The Selfishness.

In Singapore, train is the main transportation other than bus and taxi. Anyhow due to the high-dense population, it is very rare to find an empty seat inside the train unless you board at the first station. It happened to me yesterday, after done my work out in Chevron House I was thinking about how to get a seat since it takes about 45 minutes for me to reach my destination. I just feel too tired and I don't think I want to stand along the way.

So, I decided to go to the last station, which is just one station away so I can grab my seat first. I am so relieved when everybody alighted at the last station. There were so many seats to be chosen and I was thinking which seat to be taken. Usually the first seat which is nearer to the exit/entrance is reserved for the needy (the elderly, pregnant women, adults with kids etc). I was thinking that if I choose those seats, I will have to give them up to these  peoples when they come in. 

So, I chose the middle one which is further from the exit/entrance because for what so ever reason, I don't want to give up my seat. Anyhow, It is still a norm for the people here to give their seat if the reserved one is fully occupied, especially to the elderly. Due to this, I closed my eyes and listen to my music because I don't want to see anyone who potentially needs the seat and have the guilt of not giving my seat to them.

As expected, the train is really packed along the way but I got to sit for the whole journey. Am I being selfish here? :).... I believed so. I feel bad.... and to make myself feel better I came up with my own reasoning;

" Everyone is well aware of the situation here and should expect the least to get any seat while boarding the train"

I believe everybody can understand why they have to stand in the train and it requires some extra effort to get a seat... as an example, go the the first station and the journey is all yours. :) hehehe

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EP

I just got my employment pass yesterday after been waiting for abt 2 weeks. It's important to have this card because it serves as our ID. Everything requires that as a proof of identification. It makes thing easier too... there is no need to bring my passport around anymore...  :)

After collecting my card, my frens n I went to the gym. Since I have several free 1 month pass, so I gave it to them so they can work out with me. One of them is quite experienced  gym-er.  He acted as my personal trainer. And yes, it was working. I can feel the effect and this morning when I wake up, the pain is all over my body... Thought of taking MC tomorrow, but I am still new. So have to bear with it.

I just bought a return ticket to Penang for the PBIM. It cost me about 800++ for two person. Now I am looking for an accommodation. Hope to get a cheaper one. It's 930 now... I better prepare myself to go to church as I might want to walk around in the afternoon.....

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16 September 2010

Today is Malaysia day. Today is the birth date of Malaysia. 31 August 1957 is the independence day for Malaya, but not for Sabah & Sarawak. These two states does not gained independence from Malaysia, but they join together to form Malaysia. Sabahan and Sarawakian must not cnfuse themself... there are a lot of news out there keep on mentioning that Sabah & Sarawak gained independence by joining Malaysia. I used to think like that for many years. And I was wrong.

When I look at my own state, I simply do not understand why my very own people have not change their mind. Why they do not look around them, what the are lacking of, what had been robbed from them by the federal government of Malaysia. Why they are too good until the extent of just accepting the fact and fate that they have enough.... They need no more... as long as they can feed themselves and their family...it is enough... what a complacent attitude.

Sabah and Sarawak are rich in resources, and yet their wealth is being taken and left to be among the most poorest states in Malaysia. Development in Sabah is among the slowest. I spent about 20 years of my life in Sabah and another 8 years in Peninsular. I do not need anybody to tell me what the difference between this two region. I experienced it myself.... about how fortunate those peoples living in the Peninsular... From infrastructure, transportation, job market etc.... they are far much better than us.... 

There are a lot of Sabahans and Sarawakians professional working in Peninsular because there were no jobs for them at their hometown. Most of the time, they have to choose between family and career. If they choose to be near with  family, they have to bear taking jobs with low salary and doing jobs that does not match their qualification. So many of they choose their career over family. It doesn't mean they ignore their family though. It's because they loved them, they decided to go and look for a better future.

Anyhow, I think we have not learn. Because the seeds of complacency is very much rooted in our life. Thats why, the BN government still happily and without  shame robbing us and raped our rights. We simply do not care. We are their fixed deposit maaaa..... 

What I am trying to say here is that we must tell them that we can choose and we will choose the best. We are not depending to any ruling party, but they depends on us. They must know what we want, and they must know the consequences if they do not give what is rightfully belong to us. And when I say "us" i mean the whole people of Sabah. Not for specific race as commonly practiced in the peninsular. That's why they need 1Malaysia. 

So remember...... we have the power to choose. Choose what is the best for our future. Give our children a better place to live :)

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New Life in Singapore

It's been about 2 weeks since I arrived in Singapore. I just got my internet broadband yesterday, so I can start blogging again. After all life is not bad over here, at least for me.. I heard a lots of unpleasant things prior of leaving... i.e too strict, no freedom, cannot do this, cannot do that, cost of living very high etc....

I am not in exception, but as usual, I don't allow my judgment to be overshadowed by those remarks.... I used to think about the suffering I will have to endure  without my car, about have to get up early in the morning, about having to start over to build my network again and all those sort of "What If" questions which popping out of my mind most of the time.

It was not easy for me to make this decision, but as usual, I prayed. Thanks God, after about 2 weeks over here, everything seems to be alright.... work wise, well, ppl seems to be able to accept me even not all of them. You know, some people are mentally unstable, how good or friendly you trying to be, they just ignore you or pretend like you does not exist. But, that's just a small matter. Most important thing now is to find my footing.

Living cost? I would say it's cheaper compare to Malaysia if we compare dollar to dollar. In KL my average 1 day meal expenses like Breakfast -RM 2.5 (canteen food), Lunch - RM5-8(Including drinks) and dinner easily about RM6-8. So 1 day meals can reach up to RM16 - 18/day. But in Singapore, my breakfast is only $0.8 (Free tea and coffee).... my lunch and dinner hardly exceed $5 respectively (normal hawker shop).. so all in all its about $8-10.

What abt other things? I would say general items here are relatively cheaper. (Based on my experience) Energizer battery (2pcs) is $1.6 compare to RM 4, my favorite choclate is $4.5 compare to RM 8.3, KFC snake plate is $6.7 compare to RM9, shower cream is $4 compare to RM7 etc... There are lots more items which I found cheaper here..... Beer? believe me its only around $2.3/can (tiger  n carls)... Even with this price, they claimed it still expensive.

The only thing that I found quite expensive here is the accommodation. I am renting a common room at $700/mth for couple. Earlier I thought it was reasonable, anyhow many of  friends of mine told me otherwise. So, I am waiting until everything is stable first before making the next move. Some more, the environment is quite comfortable here. So will decide later on whether wana move out or not.

Transportation is very convenient and systematic. I thought I will feel isolated without my car ready at hand, but no... there are ample access to buses and trains as well. You can go almost everywhere as the transportation is well connected. You only need to know which bus to take. For MRT, its quite straight forward.

Lastly, I am getting my internet broadband at $27/month for 2.0Mbps speed. Do you know how much we have to pay for half of the speed in Malaysia? Its about 100 plusss.... The highest speed available here is 7.2 Mbps with monthly subscription of $41....cheap and affordable right?

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