A few thoughts whilst I was away in Malaysia
* THE POWER OF COMMUNICATIONS *
As you may have noticed, a backdated entry as I have no Internet access and so far I’ve resisted going online for as long as I am able to. Even at the time of writing I’m only tapping away on my laptop knowing it will another 4 days before I must start checking e-mail and get back in touch with the world before I go off to HK.
I’ve not been completely isolated though, as I have brought my mobile and I have been texting back a few times back to the UK, to HK and the US. If anything one must make people envious that you are in a sunny, hot place, particularly when white stuff falls out of the sky back in London and New York. 
* MALAYSIA’S CHANGE IN SEVEN YEARS *
When you have been away from a place in seven years, things change. I had expected this I hadn’t even arrived in Malaysia to see the first evidence of it. On the approach to the KL International Airport from London, I looked out the window of the plane to see the (relatively) new Formula One circuit at Sepang next to the runways, its unmistakable scissor-like straights at its finish line and following turn 1 obvious to the F1 fan (as obviously I am).
Last time I was in Malaysia was for the Commonwealth Games in 1998. It was a different place then. Hopes for the future of Malaysia had been at a high, but just before the Games started, the Asian bubble burst and fears for the economy began. The Malaysian Ringgit was pegged to the dollar and the country battled the threat of recession to keep its economy running. It’s been a long hard road, as seven years on, the Ringgit is still pegged to the dollar and the economy seeks to thrive in a way it once did.
But despite the problems of the economy, one look around you in the country and you noticed it has changed, even in only seven years.
New housing has popped up everywhere, and in the past few years, this catered for plenty of people looking for new places to live. Land is cheap, as is construction. Currently a 3-bedroom house would cost in the region of M$150,000 (£20,000, US$40,000). A far cry from a 2-bedroom flat I’m looking for in London which would cost at least 12 times as much. In terms of perspective, it does show how life is so different on other sides of the world. However, things are only going to get worse for the real estate market from hereon in. There are the beginnings of an overstock of housing in many cities, which has led to mortgage rates only being c. 2% p.a. at the moment, and some are offering interest-free periods. And many of the buildings are empty.
It’s not just new housing that’s evidence of change in this ‘developing’ country. Fewer people now travel by motorcycles and scooters as they would seven years ago. Cars are literally everywhere and big traffic jams are commonplace. New roads have been built, existing ones modified and in some cases re-routed, Malaysia is not only developing, it is undergoing a revolution.
Communications-wise, it’s like any western country. Mobile phones are everywhere, people are connected to the Internet and digital satellite television is popular. Whilst 3G isn’t here yet, like anywhere else, teenagers love them. Even the Crazy Frog ringtone has made its way over here. And as for satellite TV, I felt rather at home watching Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League on a Tuesday night, whilst seeing Chelsea lose, I was watching the Sky Sports exported coverage from the UK.
In a way, the western influence is increasing. Even Tesco supermarkets are popping up all over Malaysia. But you are reminded that this is predominantly a Muslim country, with beautiful mosques everywhere. It did make me think that if I ever wanted to travel round the country with my camera, I could easily build a portfolio with the mosques in Malaysia as a theme.
Talking of mosques, one of the most beautiful is in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur. Situated in the new government centre of Malaysia, it was the outgoing legacy of then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, who left office in 2004. His vision was to move all the government buildings to a new town on the outskirts of KL. The result is a beautifully landscaped ‘resort’ with some awesome architecture, not just in the buildings, but with a manmade lake and several bridges built across it. Some have criticised the project as wasted money, and some might agree. But there is no doubt that the place is simply beautiful.
Malaysia has changed a lot in seven years and has more than kept up pace with everyone else. As its economy matures, I have little doubt that Malaysia will become one of the countries more people will notice in the future, politically, economically and as a place of tourism.
Links:
Tourism Malaysia
Sepang F1
Putrajaya