondly referred to. Later on, cars began appearing on the roads. The favourite brands were at first Volkswagen, Morris Minor, Mini Minor, etc. Then came the Honda Civic - a car derided as junk by the West. This was quickly followed by other Japanese cars like Toyota, Datsun and Mitsubishi and, very soon, they conquered the Malaysian market. Mr. Ong’s Hillman was no more the only car in our village.
Soon it was our turn to close down our textile factories when the owners decided to shift to other countries like Thailand, Vietnam and China. We, in turn, started to manufacture textile machinery and other machinery such as fans, ovens, refrigerators, television sets, etc while countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore invested in High Technology industries. I think this is known as globalization. We established Proton Holdings, our national carmaker which produces Proton cars. We found oil and gas and founded our national oil and gas company, Petronas. Investments continued to pour in and soon we began to manufacture, among other things, computer accessories and electronics for companies like Hewlett Packard and Intel. We are also a major exporter of rubber and palm oil.
Now we have more money and we have more brands of cars in the market like Audi, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Korean cars like Hyundai and Kia. When I go to Kamunting village, the narrow roads are jammed with cars and motorcycles and the air is filled by the foul smell of exhaust fumes. Mr. Ong’s Hillman is nowhere to be seen and largely forgotten.
Now if America were to manufacture the products sold there and other countries were to follow suit, it would mean the end of globalization. Our manufacturing sector would suffer and our exports greatly reduced and confined to oil, rubber and palm oil. The only jobs available would be in these three industries. We would then be poor again.
We would have no money to buy computers which means companies like Hewlett Packard, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, etc would lose a large part of their businesses. We would not be able to afford drinks like Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola and eating at places like MacDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Kenny Rogers Roasters would be out of the question. Instead of watching Western shows in cinemas and on television, we would be watching cheaper local productions or those from Singapore, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. (There is no way that we would be able to watch American Idol!) We would be smoking rokok daun (tobacco rolled in palm leaves) instead of Marlboro, Rothmans or Benson and Hedges. We would be drinking Samsu (Coconut wine) instead of beers like Heineken, Tiger, Anchor or Guiness Stout and Rice Wine instead of whiskey, brandy or champagne. We would also be drinking local tea and coffee instead of those at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Delifrance or Starbucks Coffee Houses, and these would all have to close shop.
We would be riding bicycles again. Only a few would be able to have motorcycles and none of these would be Harley Davidson or Honda GoldWing. There would only be one petrol station for the whole of Taiping and it would be Petronas and not Esso, Shell, Mobil or Caltex.
And for occasions that require transportation like marriages, funerals and sending a villager to hospital, we would be borrowing Mr. Ong’s refurbished Hillman again.
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Words
Words are the links that connect you and I
So they should be used with respect and care
For words can lift your spirit way up high
Or they can drive you into deep despair
Our words can be used to taunt and torment
And stab deep into others like a knife
There rage and hatred fester and ferment
Leaving you badly wounded; scarred for life
Words can bring comfort and warmth to us all
And fill our lives with laughter and delight
Sweet words can also entice and enthrall
And flame passion to set our hearts alight
Words, like a pail of water, once poured out
Cannot be retracted despite your clout
So they should be used with respect and care
For words can lift your spirit way up high
Or they can drive you into deep despair
Our words can be used to taunt and torment
And stab deep into others like a knife
There rage and hatred fester and ferment
Leaving you badly wounded; scarred for life
Words can bring comfort and warmth to us all
And fill our lives with laughter and delight
Sweet words can also entice and enthrall
And flame passion to set our hearts alight
Words, like a pail of water, once poured out
Cannot be retracted despite your clout
Friday, 5 September 2008
First Haiku
First Love –
Stolen glances
Excited thrills
First Date –
Romantic dinner
Separate bills
First Heartbreak –
Copious tears
Body shudders
First Recovery –
New girl
Heart flutters
Stolen glances
Excited thrills
First Date –
Romantic dinner
Separate bills
First Heartbreak –
Copious tears
Body shudders
First Recovery –
New girl
Heart flutters
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Have You Ever Wondered ....
Have you ever wondered ….
Where butterflies spend the night?
In the open, wild and free?
Or seeking shelter from the cold, wind and rain
Perhaps hanging inside a tree?
Have you ever wondered ….
When the tree-tops dance
To the rhythm of the wind
What is it that the wind whispers to the trees
Above all that din?
Have you ever wondered ….
From where the wind comes
And to where does it blow?
Wouldn’t it be great if we could see the wind
Painted the colours of the rainbow?
Have you ever wondered ….
If the rainbow
Is a bridge in the sky
For us to cross over to Heaven
When we die?
Have you ever wondered ….
Why the sky is blue
Except when there’s rain?
Is it possible that those tiny raindrops
Have washed off all the paint?
Have you ever wondered ….
Where rain clouds come from
And why they don’t run dry?
Are they formed by those thick mists in the morning
Drifting up into the sky?
Have you ever wondered ….
Why birds sing in the morning
To welcome the sunrise?
Are they aware that without the sun
It’ll be our demise?
Have you ever wondered ….why we wonder?
Where butterflies spend the night?
In the open, wild and free?
Or seeking shelter from the cold, wind and rain
Perhaps hanging inside a tree?
Have you ever wondered ….
When the tree-tops dance
To the rhythm of the wind
What is it that the wind whispers to the trees
Above all that din?
Have you ever wondered ….
From where the wind comes
And to where does it blow?
Wouldn’t it be great if we could see the wind
Painted the colours of the rainbow?
Have you ever wondered ….
If the rainbow
Is a bridge in the sky
For us to cross over to Heaven
When we die?
Have you ever wondered ….
Why the sky is blue
Except when there’s rain?
Is it possible that those tiny raindrops
Have washed off all the paint?
Have you ever wondered ….
Where rain clouds come from
And why they don’t run dry?
Are they formed by those thick mists in the morning
Drifting up into the sky?
Have you ever wondered ….
Why birds sing in the morning
To welcome the sunrise?
Are they aware that without the sun
It’ll be our demise?
Have you ever wondered ….why we wonder?
Friday, 8 August 2008
Inter-Faith Dialogue
I have read about a conference of Muslim and Christian leaders being held at New Haven, Connecticut to promote inter-faith dialogue in the newspapers recently. This brought back memories of my encounters with two elderly Malay Muslim gentlemen more than twenty years ago.
The first was Pak Osman, the father of a friend. He was from Batu Kurau, a small village near Taiping and he sold fruits for a living. He was a devout Muslim and had performed the Haj three times. In my country, the people who have performed the Haj are well-respected among the Muslim community and addressed as Haji.
In my country too, some of the Muslims do not wish to discuss religion with non-Muslims, ostensibly because they (the non-Muslims) do not know enough of the Muslim religion, so I was surprised when Pak Osman started discussing religion with me.
He was wrongly informed that I was a Christian and wanted to know more about the religion and was taken aback that I do not believe in religion. We ended up discussing religions in general (or the lack of it) and our different customs and beliefs.
We had a fruitful series of discussions during the evenings, after I had finished my work, at his roadside fruit stall situated close to the Taiping Bus Station from which I have gained an insight into the Muslim religion and the Malay culture.
The second was a gentleman from remote Pasir Mas, Kelantan whom I met when I attended a two-week course in “Fresh-water fish breeding” at Bukit Tinggi, Pahang in 1983. He was a rice farmer and had performed the Haj twice but I cannot recall his name now. He did not have a formal education and could only read and write in Jawi but he surprised me with his wide general knowledge which he gained from reading Jawi newspapers.
I remember, with mirth, that the first thing he wanted to know was whether man has really landed on the moon or was it merely Western propaganda. (The moon is sacred to the Muslims). I suspect that must be the opinion of some of his friends back in rural Pasir Mas but he clearly had his doubts.
He knew about the conflict between Cuba and America, the “Cold War”, the Falklands War, the fall of the Shah of Persia, communism in China and Mao Zedong, etc and his questions often had me stumped.
The two gentlemen impressed me with their views, their thoughts, their ability to discuss (and not argue), their willingness to listen, their openness and their open-mindedness about others’ cultures and religions (they never once claimed their religion to be the best). It was indeed a pleasure and an honour to have met them.
Through the years, I have had other Malay Muslim friends, as well as friends of others faiths and races, but none with whom I have discussed religion, beliefs and customs or world events. Is inter-faith dialogue useful? I believe so.
The first was Pak Osman, the father of a friend. He was from Batu Kurau, a small village near Taiping and he sold fruits for a living. He was a devout Muslim and had performed the Haj three times. In my country, the people who have performed the Haj are well-respected among the Muslim community and addressed as Haji.
In my country too, some of the Muslims do not wish to discuss religion with non-Muslims, ostensibly because they (the non-Muslims) do not know enough of the Muslim religion, so I was surprised when Pak Osman started discussing religion with me.
He was wrongly informed that I was a Christian and wanted to know more about the religion and was taken aback that I do not believe in religion. We ended up discussing religions in general (or the lack of it) and our different customs and beliefs.
We had a fruitful series of discussions during the evenings, after I had finished my work, at his roadside fruit stall situated close to the Taiping Bus Station from which I have gained an insight into the Muslim religion and the Malay culture.
The second was a gentleman from remote Pasir Mas, Kelantan whom I met when I attended a two-week course in “Fresh-water fish breeding” at Bukit Tinggi, Pahang in 1983. He was a rice farmer and had performed the Haj twice but I cannot recall his name now. He did not have a formal education and could only read and write in Jawi but he surprised me with his wide general knowledge which he gained from reading Jawi newspapers.
I remember, with mirth, that the first thing he wanted to know was whether man has really landed on the moon or was it merely Western propaganda. (The moon is sacred to the Muslims). I suspect that must be the opinion of some of his friends back in rural Pasir Mas but he clearly had his doubts.
He knew about the conflict between Cuba and America, the “Cold War”, the Falklands War, the fall of the Shah of Persia, communism in China and Mao Zedong, etc and his questions often had me stumped.
The two gentlemen impressed me with their views, their thoughts, their ability to discuss (and not argue), their willingness to listen, their openness and their open-mindedness about others’ cultures and religions (they never once claimed their religion to be the best). It was indeed a pleasure and an honour to have met them.
Through the years, I have had other Malay Muslim friends, as well as friends of others faiths and races, but none with whom I have discussed religion, beliefs and customs or world events. Is inter-faith dialogue useful? I believe so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)