An Emotional Tour with Uncle Chang

My date of the day : Uncle Chang

An emotional tour with Uncle Chang

It was a beautiful Sunday with I did my interview with Uncle. At the age of 55, he still wakes up early everyday to enjoy the rising of the sun while he feeds his birds and dogs. I believe that uncle had gone through many think and thin before he reach this day where he can enjoy the beautiful sun rise everyday. When a person grows older, he/she will have many stories to tell. Stories that made them who they are now, stories that they will remember forever. The wrinkle on uncle’s eyes is a proof of the things that he’s gone through on his life.

Uncle had been serving at POS Malaysia for the past 34 year till present. He is now the head of Great Eastern Corporate mail that monitors all mails going in and out of Great Eastern. We started the day at a coffee shop (its like his second home) where he used to have his coffee breaks during those days.* I was too excited that I forgot about the pictures of this old coffee shop)
Uncle: During those days we (the postman) are well respected just like any other uniform groups. Sometime when we asked the Mamak to kira for our breakfast the Mamak will tell us someone actually paid for it. We don’t even know who paid for us. *Laughs*

Working as a postman was not his first job. If was his friend Ahmad that encourage him to pursue for this job. His friend even gets to application form and fill it up for him. All he did was to sign on the piece of paper that Ahmad had got ready for him. During those days, he never thought that he would leave his hometown and work in Kuala Lumpur. But as he reflects back on his life now, he is really thankful to Ahmad who had supported him physically and mentally.
“Without the help of Ahmad, I wouldn’t be who I am today to have a loving family and old friends around me” said uncle.

When I asked how he feels every time he puts the letters from one house to another. He smiles and said “It might look like an easy job but deep down in my heart I felt a sense of responsibility because who knows some letter might be very important to the receiver?” I was so impressed by what uncle told me. I use to have a pen pal when I was in my primary school days and I would write a simple ‘Thank You postman’ with a little sticker next to it. Believe it or not, sometimes all these small little act from us can actually cheer up someone? Just like the postman who delivers the letters.

After we had our breakfast, uncle took me to the place where he used to stay (Subang) when he first got married with his wife (now divorced). In that house is where he started his family. I gave uncle a scenario; what if all the letters in your bag was love letter from all around the world?
Uncle: oh! (Laughs) I always treat all the letters as love letters. That way, I feel like I’m a messenger to connect these people. Just like how you young people said I’m a cupid! I really love my job until now.

I still remember the day when I got down from the bus and rented a room at Brickfields. I had no motorbike and K.L was a strange place to me. Thank God that Ahmad was transferred to K.L later and we managed to apply to stay at the Quarters (A place where to government servant lives) in those days, our pay was about few hundred Ringgit only. 2 years after I work in K.L my pay was raise and I finally decided to buy a motorbike because most of my friends had one at that time. If 3 of them wants to go out together, either one of them had to take bus.

During 1980, his son was born and he feels that staying at the Quarters cannot accommodate his family in the near future as he plans to have another baby. Once again, Ahmad (the super good friend) suggests him to buy a house. At that time, Ahmad just bought a house at Cheras Batu 9 and he finds it affordable as the economy at that time wasn’t good and the price of property was not too costly. Ahmad is more than a friend to uncle; he’s someone that is as close as his family members. Ahmad helps him so much that the word Thank You is not enough to show his gratitude.

After serving at POS Malaysia for 34 for year, he still holds on to POS Malaysia’s slogan so firmly. “Rain or Shine the mail must go, POS Malaysia we deliver” Uncle was interviewed by Traxx Fm during the 50th independence of our country. (sound recording at the side bar on my blog)

Those were the days...

Uncle's 'Kad pesara'

Around the neighbouthood that he used to live with his wife

the 'rotiman' roaming the housing area around 6pm everday evening
The hero that save my day!!! Uncle Chang!!!

Our Burmese days...

Our Burmese Days is a movie that all youngsters should watch. It’s a documentary of Lindsay Merrison discovering her roots where her family came from. Her mother
Sally, ashamed of her heritage, cultivated a flawless English accent and always claimed to be born and raised in the solidly white-middle class Hemel Hempstead section of northwest London. For the past forty year, Sally did not go back to Burma and her father restricted them to converse in Burmese when they moved to England. In this documentary, Lindsay brings her mother, Sally and her uncle, Bill back to their homeland for the first time after forty year.

Just like many other Malaysians out there, who thinks that other country is always better than Malaysia. There’s a saying in Chinese “The moon in oversea always rounder.”
I believe that many youngsters do not love their country because they do not understand the background and the history of their origins. No doubt the education in Malaysia did teach Malaysian history when we were in school but they project it in such a way that didn’t interest most of the students.

Just like my cousin brother who lived in Hawaii, America for more than 20 years now, he only came back to his homeland because he had to renew his identity card and his passport. But in his case, he didn’t deny that he is from Malaysia but he just didn’t not mention if no one asked. I think many Malaysian that went abroad to study; they tend to compare Malaysia to other country. I believe that every country have its own advantages and disadvantages.

Somehow I don’t feel that I’m related to this movie myself but I don’t feel the urge to showing this movie to the school kids out there for them to know how important it is to know their roots and origins.

As a Malaysian, I’m very proud of my country of the multi culture that we have here and the many many fusion food that cannot be found else where. I know that at time we might blame the government for this doing the right thing and compliant about it…Come to think about it…we are frustrated over it because we have expectations. Without expectations, we will not grow to be a better country.

Persepolis

Persepolis is the autobiography of Marjane Satrapi who recounts her childhood growing up in Iran. The scene started as a flash back when Marjane was waiting at the airport. Then the story continues with the fall of the Shah during 1979. The film takes us through the war with Iraq, the fear of the secret police and the mixed attitudes of her family and friends as the world around them shifts so dramatically.

As I grow up in Malaysia, I was not exposed to Islam at its “Ugly side”. Islam to me is just my country’s religion and I know nothing in-depth about it. Most of my Malay friends are “modern Malay’s” where they only wear scarf during Hari Raya and no one can tell me why must they cover up and why are there so many rules but people just ignore those rules? The perception of Muslim is totally wrong now as modern, secular and Westernized Muslim is ‘caregorized’ as good Muslims. I don’t think that my friends are consider as ‘Good’ Muslims as they themselves do not understand their own religion’s history and protocol but yet they are just following blindly. In our country, many Muslim are born to be Muslim and they do not have the choice to choose their religion therefore, they just follow what their parents and Ustaz teach them.

“The self-appointed leaders of ‘the west’, George W.Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, have visibly stepped back from a Huntington-style embrace of a war between civilizations. After Bush’s early public flirtation with the idea of an anti-Muslim crusade, both he and Blair have taken warning audiences about the need to distinguish “Good” Muslim from “bad” Muslim.
-Mahmood Mamdani-

Marjane was a confused young girl, she thought that she was very religious and even thinks that she will be a prophet one day but all of it didn’t happen. She was also being educated since young about the evils of the regime and stages their own rebellion at home by drinking wine and supplying her with posters of Kim Wilde and Iron Maiden.

"I really didn't know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious but as a family we were very modern and avant-garde. I was born with religion. At the age of six I was already sure I was the last prophet. This was few years before the revolution."
— Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis: The story of a childhood

Iran has a turbulent and scarred recent history and Persepolis helps us understand how power came to the Mullahs and just what that meant for the Iranians. But the film is also the story of a young woman growing up and looking for her identity in changing times. She gets permission to leave and study in Austria and once the local punks there hear she lived through a revolution and a war she acquires a ‘cool’ of her own.

Because of the stereotype from then western influence, Marjane did not admit that she came from Iran when she studied in Austria. She needed to be ‘cool’ when she was with her friends, she learns to smoke and do things that she is not suppose to do as a Muslim. She listens to punk, ABBA, and Iron Maiden. Also, women in the movie smoke cigarettes. Marjane was in a different culture when she was in Austria, when needed to be accepted by her friends. According to Edward Said, orientalism describes the negative portrayal of "eastern" culture through misguided, Eurocentric images.

When she came back from Austria, she was not use to hearing critics from others as she wears a Nike and listens to punk rock music. She also shares her sexual experience to her friend. Her friend was shocked when they know that she actually had sex with a few guys. Muslim women are not use to sharing their sexual experience to others as their more conservative and close minded.

Persepolis is an eye opener to me as I discover many other facts that I’ve never known. It makes me think about the influence from the West can be very scary at times. ‘The West’ might made their name known to the world but they are not everything and the best of all. Every culture and religion should be respected and not stepped down because of some political issues.

The Big Durian

1. What scene in "The Big Durian" made an impression on you, and why?

When Ng Ngai Yuen was interviewed as a sales person. The interview was speaking from a Chinese, Malaysian's point of view. Not many people in Malaysia are willing to share their thought openly. She mentioned that she did not enjoy recess time when she was in school because she was not comfortable eating pork with her non-Chinese friend. As Chinese, Malaysian I find it very true and this scene speaks for all the Chinese in Malaysia.

2. What was rumored to be Private Adam’s grouse/ reason which lead him to running amuck?

Private Adam got to know that his brother was killed by a king while the king was playing golf. Private Adam know that there is no other way to make a police report, as the king is a royalty in Malaysia and they can get away with it easily.

3. A character from Sabah ends her narrative by noting the look on Private Adam’s face. What was it that she saw and how does it contrast with her feelings?

The charactersaw Peace on Private Adam’s face. She felt like K.L is actually like a cage, not as what others said that K.L is a free city. After seeing Private Adam’s peaceful expression, she wants to be like him.

4. From what historical point is the director viewing the events of 1987? What is the “present” of the documentary and what’s it’s mood?

The director mentioned many past events in the film. During the 90’s it was also the reformation for our nation. The direction is trying to create awareness to the public because all the news is sugar-coated and through the public know the truth and details of the story.

Liew Kung Yu

The visit to Petronas Gallery was really an eye opener for me. As is was my first visit, I was very excited the day before. I must say that after reading all the materials from Mr.sharaad, i really don't know what to expect from this exhibition.

the title for this series of works is 'Cadangan-cadangan untuk NegaraKu' that was inspired by the public sculptures, monuments and decorations he photographed while traveling through Malaysia.

Bandar Sri tiang kolom

Konkrit Jungle & Metropolis warisan

After speding more than 30mins in the gallery, I was truely amazed by the large-scale photo collages. Every detail and expect of these collages are perfectly presented. the collages consist of monument parks, twin tower, the super highway in Malaysia, Proton cars, the national flower, Kl hop on hop off bus and many small little faces of Malaysian. Liew Kung Yu also put the pictures into different layers in order to create at 3D effect.

I personally like the Bandar Sri tiang Kolom as it show how Malaysian obsess over pillars. From an old fashion Kampung house to big banglows, each of these houses like to use at lease TWO big pillars in front of their house. the contrast of colors used in this collage really catch my attention for a long while... there were many faces of different nationality surrounding the frame of this piece.

the metropolis Warisan shows how Malaysia has change over the years...Malaysia had gone through the reformstion period, merdeka, 13May inccident, economy downturn during the late 90s...and yet we are still working very hard to develop our country. Indeed Malaysia really made its place in the map of the world. The Petronas twin tower is now known by many foreigners and it has became a tourist spot for all who visited Malaysia.

The Proton cars has also make up Malaysian proud. Although we always heard complaints about the condition of Proton cars after using it for a year and everything goes wrong. But we did not appreciate the effort that the government has made in order to let it’s citizen to have to privilege to drive an affordable car with a reasonable fuel price too.

In my opinion, The KL Hop on hop off bus is a way to ‘cheat’ the public’s money. With a high bus fare of RM38 for 24hours or RM65 for 48 hours traveling period, it will not encourage Malaysians to spend a day or teo in the heart of the city traveling by this bus.

After the visit at the gallery, I actually took time to observe the things around me while I’m driving from one place to another. Be it during the off peak hours or during the jam. There are actually many things that we neglected around us that we never even realized. This visit makes me think about how Malaysia can approve for the better. There is always a question mark in my heart – how come there are so many NGOs in the country but yet there are still so many baggers in this city, especially at night markets. Why the government never took action against those syndicate that use baggers to earn money for them?????