A look back at Malaysia

When you go to a country new to you, you don't really know what to expect. My knowledge of the country was sketchy, initially based on the Geography lessons we did at Grammar School some fifty years ago when Malaya was newly independent. It was all coconut and rubber plantations as I recall, plus tropical rain forests and, of course, with a heavy colonial slant. The country's prime minister in the early sixties, Tunku Abdul Rahman, had one of those exotic names that matched the exotic image of this country a third of the way around the globe. Then, much later on, came their involvement in Consumer Electronics and Motor car manufacture.

But it was still pretty minimal knowledge, that is, until I started reading up about the country after I'd first met the girls. Although I was getting better informed, it’s still only theoretical textbook stuff until you actually go to a place and see for yourself.

The last few days have been pretty amazing as it's been a whirlwind of emotional experiences and in that time, I've started to get the feel for this wonderful country.

Let's turn to facts. Just looking up nominal GDP for 2010 in Wikipedia shows the country as 35th/37th out of some 180 (depending on the source). Pretty respectable figures beating a number of European "First World" countries. It becomes 28th/29th when looking at GDP based on PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) and 50th/57th on GDP PPP per capita.

Wikipedia states "Under Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad there was a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation beginning in the 1980s. This period saw a shift from an agriculture-based economy to one based on manufacturing and industry. The physical landscape of the country changed with the emergence of numerous mega-projects, such as the Petronas Towers, the North-South Expressway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the new federal administrative capital of Putrajaya."

Wikipedia further goes on to say "Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for almost 50 years." Now that's something I wasn't aware of, but it’s something that comes over when you talk to Malays.

Mahatir is rightly revered in his country as a visionary prime minister, stating some time ago that, although Malaysia was a third world country, he wanted first world status for it. Projects such as Putrajaya and the Petronas Towers are hardly the work of a third world nation!

Sure, there is a way to go but one mustn't undervalue the determination of the nation and its people to improve themselves. When you have youngsters being taught English, Maths and Science at special school that goes on until the late evening, that's a recognition of how much they value those subjects (we could - and should - take a big leaf out of their book as it's Science and Engineering that generate wealth). Looking at the advertising hoardings along the E1 Expressway, I lost count of the number regarding education, clearly a top priority for this highly aspirational nation.

I came across a nation very proud of its achievements and rightly so. But that's only part of the story. In the two areas I visited, Pinang and KL, we have the two worlds that make up Malaysia - stunningly beautiful countryside, rain forests and idyllic beaches on the one hand and a futuristic very modern city to rival anywhere in the world. Wikipedia continues "Kuala Lumpur alone has 66 shopping malls and it is the retail and fashion hub for Malaysia".

It is an Islamic state but one with significant non-Islamic minorities, such as the Chinese and Indians. However, even though it does not recognise the state of Israel, being a strong supporter of Palestine, it clamped down heavily on Islamic fundamentalists post 911.

That tells me it's a country that knows itself and where it stands on many issues - it prefers being its own person, rather than to cow-tow to any other power.

Its industrialisation since the 1980s has been at the expense of one its most valuable resources, resulting in the loss of rainforests. I do hope that commonsense prevails in its pursuit of rising living standards.

But this is all political stuff. I found a stunningly beautiful country, full of friendly people proud of and loyal to their country. They work and play hard. The history of the country means there is a bubbling, bustling melting pot of races and religions where diverse ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony. And while their newly found wealth as a nation leads them to pursue consumerism and its trappings, they still value the three Fs - family, friends and food!

I just fell in love with the place and its people. I count myself so lucky to have met the ladies and have found this gem.