There was a time when...

Japan was devastated by war and struggled to rebuild itself, and Malaysia was better off, in the 50s

Malaysia was equal in economy and stature as South Korea, in the 60s

we used to be able to shop in Singapore for clothes, toys and electronics using Malaysian money, in the 70s and 80s

we used Malaysian Ringgit to pay for stuff in Saudi, and Vietnam, in the 90s

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

What has happened now... is that our currency value has dropped... tremendously.

All the countries named above have overtaken us in leaps and bounds.

And the Malaysian Ringgit no longer has the purchasing power it once has.

So far we are still above Turkey and Indonesia in terms of currency, perhaps not for long.

Our leaders claim that Malaysia remains 'competitive' because it is cheaper to do business here compared to those other countries (why are we deluding ourselves this way?).

Malaysians are suffering because we work so very hard and get so very little in salary.

A few of us are drowning in expenses and can hardly get by, and not eating healthily because we cannot really afford to eat proper meals.

And yesterday I found out that our company might no longer pay out any bonus. Well in my 20 years there I may have received bonus two times, so the occurrence of bonus is probably "once-in-a-decade"  thing AND it is not their habit or practice to pay bonus anyways BUT this alleged decision kind of pissed me off. We work so hard and get paid so little and have to pay higher for imported items. 

Oh my goodness!