Let's talk about our neighbours.Oh God,there is a lot to talk about especially the  bad things,not realising that our neighbours also have a lot to talk about us especially the bad things.It is not interesting to talk about the good deeds of our neighbours.Bad news is news.Everyone loves to talk about one's neighbours, except that we seldom talk to our neighbours (with a few exceptions;-) . Sad to say,there is another group of people who neither talk to their neighbours nor talk about their neighbours-they just talk about themselves!

Neighbours come in different sizes - from individuals, districts, states and countries.They form their own neighbourhoods with their own cultures and value systems.But when it comes to countries, things can get complicated.A few countries,instead of being good neighbours,they even provoke others.Some are  at war with one another.They can't even share the rivers that flow across their countries and dispute their common borders.

The so-called global village now had taken its tolls on us.When Thailand had to devalue her currency in the middle of 1997,almost all her neighbours are affected-Indonesia is bleeding to death now and a new president has just been appointed.As a Malaysian,I am proud to put on record that we have been a good neighbour to nearby countries despite our own sufferings.However,one or two sometimes did iritate us.Well,that is life;-otherwise it would be very boring if everyone is all the time nice to each other.

Life in the city is quite hectic and sometimes quite frustrating. By the time one gets home from work,it is almost dark and the body and the mind are in no mood to interact with anybody especially the neighbours next doors.So most of us retreat to our cosy pondoks,houses or bungalows depending on who you are.The frequency of meeting or talking to our neighbours is inversely proportional to the size of one's house (mathematically speaking;-).According to my unqualified survey,if you stay in the pondok- it is almost daily;if you stay in terrace houses or flats- it is about once a month;and if you stay in bungalows(or castles) -it is about once a year, and some never talk to their neighbours!!

Yes,I do believe that we stay in a neighbourhood wherever we are.However,I sometimes asked myself whether I *really* live in a community.In the villages, we have developed the relationship over years since our grandfathers' days,but in the city we hardly know one another except our friends and office mates.Just honestly count the number of people that you personally know within 100 m from your home.

Does real community exist in the urban/city environment?
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Personally,I doubt it.What do you think from your personal experience? According to Islamic teachings,we should treat our next door  neighbours just like our family members. How nice it would be if this is being practised and it will start a nuclear reaction from two families to millions of people all over the world.If that happens, then it is REALLY  a global village.From what is on the ground to-day, it is still a long way to go for the human global village.The worst is that,it may not be moving in that direction.Considering that more than 50% of Malaysians live in urban areas,I would be grateful if we just can achieve  local neighbourhood community in urban environment in the next ten years.

As a member of the community,what should we do?Do not wait for others to do something-remember the song Bangau Oh Bangau?