Keeping up with the rest.

Peer pressure isn't just a teenage problem. I think it's even worse when you're in your late twenties. It throws you into what is known in psychobabble as the quarter-life crisis.

One by one, people your age in your social circle get engaged, then get married. They get promoted at work, or maybe find a very lucrative job offer elsewhere...then happily take it. You see them have their first child. A few of them are expecting Kid #2 already.

27 years old, and going on 28. Your cousins are younger than you are, and they've already started a family. You, on the other hand, are still stagnant. The same job, the same amount of pay. No life aside from work. No time for socializing, let alone for prospective spouses. Relatives keep on pestering you to get married, as if husbands and wives are readily available, like goods in a grocery store.

So the million-dollar question is: Why now? Why does one have to accomplish certain things at a certain time? Why stress yourself out trying to fulfill the expectations of others when you can do it at your own pace?

Humans are just plain nuts. I think that's why.

How exactly do you measure pressure of this sort? In pascals?

Dig the tunnel, quick.

What's your opinion on looking for other jobs while you're on the job?

Is it OK to secretly seek greener pastures while you're at the office desk?

For a time, I thought it was unethical; but sitting here manning the beachside property with plenty of time to kill and no boss hovering over your shoulder every other hour--it's so much better to just put that time to good use.

At first, I felt kinda guilty for using company facilities for my personal affairs. Then that thing with the boss happened--and I realize one thing: I simply don't care anymore.

The disillusionment has intensified.

Off the beaten path.

The hotel restaurant, just a few days ago.

"My friend here is wondering if you're local," said my boss's mom. "I'm gonna let you tell her yourself."

I glanced over at said friend, then threw her a smile. I had spoken to her just minutes before.

"So, my dear, are you local or aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am. I am. Born and raised here in Kuching," I responded.

"See? I told you but you didn't believe me," boss-mom chimed in.

"Wow, I thought you're not from here. You speak English like Queen Elizabeth," the friend added.

I've had people comment on my English before, but that was the first time someone said I speak like the Queen. I couldn't help but chuckle.

***

The hotel courtyard, on the same day.

A lawyer from the nearby law firm came to have some drinks and catch up on some work after-hours. Her colleague joined her some minutes later, and we chatted for a while.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't get your name," she said to me.

I gave it to her.

"Wah, you cakap macam orang putih lah," said the colleague.

A smile, then another chuckle.

***

The beachside property, yesterday.

An English family came to check the place out. They're currently living in Brunei, where the parents both teach English at an international school.

"Did you study overseas? Your English is superb."

Like so many times before, I told them I watched way too much TV when I was a kid. X-Men, Transformers, G.I. Joe--you name it.

"You should teach. We could use more people like you."

***

So, yes. How's that for motivation?

Hello, TESOL!

Large group nightmare.

So this is the second time they're doing an event here.

I thought they would've learned their lesson by now. To my dismay, nothing's changed. They're still all over the place, getting accommodation solutions all messed up. In fact, it's even worse than the last time they were here. I decided to pull a couple shenanigans of my own to sort shit out.

I hope my manager gets drunk enough tonight not to notice. Better yet, someone should gag and tie her up so she can't drive up here and stick her nose into these affairs. Crowd control is not an easy thing to do. What we need is a psych expert, and none of us has that qualification.

I'm getting lists that come up way after the people who are not on it have checked in. People who are using beds that are supposed to be unoccupied and ready for arrival. Organizers trying to negotiate with me about bringing more people in when we're already filled to capacity. My only saving grace today would be a no-show from a prepaid booking made months in advance before they even decided to plan this event. This is gonna sound really awful, but I hope the guest fails to arrive. He's hogging a desperately-needed spot right there.

Now, the million-dollar question is: Is it so hard to come up with a guest list for the accommodation provider? Not only is it so much easier for us, it'll save you so much time and spare you from these dreaded screw-ups. So simple. Less than an hour to list down everyone you've got and decide who sleeps where. Make it non-amendable, so no one can move, especially on short notice.

Now I'm stuck here at the front desk, keeping an eye out for event crew who need me to open the door for them. Visitor policy doesn't apply to these people, and they're constantly going in and out of the place, hauling equipment and meeting up with their respective department leaders. Disengaging the electronic lock makes things easier for them, but that also enables them to bring in way too many people than is allowed at a single time over here.

On normal days, I love this place. This time, I utterly despise it. This time. Just this time.

Press that damned 'unlock' button yourself, will you?

Neither a monologue nor a soliloquy.

We get together, but separate's always better when there's feelings involved.

If what they say is nothing is forever, then what makes love the exception?

Random? Maybe. Or is it, really?

If you don't get it, then shake it.

Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

Panggilan itu.

Tak sampai pun seminggu, tapi kali ini sudah kali ketiga.

Terjaga sebelum azan subuh, dan terasa seperti ada yang memanggil.

Kalau sebelum ini hati cuma berdiam dan tak ambil peduli, tapi kali ini dia meronta-ronta minta dilepaskan, agar bisa menyahut panggilan itu.

Mama dan papa pula tiba-tiba membangkitkan hal yang sama, seolah-olah bisa membaca apa yang aku sedang ligat fikirkan.

It runs in your blood, on your father's side.

Bukan saka mencari waris, tapi darah keturunan warga pendidik--memperturunkan ilmu kepada anak bangsa.

Aku cuba bilang berapa ramai saudara-mara dari sebelah sana, setakat mana yang aku kenali. Cuba mengukur sejauh mana kebenaran kenyataan yang baru aku dengar tadi.

Cuba bilang pakai jari. Tak cukup pula jari di tangan. Ramai juga ya. Betullah agaknya.

Kalau engkau hendak, engkau cubalah mohon. Selagi jasad masih bernyawa, selagi itulah ilmu harus kita timba. Tak ada 'expiry date'. Belajarlah sampai masuk liang lahad.

Besar ganjarannya kalau mengajar ilmu kepada orang lain. Bukan saham dunia yang dimaksudkan, tapi saham akhirat.

Jujur aku katakan, hendak mendengar mama dan papa berkata begitu boleh diibaratkan seperti menanti bulan jatuh ke riba. Payah sekali. Semacam mustahil.

Tapi hari ini seperti ada kuasa yang mempengaruhi perjalanan hari, kuasa yang mempengaruhi mereka untuk merestui andai aku memilih untuk beralih arah ke jalan itu. Selalunya mereka bilang jangan buang masa. Umur sudah meningkat. Perlu kewangan stabil, justeru harus merebut peluang dalam job market dan kumpul aset untuk hari tua.

Terdiam seketika. Minda semakin ligat berfikir dan bertanya kepada diri.

Soalan pertama cuma ada dua patah perkataan -- "What if?" 

Soalan yang sudah terlalu lama terdetik di hati. Bukan dalam minggu ini, bukan juga minggu sudah, tapi bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Pertanyaan lain pula muncul.

Aku tahu hendak jadi pendidik dalam sistem sekarang bukanlah senang. Jadi mampukah aku?

Aku juga tahu usiaku sudah lewat 20-an. Jadi terlambatkah aku?

Pertanyaan seterusnya tiba-tiba beralih bahasa. Will I be doing the right thing?

Aku pasti saudara-mara akan bising dan berkata jangan. Seperti mana pendirian mama dan papa dahulu. Usah buang masa. Teruskan sahaja apa yang engkau sedang lakukan sekarang. Sayang kalau engkau tinggalkan. Mengapa perlu masuk sekolah kembali dan mengaji kembali? You are not getting any younger.

Ah, cukup benci konflik dalaman seperti ini.

Maka hati terus meronta, kerana panggilan itu semakin jelas kedengaran dan bisa bikin diri tak tentu arah memikirkannya usai pulang dari syif malam ini.

Segulung ijazah yang menyatakan kelayakan akademikku adalah dalam bidang TESL, bayangannya semakin jelas kelihatan.

Aku perlukan pendapat kalian, serta petunjuk dari-Nya.

Berat benar hati ini untuk meninggalkan zon selesa dan mengorak langkah ke arah yang berbeza. Bab-bab mengajar aku memang suka. Menulis apatah lagi, tanpa ragu-ragu aku bilang aku sememangnya teramatlah cinta. Bidang kerjaya aku sekarang juga sama. Minat itu memang ada.

Sekarang persoalannya aku pun tak tahu ada berapa. Berbaloikah kalau aku tinggalkan semua ini untuk itu? Menyesalkah aku nanti? Mungkinkah benar pepatah orang putih--the grass is not always greener on the other side?

Berapa kali aku bertanya kepada diri sendiri--ah, aku pun tak terkira. Betul ke engkau mahu?

Ya, tapi...

Mesti ada tapinya.

Saat ini aku dambakan kekuatan seperti yang digambarkan dalam puisi Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken.

Baiklah, masa untuk berfikir lagi.

Wahai jawapan, cepatlah datang.

Wahai minda, lekaslah buat keputusan.

Wahai hati, tenanglah kau hadapi semuanya nanti.

Wah, sudah lama tak menulis dalam bahasa ibunda. Takut nanti ada yang mengata, perasan diri mat saleh lah pula. Sekali-sekala (sepatutnya harus selalu) kita kembali ke asal-usul kita. Tak salah kan?

Park. Not Korean.

For the umpteenth time, I had to move the company car out of the way so someone could get out of his parking spot. Like most of the ones before him, he went in with an unhappy expression on his face and asked who was the driver of the SUV that was blocking his ass. And like most of the ones before him, I told him that he was not supposed to park there.

"Sorry, sir. This spot is reserved for hotel guests and staff only. You cannot park here. That SUV is the company car."

"Aiyah, so sorry ah. I didn't know."

I pointed to the sign on the wall that said the same thing I just said. The letters were big, bold and clear. It's baffling how something like that could escape one's field of vision. Or maybe Malaysians are just too selfish to care about these things.

I suspect the latter.

Every day without fail--there's always someone. Parking spots at that particular part of town are scarce, especially during weekdays; and scarce parking spots make for some really bad parking manners--including parking in someone else's private spot, despite the clear advance notice.

Sigh. I think I've overused the word.

My boss is so sick of these selfish, inconsiderate drivers, so she devised a plan to get back at them. Every time we see an unauthorized vehicle, we would deliberately block it with the company SUV or van. That would force them to go inside and ask someone to move it out of the way. There will be some polite chiding on our part (assuming said driver is not rude) before we let him out of the box he'd stolen from us.

Now that brings me to one particularly memorable incident. The offender looked like he was in his thirties. Clad in formal office attire--dress shirt, tie and carrying what appeared to be a blazer in one arm, he was breaking into sweat under the hot sun. The usual request we were so sick of hearing, and I went into the office to get the keys to the SUV. As I made my way outside, I noticed another person waiting to get into the parked vehicle.

"Hi, is the Honda yours?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "No, sir. It's the company car, and you're parked in our spot."

I brought his attention to the wall and the 'Private Parking' sign. He squinted to counter the effects of the glaring sunlight, then turned back to me and chuckled.

"Oh, private parking? But I'm a Datuk, can't you just let me have it for a while?"

Playing the Datuk card. How interesting.

He fished out a business card from his shirt pocket, and there it was--the Datuk prefix before his name.

FYI, non-Malaysians, Datuk is the equivalent of the British title 'Sir'. You can read more about it here.

So this Datuk thought he could get away with it by flashing his title in my face. No way. Not gonna happen.

"I'm sorry, Datuk, but you can be Barack Obama and I would still tell you the same thing. The only Datuk allowed to park here is the one who owns this joint."

"Oh, OK then. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience."

Admitting defeat at last. He didn't stop apologizing until I excused myself to move the car and let him out.

I still have his business card on my desk at home. One of these days, I might move it downstairs to the trophy cabinet--because it's a trophy too.

My mouth spouts out the craziest of comebacks sometimes. I'm particularly proud of this one.

Just one of those nights.

I woke up at a quarter to two in the morning--to the clashing of swords.

The movie I had been watching ended up watching me instead.

I would have followed you, my brother. My captain. My king.

Three arrows in him, and he could still hold a meaningful conversation. Boromir is not an easy man to kill.

Be at peace, son of Gondor.

In the books, they laid him in one of their boats and set him adrift. He eventually fell off the edge of a waterfall.

A quarter to two in the morning, and I woke up to a death scene.

A death scene, then the realization that I'd missed three text messages from le monsieur.

For the umpteenth time, I was upset. I'd failed yet again.

A plush toy flew across the room. It landed on the cat. Surprisingly enough, she didn't stir.

At that moment, I hated her. Fat, lazy creature. I hated the fact that she could lay in that corner and sleep soundly without a care in the world, while I fought the urge to pull my hair out in anger.

Me and my mood swings. I might've been a she-Hulk in a past life.

A more plausible explanation for it would be this: I needed a hug, but no one was there.

It's that simple.

You know who you are.

Bon voyage, mon ami.

Don't be sad. This is not goodbye.

This is you finally spreading your wings and flying. Starting on a new chapter after what felt like the longest foreword ever written. That first step, finally moving after so long a standstill.

This is not goodbye. You are not leaving. Leaving is actually an impossible thing to do. A part of you will stay behind and attach itself to everything and everyone you have made contact with. You will always be here, in the form of memories and thoughts. You will never really be gone.

And I will go with you. Maybe not physically accompany you, but I will be there. As you narrate the passages from that new chapter in your personal chronicle to me over the phone or through the social network--the challenges of job-hunting, the flak you are bound to get for making this decision, or maybe even complaining about how nitpicky your new boss can be, not unlike mine--I will be there.

You will lament the absence of a support system, which is another way of describing me--but take a second and think again. Every time I threaten to violate you with a fish scaler, or nod in agreement to just how crazy our society is, even if it's just in cyberspace, that's me being there with you. With you and for you. The means of communication may change, but we'll stick together all the same.

There is always Skype anyway. Feel free to look for me.

I'm grateful every day for having known you. That afternoon at the beach, with that horse we thought was tied to a tree, and the freaking out that followed when it went for the apples on the table...still the most memorable bro-bonding time to date. It'll take something of epic proportions to convince me to think otherwise. 

One thing has changed, though. The hilarity of that totally-random instant when someone suddenly asked 'Donde esta la biblioteca?' has officially trumped my attempt at imitating that Australian university rep from KDU. I suppose I have the Sauvignon Blanc to thank for my spot-on Ozzie accent.

So here's to hoping life would be kind to you, and to me too. In an alternate universe, you and I would be rearing cattle in New Zealand--then planning our umpteenth trip to the Canadian Rockies during our free time. Sadly enough for us, we exist in a different universe, and beggars can't be choosers.

Godspeed, my friend. I shall find an excuse to go and visit you in the future. In the meantime, I'll just fill this void you left by practicing the NZ national anthem...in Maori.

Lots and lots of love,

Your sister from a different set of parents.

The difference between me and you.

RAKYAT DIPAKSA TELAN TANPA PILIHAN - SAIFUL NANG

Jika saya tinggal di London, New York atau paling terukpun di Guangzhao, Melbourne jika minyak naik saya tak terasa pun. Alternatif disediakan untuk saya sampai dari sejauh zon 6 Kota London ke tengah bandar ataupun ke zon 6 arah berlainan dalam masa kurang 1 jam sekalipun semasa penyuraian waktu puncak. Apa nak risau jika Tuan Mayor Kota London juga naik train ke tempat kerja, untuk mesyuarat dengan pelanggan di mana-mana sahaja juga boleh naik train. Belanja pun tak banyak, guna sahaja kad bulanan mereka itu boleh sahaja melacak ke seluruh London. Untuk ke Manchester, Nottingham (seperti kita nak ke Kota Bharu dan Kuala Terengganu) boleh guna train juga dengan kekerapan tinggi dan HARGA YANG MURAH (jika nak banding dengan pendapatan mereka, harga itu memang murah).

Hari ini kita dipaksa untuk telan kenaikan harga tanpa kerajaan tuntaskan keperluan pengangkutan awam yang sangat parah. Naik bas pun tidak pasti boleh sampai ke pejabat tepat atau awal dari masa walaupun ada lorong khusus untuk bas. Saya minat melihat lorong bas di Istanbul seperti track keretapi yang tidak boleh dilalui kereta. Tak perlu buat landasan dan tak perlu beli keretapi mahal-mahal. Guna bas sedia ada juga sudah lebih baik dari membuat projek pelebaran lebuhraya. Sampai kita ada 50 lorong pun masih tetap tak cukup.

Tindakan pentingkan diri juga boleh disabitkan. Jika hebat pengangkutan awam nanti Proton punya jualan merosot pula. Dr. M tak akan berdiam diri.

Malaysia sudah diwarisi kepada Datuk Seri Najib Razak dalam keadaan yang sudah parah. Dapat pula ke tangan anak yang lahir atas dulang emas yang tidak pernah merasai kesusahan rakyat secara realistik dan peribadi. Saya tersinggung semasa pertemuan bersama beliau dalam satu perbincangan "tehtarik" di Jibby & Co Subang awal tahun ini, beliau berseloroh tentang isu air dan saya lihat ia tidak kelakar langsung. Pada keadaan gawat air dengan penggunaannya bercatu dengan asbab beberapa dari kami bercatu air di rumah sehingga mandipun nak bercatu, beliau boleh berseloroh "Saya boleh mandi...rumah saya ada air" (lalu ketawa).

Saya tahu ini pedas untuk Datuk Seri dan saya juga harap tak perlu nak katakan ini secara umum. Email cadangan berkajang-kajangpun, yang membacanya bukan dia tetapi ditapis oleh lapisan yang mungkin lihat ini remeh. Tapi kita lupa, jika suara rakyat ini seperti air. Jika disekat dia akan melimpah juga sehingga satu ketika limpahan itu akan meruntuhkan empangan yang dibina selama 57 tahun.

Petronas diajar untuk mengatakan rezab minyak kita tinggal sedikit, tetapi kerajaan lupa jurutera-jurutera carigali Petronas ada mulut dan ada Facebook. Mereka boleh bercakap dan mereka selalu bercakap rezab minyak kita sangat banyak lagi. Sekecil Brunei itu sendiri rezab minyaknya masih lagi tidak habis-habis dan tidak akan habis sehingga 2030, mengapa kita boleh fikir rezab kita akan habis pada 2030-an?

Masalah bila orang senang mentadbir, semuanya mahu dibeli dengan wang. Berikan rakyat BR1M sebagai gula-gula yang tidak mengenyangkan dan tidak juga berkhasiat. Wang tunai ditabur-tabur seperti Ali Baba Bujang Lapok memberi sedekah di pasar-pasar.

Turunlah Datuk Seri, Turunlah....

Bukan turun meletak jawatan, tetapi sebelum itu turunlah melihat SENDIRI kepayahan rakyat. Mungkin susah untuk Datuk Seri tahu sehingga Datuk Seri menerima gaji RM1500 sebulan dan perlu berulang alik dengan kereta sendiri yang berhutang dengan bank dengan kadar faedah bank konvensional dan "Islamik" tapi menjerut leher. Isi minyak sendiri dan bayar tol sendiri juga bayaran parking. Makan dengan bekal nasi yang dimasak oleh Datin Seri Rosmah sendiri. Mungkin baru boleh memahami dengan sebenar-benarnya.

Secara praktikal, itu mungkin sukar tetapi kami yakin Datuk Seri boleh turun dan lihat sendiri dan dengar sendiri kata-kata rakyat tanpa perlu protokol Perdana Menteri yang kadangkala mengarut dan menjarakkan informasi rakyat kepada Datuk Seri. Jika rakyat tak mampu sampaikan terus, rakyat akan sampaikan dalam media sosial.

Untuk pengetahuan Datuk Seri, jika Datuk Seri buat lawatan ke sesuatu tempat, orang-orang Datuk Seri akan jadikan tempat sampah nampak macam Hyde Park. Setinggan nampak macam hotel 5 bintang tetapi setelah Datuk Seri pulang, semuanya dicabut semula dan tinggallah semuanya dalam keadaan sediakala sementara Datuk Seri dengan bangga membuat kenyataan "SYUKURKAH, MALAYSIA SUDAH MAJU".

Apabila minyak naik harga, kesannya tetap kesan domino. Janganlah Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (Menteri Ayam) membuat kenyataakn memujuk yang harga barang tidak akan naik. Saban kali berlaku begitu, harga naik tetap naik. Penguatkuasaan kementeriaan hanya sekadar seperti seorang bapa menegur anak nakalnya yang panjat-panjat rumah tetamu dan memecahkan pinggan dengan teguran "Haiiippppp....babab kangg" dan kemudian sambung bersembang semula.

Dulu semasa saya kecil, saya terpaksa percaya pada RTM. TV3 masa tu kalau nak dapat siaran pun kena pasang tudung periuk di antena. Setiap kali nak pilihanraya, Van Kementerian Penerangan akan buat hebahan WAYANG PACAK di pekan sehari Felda. Ramai-ramai kami berlonggok nak tengok cerita A.R Badul sambil hampar tikar dan kami juga terpaksa telan kempen pilihanraya yang main dalam wayang pacak ini. Sekarang surat khabar dan TV sudah bukan sumber doktrinisasi kerajaan lagi, kami boleh dengar terus dari suara rakyat di sebelah sana juga sebelah sini tanpa perlu mereka menjadi pemberita.

Datuk Seri, buanglah darah kerabat dan darah bangsawan yang ada dalam diri. Bercampurlah dengan marhaen yang sering terpaksa menelan semua yang disuapkan tanpa rela.

Datuk Seri mungkin lihat, selepas beberapa bulan rakyat akan senyap kembali dan semuanya berjalan seperti biasa dan Datuk Seri akan buat kenyataan "Alhamdulillah, Rakyat Malaysia sudah mampu terima kemajuan".

Boleh naikkan harga minyak, tetapi siapkanlah sarana pengangkutan awam yang murah dan efisyen serta boleh diharap. Jangan jadikan KEPERLUAN AWAM seperti pengangkutan, elektrik dan bekalan air sebagai satu perniagaan untuk dasar keuntungan tetapi jadikanlah itu satu khidmat yang wajib bagi sebuah kerajaan.

Sedarkah Datuk Seri, di sebalik penerimaan itu bukan kerana kerelaan tetapi kerana mereka terpaksa mencara jalan survival kerana sandaran mereka kepada Kerajaan sudah tidak berguna lagi. Nenek tua yang patut berehat terpaksa menjaja untuk tidak rasa membebankan anak-anaknya yang menjaga beliau. Berapa ramai anak jadi yatim kerana bapanya maut dalam kemalangan motorsikal kerana mengantuk membuat kerja tambahan sehingga 20 jam sehari? Berapa ramai anak-anak yang rosak akhlaknya kerana ibu bapa terpaksa kerah tenaga bekerja siang dan malam? Berapa ramai anak-anak yang terpaksa menukar ruji mereka dari nasi kepada bubur lembik? Berapa ramaikan bapa-bapa marhaen akan dipenjara kerana mencuri susu di pasaraya kerana anak kecilnya menangis kehabisan susu? Berapa ramaikah adik beradik berbunuhan kerana kesempitan ruang hidup? Berapa ramaikah suami dan isteri yang bercerai kerana kehidupan sudah jadi terlalu mahal untuk kekal bersama.

Datuk Seri tak mungkin tahu perkara ini. Kerana ayah, atuk dan keturunan Datuk Seri ialah orang Bangsawan. Bukan Marhaen yang melarat. Tidak salah jika saya sarankan Datuk Seri untuk belajar dan mungkin bekerjasama dengan individu yang memimpin dalam miskin seperti Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Saya yakin, jika tiada sekatan pembangunan dari kerajaan pusat, saya yakin cara kepimpinan TGNA mampu ubah Kelantan menjadi negeri termaju.

Bangsawan dengan bangsawan, Marhaen dengan marhaen. Jika makan berpinggan emas, masakan tahu erti tidur berbumbung langit.

Turunlah ke bawah seperti Khalifah Ummar lakukan....secara DIAM, sembunyi dan tidak dikenali. Jika turun padang Datuk Seri dengan rombongan sekapal dan gempita siren-siren polis pengiring, orang buta pun akan tahu PM yang datang.

Datuk Seri, bukannya marhaen tidak berjimat. Sudah habis susu anak berganti air sirap kurang gula kami berikan anak-anak kami yang menangis. Bukan juga marhaen malas, kerana marhaen sampai sudah hampir 24 jam bekerja. Jika tidur itu tidak wajib, 24 jam itu marhaen akan bekerja.

Bertimbang taralah...

Datuk Seri pembuat keputusan tertinggi di Malaysia. Input kepada percaturan keputusan Datuk Seri ialah informasi yang diberi. Jika informasi tidak telus, maka keputusan Datuk Seri pun akan jadi zalim juga.

Pentadbiran Datuk Seri terlampau mahal dan sesuap makanan Datuk Seri ialah sebaldi peluh marhaen. Bil Elektrik Datuk Seri setahun boleh menghantar 50 orang anak-anak Marhaen menjadi doktor yang tidak berhutang dengan PTPTN. Mungkin juga jika benar desas desus akan beg tangan Datin Seri yang mahal itu, untuk setiap satu beg tangan itu bernilai lebih dari pendapatan seumur hidup beberapa orang marhaen.

Datuk Seri, tak mengapa jika Wawasan 2020 tidak dicapai pada tahun 2020. Apalah guna jika dicapai tetapi kekayaan negara tidak dapat dirasai bersama, yang miskin terus tertolak tempatnya dari daratan negara.

Datuk Seri, MALAYSIA BELUM AMAN. MALAYSIA BELUM MAJU.

SAIFUL NANG

Orang Marhaen

//nota tambah : Datuk Seri kalau baca, saya nak ingatkan haritu ada minta nak jumpa Datuk Seri tanpa pelobi-pelobi projek seperti di Jibby & Co dulu. Saya bersama sekumpulan marhaen yang sudah buktikan kebahagian dan kemakmuran negara tidak bermodalkan duit sangat. Datuk Seri boleh menang majoriti 2/3 pun kalau cepat tahu caranya. Tapi tu lah...kami ni Marhaen kan, lama dah minta jumpa tak dapat-dapat juga. Saya pun tak suka jadi keyboard warrior berdegar-degar di laman sosial jika dapat berdepan dan berhadap.

///saya bukan orang politik. Saya bukan benci Datuk Seri, bukan juga benci kerajaan dan tidak juga penyokong Anwar Ibrahim jauh sekali bernadikan PERKASA...tetapi saya menulis sebagai MARHAEN MALAYSIA.

I did not write the above article. Those were the words of the awesome Saiful Nang, who, in this status update commenting on the fuel price hike that began last night, summed up everything the rakyat has to say about the matter. If there is ever a keyboard warrior that I admire, it's him. Sharp, but never rude. Not a single explicit or offensive word thrown into the mix. Constructive criticism.

Now, if only the Cabinet would listen.