Civilized Society

Friday, 1November 2013

It is heartening to witness Thailand is moving towards a modern civilized society from my visits over the past 20 years.  I don’t mean that the Thais were not civilized, in fact, Siam history and civilization were more developed than that of Malaya and the northern part of Peninsula Malaya once paid tributes and homage to the Kingdom of Siam. What I am trying to say is that Thailand used to be less developed infrastructure-wise  than Malaysia. Even now, the less-informed Malaysian still think one-up on Thais.

I observe on my recent trips to Thailand that the Thais are more civic conscious compared to Malaysian. Some examples are: 

1.  Almost all their public telephone works and those not working are mainly due to maintenance such as the coin containers are full rather than due to vandalism
2. The Thais never lose their steel or iron drain covers like in Malaysia. Malaysian authority have to replace them with cement ones to prevent theft.
3. Public or religious monuments seldom get vandalized. There are many open temples with statutes displayed in the courtyard. In most Thai city parks, you will be able to find their patron founder monuments or statues that are worshiped by its citizen. Many religious items are left in the open.   
   

Some of the photos here confirm what I just said. If these were in Malaysia,

1. The umbrella plastic covers will end up in somebody's home or shops
2. Water dispenser will disappear overnights.
3. The solar power sign post in Sangkhalaburi will disappear over night.

Umbrella Plastic Cover Metro Station, Bangkok

Water dispenser in a street in Bangkok

Solar-powered warning sign post(Front)

Solar-powered warning sign post(Back)

  
I also noted that the traffic camera along Sadao to Hatyai road (close to the famous Chicken rice shops) were only 3 feet high. Any school kids would have vandalized them if they want.

In Malaysia, even traffic barriers to enforce double line were also destroyed. One barrier preventing traffic coming from Sungai Besi Airport to turn 3 o'clock to Jalan Lok Yew were repeatedly destroyed. First the authority put up the plastic orange-white posts. They were destroyed and some bigger black posts were  installed. They too were destroyed or push down and sold. The last I saw was that the posts are gone. Can't we put some policemen and issue summons for those who insist to turn into Jalan Pasar, or Jalan Lok Yew? 

Kajang Stadium turning into Jalan Cheras (Polic station side) is not allowed. The blockage or barriers are systematically and repeatedly destroyed, right in the eyes of Kajang police station.  

Thinking aloud if thinking is allowed

Were the Malaysian problems due to foreigners? We are too quick to put the blames on others. Sangkhaburi has a lot of workers, legal or otherwise, from Burmese. So please don’t blame them. How about other migrant workers and illegal migrants that we love to hate? Or the law enforcements are to be blamed for the state of affairs?

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