Tag: children

The Yellow Lake Of Proton City

Nestled within a quiet housing estate in Proton City is a picturesque but deserted park. Risqi, 4 and Rifa, 7, were taking in the the view of the lake from under a gazebo.

Their mother Nani, a science teacher from a school in nearby Kuala Slim, told me the lake was a tin-mining pit. She reckoned the yellowish water was caused by heavy rain the night before.

I was also told by other Tanjung Malim folks that, on weekends, it is a popular place for kite flying and other recreational activities.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f6.3, 1/250 sec.

The Rohingyas On Land – Sugar Baby Love

Such sweet and beautiful people, right? The mother (right) works in a garment shop owned by a Chinese. Her employer allows her to bring her child to work and that is good.

Now, for the bitter reality. Not sure about this family but the many kids born here to refugee parents are also stateless. Currently, such children are not accepted into our public schools.

One Rohingya parent told me she is planning to send her kids to southern Thailand. Schools there accept kids with no papers, it seems. Even then, it is limited to primary education, unfortunately.

She reckons it will still be good as her kids can at least read and write some basic stuff. This too, it is not an option for many as they cannot afford to travel as far.

I understand from another lady that UNHCR provides some form of classes. I hope other NGOs will also step in to help such children. The problem is not unique to the Rohingyas, though. It affects all stateless children.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 1000, f4, 1/60 sec.

Happy People Of Kampung Bilal

Wawa,11, and her friend Mia, 10, riding alongside my car. Love her very contagious smile. Kampung Bilal is a tiny village off Federal Route 1 in Hulu Bernam.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f4, 1/60 sec.

Slow Down: Kids Crossing

The door-to-door ice cream man brings much joy to the children of a village in Ulu Yam. I stopped him to buy and to chat.

It made me feel silly and guilty at the same time. Silly, having had a so-called artisan elderflower-flavoured ‘ais krim potong’ (tube popsicle) for RM 8 ++ at a hipster mall with absurd parking. Guilty, because I am paying less than a ringgit for an equally tasty Wall’s Solero (imitation) here.

Of course, one can argue that many top malls charge RM15K or more for monthly rental of a cart or kiosk. For this mobile ice cream man, his overheads are petrol, dry ice and sweat. Speaking of petrol, I spent less on petrol getting here than for parking at some malls in the city.

Sucking a popsicle, hearing the breeze flapping the leaves of a banana tree. That’s life.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, 4.5, 1/800 sec.