I have left you for a very long time

Sorry my blog. I have abandoned you for a long time.

You must be very mad and full of dust as I really never touch you since I start working and the laptop was in the workshop.

Back in business, but I have to collect some interesting issues and to put here for discussion.

Lai.... Welcome back~

If that time

"If" is a perfect word to describe uncertainties.

If during the time when Sabah did not join the merger, Sabah could have become a very rich country. Yes, a country instead of a poor state. People live happily with the natural resources and the wealth given by God. No other people would exploit the source and take them away from Sabah. Only if that time the leaders of Sabah did not agree at the merger, Sabah could have a prosperous development till now.

If Malaysia is a country with wise government, all people regardless of Malay, Chinese or Indian will have a fair share of wealth distribution. Corruption is against the law and works are done according to procedures instead of connection of people. The legislation, judiciary and executives are independent, work well under the custodian of constitution. Malaysia with abundant natural resources and human resource will have a great leap forward under the good government's control.

There are too many IFs in the world and only IF can make the uncertainties perfect.

Part of Malaysia? State of Malaysia?

We are part of Malaysia or state of Malaysia?

I always think of this issue after reading the history of Malaysia. Not the history textbook from Malaysia government but other sources.

Have we been brainwashed or this is the reality that we are state of Malaysia? The concept of Malaysia according to the source I found, was that Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore join together to establish a new nation called Malaysia. Almost the same as UK's concept where England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland come together and establish the United Kingdom.

Since Singapore was kicked out from Malaysia in 1965, the rules of game changed. The status of country was downgraded to state. The resources in our land were exploited especially the petroleum. Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan as well as Terengganu (Peninsular Malaysia states) need to produce 95% of the petroleum royalty to the Federal government of Malaysia. Initially, we were not to give our natural resources to the federal government but why after 1965, why after the rules of game changed, then we only retain 5% of the petroleum revenue?

More and more negative comments from the social networking website stated that Sabahans/Sarawakians are stupid, staying on trees, places are awful etc. I totally disagree and angry with those statements. As we, Sabahans never say anything bad about other people and their places but why we are being bullied by them?!!! I mean, we are Malaysian right? Why our own people still want to criticize own people like that?

However, I just assume that this is just the minority people's mindset. A country's prosperity depends on people's mindset. If the mindset is healthy, the country can prosper and if the mindset is dirty, corrupted, the country will never prosper!

承载的重

开工了!
毕业后，人生新的一个章节开始了。
工作先是比其他人早得到，所以我很幸运能够拥有这份工作。
无论是多么的压力和困苦，我都要坚持地熬下去。

工作顺不顺利，很多时候真的听天由命。
在求学时，都是可以掌控的局面，
到了上班的时候，都不能像以前那样逍遥了。
也许这就是人生吧，我们都曾放任自己于一个安逸的环境长大。
踏出社会后就会知道，哪些是可以，哪些是不可以了.....

这都是人生里都要承载的重啊....

Mini Travelogue: Sipitang and its Satay

Thinking of Malaysian food like satay, where can you find it? Everyone would mention about Kajang Satay and of course Kajang Satay is not only famous among the local residents, it is also known for those are not from Selangor. Well, in Sabah, there's a small town called Sipitang.

Sipitang Waterfront, where you can taste the local Satay

Sipitang is located near the border between Sabah and Sarawak. This small town appears to be a "one-stop station" for Bruneian, Sarawakian and Sabahan to have a rest and trade. The local residents make use of the opportunity to begin their business, especially local cuisine. Satay becomes the must try food if u ever stop by Sipitang!

Satay stalls

There's a row of satay stalls at Sipitang Waterfront and you can choose from many. Besides satay, they also sell chicken wings. While eating satay, you must not forget to dip your satay into the special peanut sauce! The combination of the satay meat and the peanut sauce makes the taste great. Apart from the peanut sauce, you can also try with the bread which will give you amazing texture. 


About 2 to 3 hours drive, Sipitang is easily accessible by land transportation. In near future, the town will be developed into an industrial area due to the development of oil and gas terminal nearby.

Satay and the peanut sauce

         

Sandwich it with bread

Mini Travelogue : Tip of Borneo

Tip of Borneo

When driving along the highway from Tuaran to Kudat, you will see the golden paddy field on both sides of the highway. We did not manage to take any picture because there is no space to drop by. So, we just passed by and moved on to the destination. Of course, our destination was the Tip of Borneo where the crystal clear water lies and white sandy beach stretches.

View from the cliff

White sandy beach

About 30 minutes drive from Kudat, Tip of Borneo is the latest destination which is discovered few years ago. It has a very clean and white sandy beach as well as the crystal clear sea water. The white sandy beach faces South China Sea while the Tip itself is the intersection of the Sulu Sea and South China Sea. Majority of the plants there are pine and oak trees. The view is fascinating and the cliff at the Tip of Borneo has been resembled as one of the attraction in Australia, as my friend described. 

Tip of Borneo is surrounded by small villages and can hardly find crowd in the Tip, as what we can see in the crowded beach of Tanjung Aru (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) or Patong (Phuket).

This shelter near the Tip

Jump shot at the Tip

For diverse tourist attraction, the government promotes the place as the Sunset Orchestra Performance stage besides natural scenery. The local residents also set up the accommodation nearby the tip. This can attract more people to come and see the view at the tip while enjoying the melody of the Sunset Orchestra. 


However, the infrastructure such as roads linking to the destination is not well maintained. Thus causing extra travel time and giving bad experience and impression to the tourists who visit there. Therefore, the government is urged to repair the roads and provide better infrastructure and facilities in order to raise the reputation of the state as one of the most visited state in the country.

The richest yet the poorest

Richest, but poorest?

Sabah is blessed with abundant natural resources such as natural gas, petroleum, timber and also the majestic Mt Kinabalu. These features can make the people rich and yet the people still suffer in poverty. Income gap increases and no measures taken. Poor gets poorer and rich gets richer!

Why?

Poor governance and corruption, illegal refugees (who are the low wage, no skilled labours), many politicians but little promises and work done. These are the contributors to the worsening poverty in Sabah. Last time, when I discussed this situation with my friend, he talked about the attitude of the people was not right. That would be a determining cause for the poverty too.

How?  How to address it?

Can it be eradicate through free education? To correct their mind?
Can it be done through free internet penetration? To let them have more information inflow?
Can it be done by providing a better infrastructure? To bring up the economy and create more job opportunities?
Can it be done if and only if the government is changed? or institutional change? Election?

Too many X-factors to be discussed.