How so very true. KL is a metaphor, an amalgam..even a vision of what we may want ourselves to be. But as usual, KL is not enough, and it's only as real as the people in it.

And no, Malaysians are not all affluent. Not everyone can afford RM 50 lunches and even more expensive dinners. No one notices the cyclist next to the Bimmer, the Asadi rack next to the Nike display.

Anyone who thinks KL is Malaysia is a fool, or grossly uninformed. But then again, that's just me, reminiscing of leaner times.

In Kg Sg Kayu Ara, just next to the posh Bandar Utama, there's this broken family,(divorced wife ran away and husband remarry),can't afford (or even bothered) to send the children to school. The 8yr old girl just wandering about at home, the 10yr old brother ran away from the father and living in a cardboard box under a tree, and was picked up by my client. It didn't last long since little boy still longed for his lost mother.

A lot more stories remain untold...

We are more aware of this now, so how can we do something that really matters and works to improve life of those outside KL?

pickyin - check out http://www.hati.org.my/, among others.

As long as we have greedy wankers with their RM5mil houses on D'sara Heights n 500k merc who bleed the country's dosh n oppertunities through monopoly n gov contacts ..... there is a steep uphill climb to improve the lives of the unfortunate. The constitution needs to be ammended and enforced by a truly independant party .... how sad

I read that Promuda is spending some time at orphanages to give company to the kids and make sure they have enough to live by. Check out the Maria's Fotopages -> http://mariateo.fotopages.com/?entry=57413

I just came across your site for abt a week now. I find your comments and insights intelligent and often times, spot on.
I'm a Kl gal, living away from the city, and the disparity between the KLites and the small towners are sometimes very frightening. 4 years ago, I have no qualms abt spending RM10 on Starbucks coffee, every day, sometimes twice a day! Now, paying Rm10 for it every couple of months is a treat and even then I think a few hundred times before actually walking into Starbucks. I see 6/7 people squeezed into a Kancil, and one loner driving a Beemer X5. We are known for helping the rest of the world, but sometimes our kampung people are forgotten, a case of a malay proverb, kera di hutan disusukan, anak sendiri diabaikan...
I truly believe that the election results are actually the people's hope for changes, and i sincerely hope that Pak Lah will have the strength and support to carry out what he said he'll do. I don't think there's anything wrong with the constitution, we have so many laws and guidelines, it's the implementation that's lacking. On a parting note, how many of you are registered voters and actually voted last Sunday?

Sorry to say this, but new KL is fake. It has no soul. The buildings, sidewalk, shops etc. and its people somehow don't fit together. It wasn't build for the people but for big businesses, the rich, and the hip. Just like typical American cities. I'll never fit in KL.

Well, KL is the backdrop for all the world-class events, and the rest of Malaysia is the messy backstage (true for most countries as well). I always thought that the biggest irony in Kuala Lumpur is the fact that at one end of Ampang Road is the Petronas Twin Towers, and at the other extreme end of Ampang Road is Bukit Belachan (warts, garbage, lawless motorcyclists and all). Tak payah tengok jauh-jauh, depan mata dah nampak dah ....

As fake as KL may be, it is there. And for all we know there it will stay. Like Queenbee says, sometimes all we need to do is divert that ready cash somewhere where it'll be of more use.

Ask yourself: do you really need that RM 11 iced blended coffee every other day? Will it kill you to not buy a new outfit every other week? It's difficult, but possible.

Starting out with almost nothing gives you a brand new POV, sometimes. One I hope I'll never forget.

I think we cannot expect to develope all the places at the same pace. Cities like KL should lead and show a good example for the rest to follow. The problem is, I don't think they have been developing KL correctly. Look at Shanghai, or ShenZhen. China is way way bigger than us and their poors are way way poorer than ours. But they have some great cities and industrial parks to lead the way.

What do we have?

They give us the rakyat an impression that they are developing Malaysia...

We failed to industrialised, nothing much about our tourism industry, IT is falling behind others, factories moving to China, outsourcing went to India. After screwing up at almost everything, now someone says, "Lets go back to agriculture."

And the bombers are now at our border with Thai. How to develop like this?

The developement of KL into its current state has both its pros and cons.

Like darren said, KL should lead the way for the rest of Malaysia to follow. But then there is the question of "does the rest of Malaysia wants to be like KL?" No doubt, most people welcomes the increase in their standard of living. But modernisation KL-style means capitalisation and viewed to a large extent, Westernisation.

Agreed that KL could probably have done better. But within a short period of 50 years, KL has achieved much already. There are always negatives in every city - we just got to find out what and improve them. I know, saying is easier than doing it. But we can always try, each in his/her own way.

A few readers pointed out that much can be done for the people living outside of KL. This is so true and it is up to each individual to contribute back to the society.

Najah pointed out that "we're paying through taxes for an ever-shrinking public service". This is also true - to a certain extent. Actually most of the cities in the world are trying to balance taxes (i.e. the source of revenue) and good public services. The major problem in Malaysia is the lack of concern from the government on issues of declining public services (if they do, then sad to say that I don't see much of it). We also lack proper forums and bodies, where we can channel our comments and discontents.

KL is an exciting city to live in and its people adapts to its inefficiencies. But the most important thing is for us to realise that there are room for improvements and also to work on it.

I couldn't have said it better than the Resident :)

We all can contribute in our ways, in our own fields, although it's easy to become jaded. Sometimes it's as simple as pointing out a new technology to the ketua kampung. Other times it's trying to instil some thirst for knowledge in a young student's mind.

Whatever KL is or isn't, it's still in our hands. And that can be as big or as small as we make it.

Westernization isnt necessary a bad thing. There are a lot of good things we can learn from western countries. But sad to say, whenever one mentions the word, "Western" our people will give that filthy look.

Take TV stations for example. They conduct forums and debates..heck they even vent their disatisfaction on talk show and make fun out of it.

But look at Tv3, Rtm... I just saw another SMS (1 bucks per sms mind you) greetings on Tv3. Type BNTV3ucapan anda. When the Government controls everything, it's equivalent to tyranny. Nobody will dare to challenge them. There is no channel to keep them on check.

Thus, all those in power are like KINGS! How to develop like that?

I'd say this to the cabinet and Pak Lah : "Just do your job and don't act Kings! The people pays your salary. Stop all the media controls! Stop putting your fingers into everything...and we will progress. Becoz only then, those who are really capable would dare to take up the challege."

if only these kinda of people are in the gov office running Malaysia. im proud to call myself a Malaysian.

Anyways, this is reality of life. some people are lucky to have a bigger portion of the pie and some are less fortunate but then again thats how human civilization has been living. we are not ants which would give everything for the sake of the community (refer to www.harunyahya.com)

but we cant change everything in 50 years, it takes time, as Resident said.

anyhow, this is good. it shows thats Malaysian (although at micro level) are realizing this situation and taking the correct step.

Physical development (Pd) is one thing. Spiritual development (Sd) is another.

Not very sure about average Malaysian (or av KL ppl), but really2 pity if the increase of Pd does not skyrocket our Sd.

My opinion, there is nothing wrong with the infrastructure and physical development that we have in KL and some of the major cities in the country. However, it has to go hand in hand with our emotional and mental development, and that is what is lacking right now. We have an increase of graduates coming out of the local universities every year, but finding one that's fit for working world is really difficult. Many of us on this forum are lucky, you're street smart in many ways, but consider this, I just spoke to a recent graduate who's doing her practical attachment in my department, and she has no clue what she wants to do. That's sad. You spend 4 years, supposedly to develop your skills that will prepare you in the working world, and you still don't know what you want to do.
We've achieved quite a bit, physically, in the last 50 years, so let's work on our spiritual development, it is after all one of the pillars of our great Wawasan 2020.

You know, the amazing this is is how remarkably guilty one can feel about the whole issue.

In a sense, KL is something we're used to. The extravagance, the... sheer wastefulness. It's amazing what we can ignore because it causes us worry.

How many of us think about this? How many of us realize that… well, that this isn't exactly a stable situation? That… well, it's a bubble, and we're just waiting for it to burst?

The cracks have been around us for YEARS. And now *I* notice. What else am I missing? What else have I contributed to, because I'm too used to being some middle-upper f—–tard with no real awareness of what I'm doing?

An interesting subject to share my mind.

Let just break my point into 3 parts.First, present days.Second, yesteryears. Third the future. KL oh KL.

PRESENT day KL

KL now is city of lifestyle, city of dreams. If you don't have style you don't have a life in KL no matter at what lifestage you are.

The young one are pressure by their peers to enjoy a lifestyle supported by their parents.No exception from which living class they came from. So you see Ah beng,Ah Lian,Mat,Minah,Tambi & Minaci try to out do one another. They live their days by apeing the lifestyle shown on the TV ads.
They dressed up to the 4 season of London, Paris & New York even though Msia only have rain & shine.Gaya mau ada. How not real life can be.

My say: children what gonna happened when the money dried up? When is your real life will begin?

The parents are sandwiched between their responsibility to their off-spring and the elders. Live in KL are demanding. Most of the time they don't have time. Time is money and money go where? Paying the bills, loan, mortgage, kids allowance, gift to parents....ahhhh...where got time for spiritual development...got to find more MONEY then only MAYBE I can have some good TIME to spend the MONEY.

My say: With this rate of life, one can become selfish, greedy and anti social. Corruption and breach of trust can easily be norm of the day.

The elders they are consider lucky if their children can provide them with monthly living allowance or some spend hours to look after them.But for the not so fortunate one, they should be grateful if the house that they live in is not being remortgage by their loving & clever children to finance their new business venture (could be venture no 99, the previous 98 all failed). The grandchildren? Ahhh...they don't understand why grandpa & grandma still alive. Granny always nag about this and that, come on laa coloured hair is trendy, pierce nose and navel are fashionable.

My say: We have less respect to the eldest. Life Value is missing from most of our life. Everything is being equated to what the eyes can see...fancy car, fat bank accounts, designer cloth & happening places to kill time. We have stop learning from others experience because we think we are to smart and can evade the down cycle in our wheel of life. Do you think so?

Welcome to KL in the 21st century, if you don't have a style you don't have a life. Is this a KL we want to call home?

to be continued....

As I walk along I wonder what happened to our live, time when we were young.

KL the yester years

Then I realize KL yesterday is much more simpler to live. Not many rich people but a lot of big hearted human. Ever willing to help without asking something in return.

KL is city of dream. People come here to earn a living. Blood, sweat, strength and honour.Not much style but guts and determination are high.

Today,how time have change. Young people sloth around al-fresco cafe. Sipping inflated coffee. Earn nothing, learn nothing. In the old days, ice blended cendol will do to quash the thrist before we move on with our life full of purpose.

Talk about corruption...Mr policeman earn less in those days but took pride in their jobs. Today? You figure out yourself.

Someone mentioned earlier, soul of the city is its people. What KL is lacking now is people with soul. Those old days might not be good but better than now.

We are talking about solidarity & tolerant a lot lately but in those day we live in MUHIBBAH. Nothing much to shout around but we make it part of our daily life.

Crime rate also not that frightning. Oh yaa...that time we have only Mat who is busy driving his taxi, cari makan. Chong busy in his grocery store attending his client. Mutu busy delivering susu lembu everyday. Everybody seem to be busy with something to earn an honest living. People without style but vibrant life.

Now we have imported labour because our people have move up the class. Congratulation! Malaysia Boleh. But bear in mind together with them they bring their culture which could be contrast to the way Malaysian live. I have nothing to comment. It is up to the policy maker to do their parts. They should know better.

OK KL is a cosmopolitan now. I accept that but I miss the old KL and its people, where a smile is out of courtesy. The only thing left unchanged is the drawn and muddy Klang & Gombak River flowing to the sea.

oh yesterday KL.....

to be continued...

i am a belgian living 5 months already her. my view on KL is still fresh and unclouded. the fumes are awfull. the people are friendly. the city is great - on some places. the difference between rich and poor is very visible. big bank building and squatter villages down the road. on one side of the streat the richer people on the other side the poor. this is called the mattheus effect... i guess.