"Wow,this is a great view! I have never been to a restaurant some 42-storey high. I just wonder how much a cup of coffee will cost me." I said to my host. "Don't worry,I will foot the bill", replied my friend. I picked a seat facing the window where I could see all the tall bulidings below me. By the way, I was entertained to a late afternoon tea in the World Tallest Building-Petronas Twin Tower.

It is not everyday I could come to this literally 'high' class club where only the previlege few only can afford. You must be a member and I am not.So, being a little bit greedy(since my host is rich enough to pay for it), I ordered the most expensive tea and a set of sandwiches to savour the late afternoon away up amongst the clouds.

As we talked about the good old days when we were kampung boys,my host asked me how many times do I go back to my kampung in a year? I replied that I usually go home during the festivals and special functions ,all in all not more than five times in a year. He keep asking me how many days do I stay at home with my mother and I replied not more than two weeks in a year.He keeps on asking me what have I done for my kampung and for my folks there and I replied nothing much worth mentioning....... Next was my turn. I asked him the same questions and his reply was not much better than mine. Both of us agreed that we reflect the majority of those kampung boys in the mid 60's when we were selected by the government to go to a boarding school and then got our tertiary education at the local and overseas universities. Upon graduation, we were given opportunities to build up our careers in government and private sectors. Some are top civil servants ,some are corporate figures and some are politicians and me just a struggling entrepreneur. Most of us live in Kuala Lumpur now and have lost touch with our kampung. Honestly, we can't be living in our kampung anymore due to our present job commitments.

The question is what has happened to our kampung now? Well, most kampungs have improved a lot since Merdeka. Now,they have schools,clinics,roads ,piped water, electricity ,telephone etc., but who are there nowadays? That is something that is worrying....

According my friend's hypothesis, every university educated man will try his best to get the best job in town/city.Every SPM educated man will shun away doing kampung jobs and will try his best to be clerks/technical personnels or work in the factories in the town/city.What is left in the kampung...are those young men/women who could not get jobs in the towns/cities and old folks. In the context of people with knowledge,we almost go back to the 60's.

"So what are going to do about it. Talking is cheap!",I poked at my friend.
"Well, we have to 'balik kampung'(go back to the village) more often and mix with our kampung folks and young men there."He replied.
"But you have to miss some golf games with your buddies at your club;",I quipped.
"This is a payback time.Anyway, I have enjoyed most of the things I wanted to enjoy.If I don't balik to my kampung,who will??",replied my friend.

I wish my friend best of luck for his desire to do something for his kampung.Everyone of us can do something.The BIG question is: Are we willing to do it and when??

Oh KampungKu....
Kampung Pondok Beris,Bachok-the poorest district in Malaysia...