OutSyed The Box

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 09:16 PM PDT

The following is from Dina Zaman's column in The Star. My comments follow.

'Who's Your Daddy' By Dina Zaman

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — Of course, everyone is talking about this phenomenon. From the office worker, to the budding fashionista, right up to high society itself.

"Well. I suppose it is a good sign…. that… Melayu dah maju," a friend said.

You must have seen them: The New Rich and Beautiful. The young men are handsome, and the young women appear regularly in local magazines. They drive the best. Porsche Cayenne is the car of the moment, though by the time this is published, the new rich may have moved on to another make. An 800 square feet apartment with a RM4,000 rental tag does not deter them. Their precincts?

"Oddly enough," the said friend observed, "there's a lot of them in Kota Damansara. (pause) Well. The cars."

Inevitably the conversation will lead to the ever oft question:

Who's their father?

Or mother?

This phenomenon is nothing new. Edith Wharton and F. Scott Fitzgerald recorded the clash of old and new money in their novels. Vanity Fair – the high brow magazine which reports on politics plus lifestyle and entertainment – and Tatler UK are glossy and excellent bibles of the rich and powerful.

In Malaysia, local editions of high society magazines like Tatler, Prestige, as well as the uber fashionista's must-have, GLAM, are showcases of the who's who, who's rising, who's had a botched nose job, and occassionally the fallen. And in this gilded world, the backbiting, the status jostling and social brokerage is only for those with courage and tenacity. This seems to be the domain of social opportunists.

So who are the new and young rich?

A good majority belong to the Concession Generation. Daddies and mummies were shrewd proxies and held government contracts. Not all of them were given contracts through unethical means (my comment : ha! ha! ha!) but nevertheless, their wealth sprang from work and projects with the government of the day. How are they different from the offspring of old money? (my comment : ha! ha! ha!)

Anoura (names have been changed to protect the privacy of those interviewed) captured the difference rather succinctly. Anoura parties with them.

"These kids go to national schools, or private schools which only teach the national curriculum. They don't go to private international schools, that the children of old money do."

Why is that?

She laughed. "Sebab they all tu ramai bodoh. You think they can pass IB (International Baccalaureate?) The expat kids and the old money kids are bloody smart, okay? Their worldview is global. Budak-budak ni, at the end of the day, Melayu beb."

May we quote you on that?

"Sure. Just don't use my real name. I'm part of the system too."

Anoura sighed. She knows the system too well. Her father is part of it. "To get the deal, sometimes, he has to 'kill' the tenders." Her father was once a civil servant, and most of his friends were too.

Like the many brokers and wheeler-dealers in the city, he and his friends just need to strike that ONE deal, and they'll be happy. And because of their former work in the government, they understand the protocols.

This leg-up has helped somewhat, but they haven't got that deal yet. Not yet. "Even a small meal with the guys at the bottom of the rung costs RM500. That's one dinner. Imagine a few dinners a week. In all the years my father has started brokering for deals, he has been swindled by friends. They have to pay cuts to the people who may help them along the way. Why does he do this? Simple. After all the things they've gone through, they think they deserve a deal."

Is it worth it? Really?

Malaysia is not unlike any other developing country, anxious to show she has arrived in society. Asian societies of the old thrived on power, status and social hierarchy. They have their own systems of monarchy and aristocracy.

Malaysia is also facing an economic downturn, no matter what the bastions of power say. It's getting harder to get jobs, be promoted and be awarded projects, the right way. Brilliant graduates and professionals are dismayed when they find out that meritocracy doesn't exist in corporate Malaysia. (My comment : this is very true in the GLCs. You need to have a Masters of Science in K.B. - "kiss butt")

If you do not have the right political connections (no use getting chummy with a state assemblyman unless he can really pull strings), corporate network and an illustrious family, you might as well chuck your dreams aside. You can still succeed in Malaysia, without either one or all of the mentioned, but it will be tough. (My comment : welcome to the real world. It may not necessarily be less but it certainly lasts longer. Plus most importantly you can be proud of it. Its really yours.)

A multi-millionaire I met, who made his millions through trade abroad, and has come back to settle down here admitted that it has been a rough ride. He found himself entertaining and being entertained at luxury karaoke lounges where a night may cost RM10,000 just for drinks (throw in the girls and the tab could go up to RM50,000).

He had no choice but to mingle with a new network he still finds mind-boggling: politicians (ha! ha! ha! again). This man is 60 years old and thinks if he does this for another year, he may just die on the spot. The acquired and very much needed nightlife to just gain the listening ear of the middleman who may put you in touch with a VIP was a strain on his health and sanity.

This is why, almost everyone you meet in Malaysia is a broker. Yes, there are bona fide opportunities, but how is the average Malaysian to get that deal?

And hang on, who's that young kid driving the Porsche Cayenne?

My comments : Well when a cheque is made out, there is a Payer and a Payee. In the scenario that Dina is describing, very often the Payers are non-Malays while the Payees are Malays. Although now, with 'projek dan kontrak' being so prevalent the crowd is very 1Malaysia. Payers are Malays as well. But Payees are almost always 100% Malays.

(While we are on the subject, if anyone approaches you and says that he knows Syed Akbar Ali and then starts to

i. talk business
ii. talk money or
iii. asks to borrow money,

please show them the door ok. This has happened before and has caused me some embarrasment.)

There are a few places in town where you can meet these wheeling and dealing crowd. There are two types.

Those who can only speak Malay can be found in at least two restaurants both of which are situated by the Sungai Gombak. Yes one is in the PWTC building and the other is near the Pekeliling bus stop. A friend described with astonishment how these wheeler dealers pull out "project proposals" for billion Ringgit projects. They are all duds - the proposals as well as the wheeler dealers. What they want is the next free meal or if you are gullible enough, an upfront earnest deposit or fee (usually not less than RM10,000) to take you to the next step. The second step will not happen. You have been had.

The second type frequently hangs out at Bangsar Shopping Centre or Bangsar Village. This is the crowd who can indulge in some 'speaking' - can speak English lah. They usually hang out at the coffee joints. You may see them at the 'Press Room' (Bodega) or Jalan Telawi where they feel quite out of place (and nervous) having an orange juice in a non halal joint.

Some of them do get very lucky. During the early days of Slumberjack I used to see some of them hanging out at Bangsar. I can point names and name fingers but better not. Then they struck gold and now they are easily Top 20 richest bumiputras in the country. So to all the wheeler dealers, it pays better to speak English and hang out at Bangsar. That PWTC and riverside place are just a waste of time.

The scenario described by Dina Zaman is a growing phenomenon. There is now a new class of people who have grown up - the children of wheeler dealer parents who have made easy money. This is the 'daddy-kasi' generation.

These kids, now in their late 20s to late 30s have grown up in an expensive lifestyle on their parents' easy money. Porsches, BMWs, Mercedes are standard. VWs and Mini Coopers are run around cars. As Dina says many of them are limited to speaking Malay. Despite university qualifications, their skills are limited, especially when it comes to mixing multi-culturally (mixing with other races, other religions).

Many are unemployed. There is a whole army of this sort who hail from spots like Damansara, Bangsar, certain parts of PJ, certain parts of Ampang and also Section 7 in Shah Alam. (If ever there is a Malay Spring, I predict it will begin in Section 7, Shah Alam). Some are unemployed by choice. Living off their father's wealth is much better and easier than working and earning an income. Why break your back working and making a measly RM10,000 a month when 'daddy-kasi' is worth much more than that?

The rest who do work may work at companies that have that 'Gomen projek dan kontrak' link. Others may be managers at the numerous GLCs. Whatever the case - all are dependent on the 'Gomen lifeline'. If in the past all roads led to Rome, in Malaysia all the easy money leads back to the Gomen.

I think this is not unique to KL alone ok. After 20 years of ruling Kelantan, the PAS has created a similar situation in Kota Bharu. The son-in-law of the tin sadin is the most 'shaharu' or outstanding example of the PAS version of their 'daddy-kasi' generation. It happens all over the country ok. Ini bukan BN atau UMNO saja. Sarawak pun serupa.

Well, the easy money will run out. My prediction is when that happens, or even before that happens, many of these daddy-kasi generation wil rediscover "religion". They will join the religious cults, start praying 50 times a day, start talking about heaven and hell and such. Just wait and see. When your life is empty, religion is perfect for you. If religion loves emptiness, it is actually emptiness that loves religion more.

Leading By Example

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 07:18 PM PDT

Macam ini boleh. Halal. Afdhal. Syumul. Ikhlas.