langkawi magazine

Culture SECTION

Oh, To be 48 Years Old and Loving It

"I am proud of Malaysia because it is such a peaceful and stable country," says Husin. "I hope that the government continues to develop the country and do it well."
Husin's wife is a homemaker. They have two children who are studying in Forms 1 and 3 at SMK Bandar Baru Sentul.
HUSIN OTHMAN
Husin come from a poor family. At a young age, he had to help his parents in their padi field in his hometown.
After completing his primary education, Husin left Kedai 4 Titi Serong Parit Buntar, Perak, and worked as a grass cutter in a palm oil plantation in Johor.
In 1979, he arrived in Kuala Lumpur and joined City Hall as a tree cutter.
Twenty-four years later, he was promoted as a supervisor in the grass-cutting section, which is better known as 545 (a code used by City Hall"s Landscape and Cleanliness Control Department since more than 20 years ago).
"I did not go for higher education. I don't know how to do anything else, but grass," says Husin.
"When I joined City Hall, the city"s landscape was different. There were more trees and less roads. We had to climb trees to do our job because there were no sky-lifting vehicles."
"The saw nearly took away my leg twice. Cutting of trees was dangerous then," he says. "I am happy working with City Hall. My objective is to ensure Kuala Lumpur's cleanliness and beauty."
CHOW CHIEN KEONG, Allianz Kuala Lumpur branch manager

Born: March 21, 1957
"Being born in the year of Malaysia's independence has a great significance to me," says Chow.
"For over 48 years, I have seen Malaysia transform from a country that depended primarily on agriculture-based industries to one of the world's high-tech countries, housing establishments such as the Multimedia Supper Corridor and Petronas Twin Towers."
The Kuala Lipis boy moved to Raub before coming to Kuala Lumpur in 1975 to further his studies. He joined Allianz (Malaysia British Assurance then) in 1989.
His family comprises a housewife and a daughter who studies at Wesley Methodist School.
Back then, travelling to Kuala Lumpur was a "big" thing to Chow. It took almost four hours to reach his destination during which time the bus had to pass through narrow, winding roads, especially at Bukit Tinggi.
"Life was fun then," says Chow. "Things were cheap. My starting pay was only RM200 but I could still go for my bowling sessions at Mirama Bowl and swim at the Weld pool once a week. Malaysia's racial harmony is an achievement," he says. "For 48 years, Malaysians have learnt to understand the principles behind co-existence. Everyone accepts the fact that it by living and working together that the nation can prosper."
"No one race can progress on its own.
"The best parts of Malaysia are the small towns and kampung where everyone knows each other. The peace and harmony there make life so meaningful."
SAWIT BIN TUAMAT, taxi driver

Born: April 4, 1957
"MALAYSIA is a beautiful country," says Sawit. "There is nowhere else I want to be."
The Sentul resident is proud of many things Malaysia has achieved in the past 48 years and expresses them with great passion. "It's wonderful to see so many races being able to live together like they do in Malaysia," he says.
"That, in itself, is a blessing."
Sawit, who is of Indonesian descent, says what he loves most about Malaysia is its economic stability and security.
"I can go to work knowing that my children are safe," he says. "If anything goes wrong, I know my neighbours are there to help. It's really a wonderful feeling."
MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH, fireman

Born: July 13, 1957
For Muhammad, living in a stable and harmonious country like Malaysia is something he is grateful about.
"Malaysia is not just a nation that is progressing fast, but it is also a peaceful country to be in," he says. "We are free to go anywhere without having to fear for our safety."
Muhammad says he is proud whenever he hears foreign tourists comment on how beautiful Malaysia is.
"It proves that Malaysia is world-class and its citizens need not go anywhere else to enjoy nice places and food.
"Malaysia is the world," says Muhammad who was born in Penang. He has been a fireman for 25 years.
Malaysians, he says, must be grateful and must appreciate their good fortune of being born in a country that has almost everything. "We have the basic necessities to the luxurious items," he says.
"And we do not have earthquakes and typhoons."
TAN KOK WAI, Cheras Member of Parliament

Born: Oct 7, 1957
Being born in the same year that Malaysia attained independence gives Tan an added sense of pride most Malaysians may not have.
"I was born about a month after Malaysia achieved its freedom," he says. "That alone makes National Day all the more special for me.
"This is our motherland. It is a beautiful country that is blessed with friendly people, colourful cultures and numerous natural resources.
"As the country aspires to become a developed nation by 2020, we have to work hard - harder than those in developed countries in order to be on par with them," says Tan who was born in Kuala Lumpur.
He says an important pre-requisite for a country to be developed is to achieve national unity and racial harmony.
"Equality for all citizens must also be a top agenda," he said. "Only through this can we achieve One Bangsa, One Malaysia."
MULTALAKY MUNUSAMY, cleaner

Born: Sept 30, 1957
Despite enduring a hard life, single mother Mutalaky cherishes every moment of being a Malaysian.
"You take life as it comes," she says. "The good and the bad, and never ever give up hope no matter how bad things get," says the mother of four children.
"Because, at the end of it all that, things are only going to get better."
Mutalaky has seen not only the good in Malaysia, but also the tragic events the country has had to go through in the last 48 years.
"Yet, despite all that, I am proud to be a Malaysian," she says. "I would not have been able to pull through life if not for caring friends who are of different races."When her husband died five years ago, Mutalaky was shattered. "I thought that it was the end of my world.
"But my friends and neighbours were there to support me," she says. "And, I knew then that I had hope."

Malaysia, Land of Ten Thousand Million Smiles 2005-08-31