Dear INSAS comrades,

Time flyby, I wrote the below when I move to my new house in Setia Eco Park: Updated on 19-2-2012

 

I had just moved to my new Semi D house in Setia Eco Park Shah Alam, a high end 791 acres gated and guarded low density residential enclave with scenic landscape, resident sport club and Bukit Cahaya forest reserve as neighbour. I bought the house in 2009 during the world financial crisis. The developer throw in many goodies/incentive to boost sales as recession hit the Malaysia shore (5/95, 5% down payment 95% loan with interest bear by developer till house handover, free legal and stamping fee and hundred thousand renovation rebate). In short I paid slightly below a million (RM) for the house and today the house is transacted at 1.8 million in the secondary market. I just wonder with this kind of inflated price who can afford to buy house. (Even a normal terrace house with fancy name super-link house is costing about half a million in those newly launched township) Is Malaysia going the Japan way where almost everyone is enslaved to their housing loan and the loan repayment can even drag onto their next generation? I ask myself how the next generation is going to cope with this kind of house price. I still remember when I am still a child, I fancy how nice if I had a million (RM) I would buy a big house, a big car and travel the world and now at the age of 50 I had make it to the millions club. What I can afford is a Semi-D house. How fast is the purchasing power of RM diminished over the time?

 

I managed to spend two quality mornings in the new house during the Chinese New Year holiday season where I jog along the many waterways, lakes, creeks, landscape themed parks, lush walkways and Jungle Park that dotted the enclave. For a moment I am totally absorbed by the nature and felt the blessing, inner joy and contented that life has dealt me a good hand.

 

That evening I told my children of a documental story I saw in the TV. The story is about a cute little girl (Fukuhara Ai) from Japan who likes to play table tennis since she was four year old, the girl is very cute and every time she loses a match she would cry. During her young age she had defeated many older opponents and holds many national championships in almost all the age group. She became a celebrity and national heroes and adore by the whole nation. During her early teen, in order to improve her skill she leaves for China and play for a local club. She quickly wins over the heart of Chinese people through her hard work, cute baby face; never give up and down to earth approach to life. She was adored by the newsman. The newsman promises her if she does well in the 2010 Asian game, he will give her a surprise gift. On the last day of the competition the newsman give her a surprise gift, a key chain of a foot with spider sit on the centre of the foot. The newsman asks her, “Do you know the meaning of the gift?”  She replied innocently that, “It can’t be my foot and why there is a spider in the foot.” The newsman replied, “In Chinese the spider is ‘Chi Coo’ and foot is ‘Coo’ it mean contented. You had win three bronze medal in lady single, lady double and mixed double. Count your blessing and be contented as Chinese player are only allowed to play max two events.” She nods her head and breaks into a broad smile. The newsman added, “Wishing you more success in the coming London Olympics in 2012”

 

As of me I feel contented as I have a nice house, great environment, a good job, children that score Aeroplane not Elephant in exam, wife that take good care of the children. My only regret is unable to be with my children and be there for them during their growing up time and not waking up in the middle of night to change wet diaper and feed the baby when my children are still baby, my wife is still angry with me because of these.

 

My eldest son had completed his “A” level with 5A. He had applied to Singapore Nanyang University for an engineering degree course. Unfortunately he is unable to secure a seat in this University due to policy change of limited seat and more preferences to local Singaporean. He is currently doing an engineering degree course in Monash University Sunway. (I fully support this policy as Government needs to take care of their citizen first. I remember reading an angry letter from a father to the Singapore press that he had to sell his house in order to support his son for oversea medical course as his son is unable to secure a Medical degree course in local University despite his son “A” level result of 2A3B. I am sure PAP had lost his/his family votes.) As Malaysian Chinese I am worry of what our future hold as more country look inward and give preferences to their own citizen and us Malaysian Chinese are still being discriminated by our own government policy

 

My second son had just completed his SPM exam and currently doing SAM Pre U course in Taylor College. My youngest daughter completed her Primary Six and now doing her secondary study in Kwan Hwa Secondary School. My daughter was initially send to study in a Malay Secondary school and through appeal, school board recommendation and donation to school building fund manage to secure a place in this school.

 

Back to my working life, we manage to complete the installation and commissioning of the phase III expansion on Nov 2011. Now we are the proud owner of the world largest operational splitter. The phase IV expansion equipments just arrived at site and we expect to operate this plant in fourth quarter this year. With this expansion I would have fulfilled the original master plan to develop KIM II in four phases. Mission accomplished.

 

My former “Si-fu” from SAB Mr. FG Wong had joint us in MM as Oleo Senior General Manager. I whole-hearty welcome him to join us. During one of the dinner someone asked me lately I look more cheerful and happy. I replied why not since I had Mr. FG Wong to take the heat from the boss for me, newly recruit Process Engineer to run the plant for me and Mr. Teong (Boss personal assistant) to take good care of the boss. (No more night call from the boss where I need to press the hand-phone to my cheek and listening attentively/carefully before replying and at time the call last for hours and the next morning my cheek is reddish and my nose is bleeding) Thus as long as the Boss is happy I am happy.

 

Chinese New Year reunion, as per our norm all the brothers and sister gathered at our mother house in Alor Star, Kedah. We finished off our last stock of Shark Fin soup and for next year onward this dish will be permanently deleted from our reunion dinner menu. As demand for Shark Fin Soap diminished the killing of Shark stopped. How simple logic and common sense that can be, when exercise in masses stopped the killing. Why this kind of simple logic and common sense do not prevail to stop the killing of ourselves in many conflict areas in this world. Let stopped the arm supply, let compassion, empathy, selflessness and forgiveness prevail over indifferent, apathy, selfishness and hatred.