From Patrick Teoh's "Niamah!!!"
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Penang. A different planet?
The bridge to a different ONEMalaysia?
Whenever I cross the Causeway into Singapore I get the feeling that, "Wow! This is like a totally different planet, man!"
Or when crossing the other way, "What the fuck! Baarger! This is like a totally different planet, man!"
I am sure you know what I mean, right?
And if you say, "Ale! So good meh?" going one way and "Where got?" coming the other, then you are:-
a) so blindly patriotic you deserve a medal
b) you've been paid to say "Where got?"
c) you really don't care one way or the other and are awaiting your PR approval from Australia.
Last week I spent a couple of days in Penang. You know, the island up north that is managed by those Opposition flers? I knew something was wrong the minute I crossed over the messy, Federal-funded and built Penang Bridge.
Eh? How come the Rapid Penang buses all so clean one?
Eh? Aren't those low-cost council flats? How come look so clean and fresh one? With new coat of paint some more.
How can man? These Opposition flers just know how to complain about Federal government not giving them enough money to do things, right? Also they are supposedly marginalising some communities by holding back development and business opportunities right?
Then how come everybody here looks so happy one? Okay, so 2 days isn't enough to make a survey worth shit la but I must still admit that I was impressed man!
Okay, so I shall wait impatiently for some comments to come in after this telling me, "If you like it so much, move there la. Blaardy pendatang!" But then it's different from being yelled at to go to another country. Penang IS in my country. Isn't it? Then how come it looks and feels so different one? Didn't all the YB's say that those Opposition flers can't do shit and not to vote for them?
Ah! And then I read in the newspapers that the Penang flers who live on the mainland are getting free bus rides to work. Some more can park their cars for RM1.00 the whole day and ride bus to work. Free! Can do like that meh? Opposition government wor.
Ah! And then ah I also heard the Chief Minister make a speech to an audience of about 200 people at a book store. Wah! I really tabik the Lim fler la. Damn best speech I've heard from a politician in years la. He spoke about Penang and the people's collective efforts in building a great place to live and work and bring up family all. And he never once highlighted any one particular community for praise. All are Penangites and all contribute and share. I tell you ah, after listening to him and enjoying Penang for 2 days I really felt like moving there to live la. Friendly, happy people. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dll's. Clean environment. Efficient administration. Sun, sea and surf. What's there not to like? Well, maybe just one thing la. The property prices there quite terror la. Don't know if can afford. But then in a place like Penang the rule can always be "If you're prepared to work hard the rewards are there to be shared". So maybe can. Somemore no need to apply visa all.
Niamah!!!
