But from a different angle this time.
Malaysia is a beautiful country, and I’m not saying that just because I was born here. Coming back after decades away has meant that I see the country anew, with its sweeping vistas of green, hills and mountains draped in soft clouds, and the occasional touch of exoticism to tickle the fancy:
But Malaysia suffers from the same malady as most other Asian countries. It’s too good for the people. I’m referring to scenes such as the following from Sibu Island, as an example of the high regard with which Malaysians treat their natural environment:
And, my particular favourites, well above the tide line:
It appears that in both Singapore and Malaysia, used sanitary napkins are the female litter items du jour.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why boast to other people about what a beautiful country Malaysia is, then throw your litter out of the window? Singaporeans, I’ve seen you driving along the North-South Expressway (in Malaysia), tossing out milkshake containers and burger wrappers with gay abandon. Do you have such little respect for others? No wonder Malaysians despise you. You do in other countries what you don’t have the cojones to do in your country and if you noticed any car occupant clapping and giving a thumbs up sign to you when you were pulled over by the police for speeding, that was probably me.
So, there are two issues here: one is the attitude of Malaysians to their own common space. To be blunt, it’s disgusting. The way a locale is maintained is a true indication of the level of communal pride of the locale’s inhabitants. It doesn’t matter if itinerants come through and litter; the residents have already organised — through their local councils — regular clean-up crews to deal with it. At least, that’s the way it should work. But the bureaucracy here is so lackadaisical that nothing seems to make a dent. Remember that email I sent to the Johor branch of Tourism Malaysia after our disastrous visit to Desaru Beach? Never heard boo back. Lazy bastards.
And let me tell you something else. The waters around Sibu Island are supposedly the Mersing Marine Park. which means it’s supposedly protected from fishing and marine development areas. But not only is dredging of marine rocks going on, but one resort is holding its fourth annual fishing competition soon! With prizes! And, of course, you’ve already seen the scenic pictures. If this is how a protected area of the country looks, you can just imagine the rest of it.
Don’t you understand, Asians? Not everything in the world revolves around YOU. And while you may know where you threw that broken glass bottle, how would you feel if one of your children cut their foot open while stepping on it? Or one of your grandchildren? Seemingly courteous and hospitable people from throughout the region are revolting primitives once you get them beyond the confines of their homes. And I don’t know what to do to help stop it.
What’s that, you say? Institute stiff penalties like Singapore does? (That don’t work anyway except for the touristy Orchard Road, Bukit Timah and Holland Village precincts, but that’s a different point.) Nope, that isn’t the solution. Externally-directed punitive measures fail the minute these people (and I use the term lightly) visit another country. Oh, Singaporeans will be law-abiding little rabbits when they go visit Western countries, cowed by the surrounding orang putih, but put them some place where they can feel superior to the locals (Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand, for example) and they revert to the littering, thoughtless bullies that they are.
Malaysia has problems. I know that. Got a couple of days? I’ll list them alphabetically for you, some from recent bitter experience. But while the locals can claim (illegitimately, in my opinion, but still) ignorance, there is absolutely no excuse for our supposedly superior and better-educated cousins across the Johor Strait. With regards to looking after the environment, Singapore, you can talk the talk, but you can’t walk the walk. Malaysians, I wonder when you’ll grow up and realise the environment isn’t your own personal rubbish bin. And for the country that is Malaysia, I continue to weep for you.
POSTSCRIPT: It’s time for me to take a break. Rather than post in a haphazard fashion and thus frustrate you, gentle reader, I’m giving myself till the end of the month to recharge. I’ll still be posting over at Novel Spaces on the 11 and 27 of this month, but Fusion Despatches (that’s this blog) will remain in suspended animation during that time.
