Random Malaysia

As you may have read before, there are good and bad aspects to this new country that we call home. You know about my love of sidewalks and Malaysia’s lack of them. We live in ‘Sunway City,’ a Malaysian suburb, which is bordered on all sides by highways. You can’t walk out of the ‘city’ without encountering a highway.

Because using your legs is discouraged, the alternative to get anywhere is taking a taxi. Getting a taxi can sometimes be a frustrating event. You wave and hail and they just keep on driving. Occasionally they stop, and even though it clearly states ‘Haggling is Prohibited’ on the side of the taxi, this fact doesn’t stop the driver from refusing to use the meter. Your first question is ‘Meter?’ Most times, they shake their heads. Thus begins the haggling. Sometimes you get a good deal, if you get a bad deal and they won’t budge, you can try for another taxi, where the whole process begins again.

We’ve gotten into a few arguments with cabbies: they agree to use the meter but then take you for a leisurely tour of the city or they simply refuse to go where you want: “Traffic is too heavy…” The police do nothing to encourage the cabbies to use the meter. Meg and I have started to go to the taxi stands where there is a set price before you get in. Recently, an American female tourist in KL got into a taxi alone and was kidnapped and then gang raped. Apparently, this particular taxi was ‘rogue,’ meaning it had been stolen but out on the streets picking up people. It’s not recommended for women to use taxis alone here.

Presently, Megan and I are at home in preparation for the results of Malaysia’s national election. All our students were asking us: “Teacher, will there be school on Monday if there’s a riot?” Such inquisitive students. On Saturday, our state declared a public holiday for Monday. Two days notice. This is ‘officially’ due to the fact that Malaysian voters have to travel back to their home to vote, ie. Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem. The ruling party has ruled here since 1956, when the country achieved independence. This is a record. Today may see them toppled from power by the opposition.

The political system here is quite corrupt. The ruling party has control of most of the newspapers and media: all the newspapers run editorials and articles supporting the government and scaring readers by saying the opposition will turn the country upside down. The newspapers also explain why there are no political debates: since the voters are choosing the party and not the leader, it would be inappropriate to have a debate. So, no debates. Youtube here has been dominated by mandatory ads suggesting one vote for the ruling party. The icing on the cake: last year, the leader of the opposition was arrested on charges of sodomy. They were later dropped since the accuser said he had been forced to lie. By who? No idea…

So, there may be a riot tomorrow, which is the unofficial reason for the holiday. Megan and I will be staying at home today and tomorrow just in case. Some teachers want to go downtown and take pictures; others are stocking up on beer. Our students and even our cabbie yesterday suggested not to go outside whatsoever.

Postal Service: It was Megan’s birthday on the 15^th of March; her family sent her a birthday package before that day. Well, it is now May 5^th and still no package. What gives?

Films: The movies here are interesting. We get a lot of Hollywood films at the theatre, but they seem to have been slightly edited. I didn’t see the new movie ‘The Host’ but apparently every time characters kissed or hugged, there was a strange edit. All such scandalous scenes were edited out. I was also confused by the ending of Iron Man 3. Big fight scene and then, nothing. Apparently the villain had been killed, but this was not made clear. I guess he must have died gruesomely, but this was all gone. Very anticlimactic, but maybe that’s what actually happened in the movie. In the past, Malaysia has banned such movies as ‘Babe’ and ‘Zoolander’ here. ‘Babe’ because it’s a Muslim country and you can’t have a story of a charming talking pig because maybe people will want to eat it! ‘Zoolander’ because the main plot involves stopping an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of Malaysia, a country depicted as full of sweat shops. Anywho, here’s the rating system here:

U - General viewing for all ages
PG13 - Parental guidance is advisable for children below 13 years old
18SG - For 18+ with non-excessive violent/ horrifying scenes
18SX - For 18+ with non-excessive sex scenes
18PA - For 18+ with political/ religious/ counter-culture elements
18PL - For 18+ with a combination of two or more elements 
18 - For 18+ with elements for mature audiences (violence, horror, sex, politics, religion, counter-culture)

I like how one needs to be warned that there are political, religious or counter-culture elements and that one must be over 18 to watch them.

That’s just a little rant. Don't be scared for us; we feel quite safe. 

Bye for now.