The price of counting your blessing

Hannah Yeoh’s latest post about her visit to the Angsana flat touched me to know that there are cases of urban poverty in Subang Jaya. Previously, I’ve always thought that anyone hearing the word “Subang Jaya” ought to know that it’s an elite place that can be very mercyless for the poor. If you don’t have the money, then……it’ll be very difficult.

To survive in Subang Jaya with just RM200 to spare per month after minus the rent must be very difficult indeed. Can they even afford to spare some to be put aside for savings? Unimaginable, at least to me. It is a blessing indeed, that MB Khalid Ibrahim helped to enable every household in Selangor to get free water for the first 20 cubic meter, these poor people would most appreciate it. Even then, some Bee Anne people lambasted it being “populist tactic”, “encourage wastage”, “impractical” blablabla. Bollocks, get off your anti-social Porsche Cayennes and start giving assurance, assistance and motivation to the poor people in your constituent just like our “inexperienced greenhorn” but very kawaiiii~ Hannah-chan is doing. If somewhere as elite as Subang Jaya have poor people, then surely your area have some too. How can giving free first 20 cubic meter of water be condemned?

Populist?

All these while, the rich have been pictured as selfish cronies who’d rob the people’s money, so this is indeed a welcoming change.

Encourage wastage?

Ever heard of Adam Khoo, the youngest Singaporean millionaire? Yet, he rides in economy class flight, he shops at G2000 rather than Hugo Boss or Gucci, he doesn’t wear Rolex etc. The truth is, self-made millionaires lead a frugal life, probably even more frugal than me too. People who are wasteful baistards are people who’d never gone through hardship aka spoilt brats whose life is no better than a prostitute. True enough, I’ve encountered an arrogant arsehole who’d insult those who’d appreciate a Honda Civic, Nissan Latio etc than the new Altis 2008. He declared that he drives a 5-series which is his birthday gift from his parents, that clearly pictures what kinda prostitute he is. With or without free 20 cubic meters makes little different than making him (and that Bee Anne guy) pay less RM11.40 and a LOT less in the lesson of the pain experienced by those Angsana flat residents.

Impractical?

I’m running out of words to bash edi……

For now, I’ll remind myself and everyone, to count your blessing, just as Hannah-chan advises us to. The quest for a better life is difficult, but to remain mediocre is even more difficult. It is good then, in this Information Age, the secrets of financial success is shared by the socially-responsible rich people like Robert T Kiyosaki, Adam Khoo and many more. To make use of it, and to share it with others, the choice is in your hand. Embrace it, just like how we’ve enbraced the internet, which contributed to the victory of Pakatan Rakyat.