“Have you been in this trade for very long?” my beloved asked.
“Yes! Since the seventies,” said he, the logo of his company emblazoned on the chest of his proudly worn uniform. His hands were pulling the cables and wirings, putting them into a hole in the wall.
“So many people, so many stories, “ J as he is known continued, “in fact, the previous members of constituents have been calling me for assistance.”
“Is that so?” my husband said, nodding his head.
How deftly his fingers moved, making adjustments here and there to the compact residence around Kuala Lumpur that my beloved and I had just acquired a few months prior to that day.
“Talking about your constituent’s representative, I have a story to tell,“ said J continuing the conversation.
I leaned closer to the wall while my beloved made himself comfortable near our storyteller.
“The member of constituency for this area was an old friend of mine. We came from the same kampung. Then worked in the same company. His position was somewhat lower than mine because of his mediocre education background. But then, after a few years, he got promoted to the post of assistant manager because of his connections and involvements in a once dominant and influential political party. I regarded that as his lucky streak and a gift from God.”
“One day, this old friend of mine whom I call Mat came to see me. He said that he was going to contest for a seat in the elections. If he won, he much desired to remain staying in the slums. He also promised to keep on using his old banger and to keep to his words serving the people in his constituency. Finally elections result were out and sure enough he won! Happily too, I shared his days of triumph."
Both my beloved and I were raptly listening to his words.
“Not long after that, I received a phone call from Mat, requesting me to upgrade and repair the wiring systems in a bungalow which he has just moved into only a few days after winning the elections. I was taken aback. He was eating his own words. But because he was my friend, I gave him the benefits of the doubt and lent my hand. I was surprised too when I glimpsed a brand new Mercedes at the porch of his ‘mansion’. I was actually thinking about what he said earlier on before the elections. About his promises.”
One day, I went to settle my bills and then to my dismay I found out that my car had been clamped and taken away by the council. My attempts to appeal for a reduction was unsuccessful unless I could get hold of a letter of assistance from the Head of the Municipal Council or the local representative. I suddenly remembered my old friend and so, off I went to his office. I was told by his assistant that Yang Berhormat (YB) Mat had just left for a meeting at a place not very far from the location. I said very well! As I was confident I could easily get hold of my old friend Mat through the phone!”
“What happened then?” my husband said almost spontaneously.
“That is what I was about to tell. I was disturbed and angry!”
“For whatever reason?”
“Dont you feel that your friend might be lying when he says that he is on an overseas trip at that moment and is therefore not around?”
“Was that true?”
“Of course not! And this is what I wish to tell! God is Great and He was showing us signs. On that same night, I was walking back from prayers at the community masjid when suddenly we met! Yes! My old friend was walking in my direction. Little did he expect to see me there. Nonchalantly, I asked, “Just arrived from your overseas trip?” "
“I could sense his uneasiness in the face-to-face encounter like that. It was clearly written right across his face as he said, his voice stuttering, “Yes! Only just now!” "
“He walked on and I slowly followed in his footsteps. I was curious to know where he was going. At that time of night? I climbed onto a flight of stairs behind him and at the reception counter, asked the lady behind it, “The honourable member of constituency (YB), what is he doing here?” "
The lady receptionist said, “What honourable YB?”
“The one who came in just now, wearing the batik shirt and carrying a bag!”
“Really? Never knew that was one! He enrolled here just recently to learn English!”
“It was my turn to say “Really?” “
“I was still dissatisfied and my hurt turned to anger. I would not have hurt half as bad if he had just apologized and say that he could not help me. But he lied! He chose to lie. That was what hurt me most! I searched for his car and as soon as I found it, I punctured one tyre and then another. I was thinking if I let loose only one, he could simply replace it with the spare one. That was why I did for both. I felt much better and left for home.”
"Later in the night, I received a call. From Mat! Who else? He said, “Please come! Help needed! I have two flat tyres!” "
I calmly replied! “I am awfully sorry for I am in Singapore right now! Remember when we met just now? I was on my way to the airport!”
My husband and I pursed our lips in a twisted smile.
“That was it! For a long time, I have always abhorred the way certain people manage things. They tend to forget who they are and where they come from! Not respecting the peoples’ wishes. This is especially so for some who rose in their ranks not because of their capabilities and sound knowledge but because of other things…lobbying is one..I was simply too frustrated. It was largely because I knew Mat very well. I knew his family, his children, his ex-wife! Yes! Ex! Not only did he lie and broke his promises. Moved house, changed his car…worst of all, dumped his old wife for someone new! If he could lie to me, his old friend then what more to others?” said J letting go his floodgates of anger and hurt.
My husband and I were too dumbstruck to speak. We could only exchange glances to each other.
“Yes! Since the seventies,” said he, the logo of his company emblazoned on the chest of his proudly worn uniform. His hands were pulling the cables and wirings, putting them into a hole in the wall.
“So many people, so many stories, “ J as he is known continued, “in fact, the previous members of constituents have been calling me for assistance.”
“Is that so?” my husband said, nodding his head.
How deftly his fingers moved, making adjustments here and there to the compact residence around Kuala Lumpur that my beloved and I had just acquired a few months prior to that day.
“Talking about your constituent’s representative, I have a story to tell,“ said J continuing the conversation.
I leaned closer to the wall while my beloved made himself comfortable near our storyteller.
“The member of constituency for this area was an old friend of mine. We came from the same kampung. Then worked in the same company. His position was somewhat lower than mine because of his mediocre education background. But then, after a few years, he got promoted to the post of assistant manager because of his connections and involvements in a once dominant and influential political party. I regarded that as his lucky streak and a gift from God.”
“One day, this old friend of mine whom I call Mat came to see me. He said that he was going to contest for a seat in the elections. If he won, he much desired to remain staying in the slums. He also promised to keep on using his old banger and to keep to his words serving the people in his constituency. Finally elections result were out and sure enough he won! Happily too, I shared his days of triumph."
Both my beloved and I were raptly listening to his words.
“Not long after that, I received a phone call from Mat, requesting me to upgrade and repair the wiring systems in a bungalow which he has just moved into only a few days after winning the elections. I was taken aback. He was eating his own words. But because he was my friend, I gave him the benefits of the doubt and lent my hand. I was surprised too when I glimpsed a brand new Mercedes at the porch of his ‘mansion’. I was actually thinking about what he said earlier on before the elections. About his promises.”
One day, I went to settle my bills and then to my dismay I found out that my car had been clamped and taken away by the council. My attempts to appeal for a reduction was unsuccessful unless I could get hold of a letter of assistance from the Head of the Municipal Council or the local representative. I suddenly remembered my old friend and so, off I went to his office. I was told by his assistant that Yang Berhormat (YB) Mat had just left for a meeting at a place not very far from the location. I said very well! As I was confident I could easily get hold of my old friend Mat through the phone!”
“What happened then?” my husband said almost spontaneously.
“That is what I was about to tell. I was disturbed and angry!”
“For whatever reason?”
“Dont you feel that your friend might be lying when he says that he is on an overseas trip at that moment and is therefore not around?”
“Was that true?”
“Of course not! And this is what I wish to tell! God is Great and He was showing us signs. On that same night, I was walking back from prayers at the community masjid when suddenly we met! Yes! My old friend was walking in my direction. Little did he expect to see me there. Nonchalantly, I asked, “Just arrived from your overseas trip?” "
“I could sense his uneasiness in the face-to-face encounter like that. It was clearly written right across his face as he said, his voice stuttering, “Yes! Only just now!” "
“He walked on and I slowly followed in his footsteps. I was curious to know where he was going. At that time of night? I climbed onto a flight of stairs behind him and at the reception counter, asked the lady behind it, “The honourable member of constituency (YB), what is he doing here?” "
The lady receptionist said, “What honourable YB?”
“The one who came in just now, wearing the batik shirt and carrying a bag!”
“Really? Never knew that was one! He enrolled here just recently to learn English!”
“It was my turn to say “Really?” “
“I was still dissatisfied and my hurt turned to anger. I would not have hurt half as bad if he had just apologized and say that he could not help me. But he lied! He chose to lie. That was what hurt me most! I searched for his car and as soon as I found it, I punctured one tyre and then another. I was thinking if I let loose only one, he could simply replace it with the spare one. That was why I did for both. I felt much better and left for home.”
"Later in the night, I received a call. From Mat! Who else? He said, “Please come! Help needed! I have two flat tyres!” "
I calmly replied! “I am awfully sorry for I am in Singapore right now! Remember when we met just now? I was on my way to the airport!”
My husband and I pursed our lips in a twisted smile.
“That was it! For a long time, I have always abhorred the way certain people manage things. They tend to forget who they are and where they come from! Not respecting the peoples’ wishes. This is especially so for some who rose in their ranks not because of their capabilities and sound knowledge but because of other things…lobbying is one..I was simply too frustrated. It was largely because I knew Mat very well. I knew his family, his children, his ex-wife! Yes! Ex! Not only did he lie and broke his promises. Moved house, changed his car…worst of all, dumped his old wife for someone new! If he could lie to me, his old friend then what more to others?” said J letting go his floodgates of anger and hurt.
My husband and I were too dumbstruck to speak. We could only exchange glances to each other.
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