A new site design calls for a new post explaining “My Story”. Those who know me know that I am, at heart, a Kuantan boy. It is true that I have lived in PJ (Petaling Jaya) for more than 20 years now, but my true origin is a small town (now a city proper) called Kuantan, about a four-hour casual drive from Kuala Lumpur.
Kuantan people of my age are proud of our origins. We did not have many of the privileges city folks enjoyed. We only received TV3 in the early 1990s, having been confined to RTM 1 and RTM 2 for many long years. McDonald’s only came to Kuantan (at Kuantan Plaza, in the town centre) in the mid-90s! When TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) came out in the late 80s and early 90s, there were no pizza fast-food outlets for kids like us to satisfy our pizza cravings. There were a few small independent Western restaurants, so I heard, but I did not have the budget to try them then. I guess that kind of background made our parents push us to perform harder. Tuition classes were expected, as every student knew that good grades would open up greater opportunities for our future.
I owe this town my best childhood experiences. I was truly blessed to have a good childhood: I got to play with my neighbours and walk to school by myself without fear of kidnapping or reckless drivers. I had the opportunity to learn about different cultures and to learn the Malay language (we spoke it, or we got ostracised in school!). Even better, the beach was only a 15-minute drive from home. Life was simple, safe and clear. We knew what was expected of us: get good grades, go to the big city of Kuala Lumpur to further our studies, and break out of our town. That was the unspoken direction given to us.
As I approach the half-century mark, I find myself looking back at my roots more often. I hope this reflection will not only help guide my way forward, but also give others a foundation to think about their own roots and plot their future course.