Recently, I visited Thailand to witness the spectacle that was a nation rich with history: they had ancient temples and stuff la. A new few things caught my eye as to why I still call Malaysia a joke.
1) Thailand has history, Malaysia has none. Thailand boasts the most awesome temples both in architectural grandeur and size. 50-feet tall GOLDEN Buddha statues, Temple towers(mind you, I don't know what they are called) of heights matching modern office blocks with intricate idol carvings, floating markets, etc. In Malaysia...ok, we have some temples all about the size of my house, many mosques which mostly are not picturesque (The Putrajaya mosque is beautiful though..wonder why put it all the way there?). Basically, Malaysia has no bloody history worth the time of tourists. Instead, our historical spot is the footprint of Hang Tuah who no longer earns the veneration of our history books. Historical tourism: Malaysia, please give this idea up. Don't embarrass yourself.
2) Malaysia has shopping, Thailand HAS SHOPPING and I'm a guy. Walking in Siam Paragon, the number of brands completely dwarfs the crap we get in KLCC. Screw Jimmy Choo la, they had more impressive brands who don't market themselves in Malaysia but elsewhere like Singapore. Shopping tourism: Malaysia got owned la.
3) Thailand is the first country I visited that is proud of their transsexuals to even make them a tourist attraction in the heart of the Bangkok. I must say they are exquisite beauties, just don't think they are guys la. You see, such things are purely emblematic of the social mind. 1)If its liberal, society accepts the follies of others. 2)If its conservative, society examines the follies of others. 3)If its extreme, society censures, ridicules, bans and goes on to perpetuate the discrimination towards these follies. 1,2 or 3..I wonder which is the case in Malaysia?
4) In Thailand, Thai is everywhere. In Japan, Japanese is everywhere. In Germany, German is everywhere. English is barely used yet these countries enjoy levels or prosperity unknown to Malaysia. So, Malaysia justifies its hardcore backing of Bahasa Melayu as the prime academic language. Most thinks of it as a joke, many censures the partisan, many lose faith in our country. The debate is flawed for it translates the academic language into national progress. In reality, you need progressive people to move the country. Singapore had Lee Kuan Yew. Thailand had their monarchs. Japan has Japanese people la, the white horse of Asia. So, the pivot of the discussion is wrongly placed. Malaysia cannot move because we are busy politicking. Singapore and South Korea gained independence later than us and inherited a land of rubble dearth of any hope. South Korea is now the thirteenth largest economy in the world and Singapore is the international trading hub of SEA. Malaysia? By 2020, Indonesia and Vietnam will overtake our economy. Malaysia Boleh!!!
