Me, the urban poor

In the 1980s and 1990s, Kuala Lumpur is more a pleasant place to live for the ordinary workers than it is now. Yes, back then the LRTs and the Monorail are non-existence, KLites have to resort to the notorious Bus Mini to get to everywhere. But it is so cheap and efficient that people are willing to 'risk' their lives riding the ever crowded public transportation.

But hey, everything was cheaper back then and the average salaries are more commensurate with the cost of living in the nation's capital. Recalling back what my mom told me time and again that, working as a production clerk in a multinational electronic component factory in Ulu Klang back then earned her about RM1,200 per month (including overtime payment).

And this is in the 80s, mind you, when mamak stall are still serving RM2 per plate for their famous mee goreng mamak, when they are still operating under a shaded tree, when that is the closest thing Malaysians have as an options to 'alfresco dining'. Fuel were so cheap at 85 sen per litre, and public houses were aplenty, built by the City Hall and the PKNS at a token amount of RM90 per month for a one bedroom 'suites'.

So, RM1,200 per month which my mom earned back then as a minah kilang was so plenty, that she could actually saved up for her marriage with my father. Her husband on the other hand was working as a 'readymix' lorry driver, at a time when these type of jobs are still taken up by locals, instead of going to the foreign workers (legal or illegal).

By renting up at a DBKL public housing scheme at RM90 per month, my parents could actually saved up to finally getting a house themselves in a suburban area in Keramat. Build by the PKNS, it was a two bedroom apartment, complete with basic sanitary maintenance, as well as parking lots. Just a couple of yards away was a government school, a bus terminal, and other amenities such as masjid, sport complex, and also commercial areas.

Now, at the age of 55, they have to some extent successfully raised us all three siblings through primary, secondary and also tertiary education. We are so blessed to have a family who has always been planning for the future, and not divulge themselves with unnecessary indulgences. As Malaysia progresses, a lot of its citizens progressed as well, but there remains a large chunk who were left behind in the race of developments.

Flash forwarding to now, we are already in the second decade of the 21st century. Today, as a financial journalist, I earned RM3500 per month. It is more than double than what my mom had earned as a minah kilang back in the 80s. I earned more than what my parents earned combined when they were married. At the young age of 23, I could afford to own a small, city car, produced by our beloved national automotive company, Proton.

However, at the age of 23, I am ashamed to say that I am still living with my parents. I still eat at their house to save on meals, and I still let them wash my clothes everyday. I don't have to pay them any single sen, but I do give the monthly allowance around RM200 per month.

I don't see how, today, with a salary of RM3500 per month, I could actually save up to own a house in the city. There are no longer public housing schemes built in the city centres like what my parents had back then. DBKL has virtually stopped from building these public houses at strategic locations, on the pretext to reduce government's intervention in the economy, to increase the participation of private sectors in the economy, so to speak.

The DBKL public housing scheme which my parents rented when they were around my age in the 90s have been demolished, as it is an "eye sore" with its dilapidated situation, notorious social ills which have sprouted there, and to make way of a multibillion ringgit mix development project led by the private sector, on the pretext of urban rejuvenation. The location was so strategic, in the middle of the city, centered around public transportation systems such as the monorail, LRTs, express buses, as well as very close to public amenities such as a government hospital, public library, green spaces for recreations, and also people's low cost markets and shopping strips.

I haven't heard of any public housing schemes built by the DBKL anymore since the last batches built in Taman Melati, Selayang, Sentul and some other places I can't even recalled. These places are so far-flung from where its tenants work and play, thus increasing the people's reliance on private vehicles for transportation. This inevitable erode the people's purchasing power as they have very few disposable income left after paying for all sorts of things, which have in a matter of just two decades, tripled, or more.

Even the PKNS now have not been building low-cost houses for the lower income classes anymore. Instead, they sold off their lands to private developers to be developed into a higher end condominiums, which is tagged as 'affordable' at the price of RM300,000 for a two bedroom, 600 sq ft units. In a matter of two decades, the same type of property, although it has become nicer now with swimming pools, gated parking lots, and 24 hours security guards, has increase in price by approximately 10 times more.

I am not here to offer any solution to this problem. But it seems that our government today are so ashamed with the urban poor that they placed, or rather 'misplaced' these groups into the far flung areas outside the city centres where they go to work, and humiliate them with the need to own a private vehicle for commute. With the ever increasing fuel prices, and the subsequent price increases in essential items, there is no way in the shortest term, I foresee myself, and my generation to be able to own a house located at a decent place.

(written while sipping a RM5.50 lychee tea, exclusive of service charge and government taxes at an alfresco dining at MidValley Megamall. Next to the megamall, under construction is another multi-billion ringgit mix development on a site which houses the former Kampung Abdullah Hukum.)

Penang Needs a City Rail Transportation System

In the hype of the planned MRT system in Klang Valley, the government should not forget that other cities in Malaysia are also in need of a multi-modal transportation system.

Although it is undeniable that the Klang Valley region, with an estimated population of 7 million people should be more prioritized for a world class transportation system, secondary cities such as Penang and Johor Bahru also must not be forgotten.

Penang, for example is in need for a city rail transportation system. Whilst it is already planned for a monorail system to be implemented in Penang under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, it is without any reliable and relevant reason why should the high impact project be scrapped.

As an island, Penang has no other choice but to plan further up ahead for a better traffic management, if it doesn't want to turn out like the Klang Valley with its notorious traffic congestion. The situation is worst in Penang as it was an island, and the only way out of any traffic congestion off the island is via the Penang bridge, which is known to be pretty badly congested during peak hours!

Hence, a rail system connecting Balik Pulau and Bayan Lepas is very much due. And it won't be enough to just built a monorail line, as it will only cater for a small ridership. The state and Federal government should plan for a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system on the island.

An LRT system should be able to cater to a wider passenger base. With a comprehensive LRT system on the island, the government "may" discourage the use of private vehicles on the island by imposing higher toll rates on Penang bridge and the Second bridge. With higher toll rates, people from the mainland might want to use the ferry service in Butterworth, hence reviving the lack-lustre service.

For people to utilizes the ferry system, the Penang Sentral in Butterworth should be expanded and be linked to the jetty. This is so that vehicles could be parked at Penang Sentral for a relevant fee and then just use the ferry to get into Penang island. Maybe the government could put in place regulation that only allows Penang island registered vehicles to enter and leave the island via the Penang bridge at a lower toll rates.

Penang is set to become the next global city in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur. Penang already has all it takes to compete with any other Asian cities, including Singapore and Hong Kong in terms of economic and tourism activity. The only major hindrance is the lack of infrastructure in Penang as compared to the other major Asian cities. With the LRT system on Penang island, many economic values could be unlocked.

The Federal government should not neglect Penang as the Pearl of the Orient is the key for a better, forward and progressive Malaysia.

Would the Uprising Movement of Tunisia and Egypt reach our shores?

The recent series of protest happening in Tunisia and Egypt is not likely to happen in Malaysia, says government officials. This is because of the stark difference between the situation in the North African countries with Malaysia.

Economically, Malaysia enjoys relatively full employment with only 3% of the workforce is unemployed. The standard of living is much better than other developing countries, or even on par with some developed countries. And the political freedom is very much upheld here, even though there are some draconian laws which restricts the freedom of the people for the reason of security, such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Sedition Act and the Internal Securities Act.

Nevertheless, these are the situations at the macro level, whereas what happens on the ground could be much, much different from what is provided by official data.

For instance, the people are feeling the pinch of the rising inflation driven by the ever increasing oil prices, and that even though the Ringgit is strengthening against the greenback, Malaysians are having lesser items that could be bought using the local currency.

Ironically, the situation in Sarawak, East Malaysia could be said as "comparable" of that in Egypt and Tunisia. It has a long service leader of over 30 years, a state with ample resources and yet the people is relatively poor compared to the rest of the country and the leader's family very much own the largest corporations there. Corruption and nepotism is the game of the day.

Some might argue that the situation in Sarawak is not as dire as in Egypt or Tunisia, but if it is left unchecked, the small tumor will eventually grow bigger and consumes the entire state. And if the Federal Government turns a blind eye on the Sarawak, it might become just like Acheh in Indonesia, Narathiwat in Thailand and Mindanao in the Phillipines.

The government of each level, state and Federal, should listen carefully to the grouses and pleas of the people on the ground if they do not want another Tunisia or Egypt happening in Malaysia.