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  1. #26
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    panama hat's Avatar
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    Interesting . . . when exactly did the Communists take over in Penang? And how do the "Mussies" have 'the run of the place' now?

    Please don't turn into a Backspit-historian

  2. #27
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    The commies where in a gorilla campaign to oust GB from the late forties early fifties,
    When I was there in the late sixties, was Buddah shrines everywhere. I was 3-4 years old and can still remember, Now most in government are Muslim, You live there now, you should know about the history with GB and Thailand.
    Religious Beliefs In Malaysia - WorldAtlas

    Malayan Emergency - Wikipedia

  3. #28
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    The one thing about Malaya that I will never forget is the monny drains, Thats what they were called back then, pronounced as I spelled it, was an open sewerage/stormwater drain that ran down the side of the street, Never forget my mom backed the car out one morning and got the back wheel stuck, the neighbors helped lift and push her out.
    All my memories are fond ones, I remember being fascinated by crabs that climb coconut trees and those weird prehistoric things swam up to the wall at the tennis courts,

    Last edited by havnfun; 20-08-2021 at 05:20 AM.

  4. #29
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    Malaya in 1967-1968,(Panang)
    Butterworth, presumably. I was there in 1982, and shacked up with two young, female aussie schoolteachers I met at a restaurant in Batu Ferringhi. Good days- you could say Malaysia was my second home for a while.

  5. #30
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    Sure, I know the history but communists were never in charge of Penang, nor are the Malays now and Buddhist temples still are everywhere as it is a Chinese-majority state, led by a Chinese Chief Minister and the majority-Chinese DAP.

    The gutters still exist because of the frequent storms - storm drains . . . what is at times disgusting are the normal longkang - gutters that are filled with rotting vegetation.

    There are three non-Muslim-majority states; Penang, Sabah, Sarawak

  6. #31
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    gutters that are filled with rotting vegetation.
    Raw sewage too (or used to be). The 'Grand Canal' of Batu Ferringhi was utterly putrid- and came out on the beach right next to the upmarket ShangriLa & Golden Sands hotel. The well heeled tourists didn't seem to mind- maybe they just didn't know about it, from their luxury enclave- but I wouldna dip my toe in the sea there (further down the beach, ok). Judging by the number of them, water monitors do not mind filthy water!

    ^ Those commies never got Penang, but they did get Gov. Gurney!

  7. #32
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    Butterworth, presumably
    Sabang got it on the spot. That's the RAAF base dad was stationed at, Mirage engine fitter

  8. #33
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    Sure, I know the history but communists were never in charge of Penang, nor are the Malays now and Buddhist temples still are everywhere as it is a Chinese-majority state, led by a Chinese Chief Minister and the majority-Chinese DAP.

    The gutters still exist because of the frequent storms - storm drains . . . what is at times disgusting are the normal longkang - gutters that are filled with rotting vegetation.

    There are three non-Muslim-majority states; Penang, Sabah, Sarawak
    I'm talking from memory of a 4 year old kid, I may have mixxed up Panang and Butterworth, but I can distinctly remember Buddhism being the dominant religion back then. The commies took over,is an exaggeration,(but that's me) They came to an agreement is more precise.

  9. #34
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    The well heeled tourists didn't seem to mind- maybe they just didn't know about it,
    Kinda reminds me of Bondi beach in the 1980's

    The nightly news helicopters would fly over and film the huge brown slick of water floating past the beach. those poor tourists had no idea.

    Me and me mates never went in the water, we went there to pick up chicks.
    Will never forget this French chick, was really hot and spoke so sexy.
    Last edited by havnfun; 20-08-2021 at 06:03 AM.

  10. #35
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    Especially when the sewage workers were on strike! I lived in Bondi back then- south Bondi, fortunately. Tamarama was my beach.

  11. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    I can distinctly remember Buddhism being the dominant religion back then
    It still is in Penang . . .


    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    Kinda reminds me of Bondi beach in the 1980's
    You're a Sydney-kid as well?

  12. #37
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    Especially when the sewage workers were on strike! I lived in Bondi back then- south Bondi, fortunately.


    LOL

  13. #38
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    You're a Sydney-kid as well?
    No mate I'm a westie, can't ya tell

  14. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    No mate I'm a westie, can't ya tell
    Didn't want to say . . . plus, anything past Edgecliff is 'west'.

  15. #40
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    How are you going to go now with this new requirement? Seems a bit harsh to retro it, How many expats have already put a lot of financial planning into retiring there, let alone the ones that bought property. Hopefully they will re-think (like Thai often does) and at least grandfather those already invested.

  16. #41
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    and at least grandfather those already invested.
    They most certainly should- but will they?

  17. #42
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    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    How are you going to go now with this new requirement?
    For me it's not an issue as I have a spouse visa - my wife is Malaysian, so property etc... is fine. (For now, as she isn't Malay) Though there are restrictions on peninsular Malaysians I have enough contacts in Sabah to potentially make Kota Kinabalu our retirement place - best place in the tropical world as far as I'm concerned and our plan for a long time.

    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    How many expats have already put a lot of financial planning into retiring there, let alone the ones that bought property.
    Quite a few and renewal of visas is being held up even for people inside the country, but that has more likely to do with travel restrictions and covid. . . hopefully.
    We have friends who are 'only' partners, not married . . . for over 20 years. They have a daughter, she is Malaysian and he's a Brit who used to work as an airline mechanic at MAS. He was laid off when they started cutting down on foreign engineers (rightly so, I believe) and they had to move back to the UK, which they all hated with a passion. They want to return but can't get him a long-term visa at the moment.

    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    Hopefully they will re-think (like Thai often does) and at least grandfather those already invested.
    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    They most certainly should- but will they?
    Having worked with the department in question I can only conclude that it's either politically motivated (though the 'why' eludes me) or political incompetence . . . in other words an unforeseen consequence of something else.

  18. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    renewal of visas is being held up even for people inside the country
    A couple of my friends in Penang got their MM2H visas renewed fairly recently, no problem at all. No one saw this coming.

    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    politically motivated
    The general feeling amongst the expats I know seems to be that the ougoing PM wanted to display his Malay-first credentials by kicking the expats where it hurts. One of the potential replacements is known as being more welcoming to international residents, although the political mess there is so convoluted that I am not hopeful this issue will get anyone's attention.

  19. #44
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shutree View Post
    potential replacements is known as being more welcoming to international residents
    Ismail Subri or Anwar? I’m not sure either are expat friendly.

  20. #45
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    It's Sabri . . . just appointed by the Agong/King . . . and UMNO is back in power without the people voting for them.

  21. #46
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    It's Sabri . . . just appointed by the Agong/King . . . and UMNO is back in power without the people voting for them.
    Reckon the good Doctor had something to do with this?
    Doesn't matter much. This too shall pass shortly.

  22. #47
    Thailand Expat havnfun's Avatar
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    I'm hoping that they do the same in Thailand soon, will get rid of all the rifraf

    I said to my wife a few years ago about what those blokes in Thailand had to do to prove their money, "They should just drive their wife and kids to the immigration office and say, "you take care of them now, I have to go home" she said they won't listen. But I bet if a thousand expats with wives and kids did it all on the same day, They would listen.
    Last edited by havnfun; 27-09-2021 at 03:38 AM.

  23. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    When I was working with Tourism Malaysia we were working on policies to help Dept. o Immi make Malaysia a more attractive place to retire - an update to the MM2H. Lots of good plans and ideas, locations and policies. Some were introduced, others were not.

    Malaysia always is compared to Thailand but the sought after retiree is very different from Thailand . . . as are tourists in general.

    They've dropped the ball here, but at end of the day immigration/retirement is not a right, it's a privilege . . . says the man with a spouse visa.
    It is also a long term arrangement,Thus the term "retirement", it is an implied contract to which one party is not performing.
    But such seems to be the case with this "Mickey Mouse" countries which is why I would never retire in any of them unless I can secure permanent residency status.
    What has happened in Malaysia can happen in Thailand at any time.
    We are only given a one year extension, which means we are temporary residents.
    I was reading about the new scheme to attract wealthy retirees to Thailand based on investment, but it only would provide a five year visa, and it said the scheme will be reviewed in five years.
    Really?? I will uproot myself , set up a life in Thailand , and make a substantial investment, based on a five year promise?
    I built the house here in Thailand only so my wonderful wife would have a place hereafter I am gone. but I trust Thailand also , as far as I can spit.
    PS: If one wants to retire outside their own country, plenty of countries out there that with a modest investment one can secure permanent residency and a road to citizenship within a few years.
    The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

  24. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai View Post
    A lot of people have bet their lives on their retirement in their country of choice, Old age and all the associated challenges that go with that require stability, and not this flip flop Mickey Mouse county policies.
    Very important point, the willingness , ability to move should be respected in old age.These are not billionaires , regular folks who have domne a deal I looked at MM2H but a Thai fiend rightly said they are no more trustworthy than us or the British when it comes to treaties and doing teh honourabel thng.


    The Malays have behaved appallingly.Few new MM2H can be expected and those forced to leave at great expense, loss upset will spread the word.

    Perhaps PH gas some insight , while whitey may be suspect and I have spent years in Malaysia, mainly albeit Chinese dominated Penang suggest the most suspect are the nouveau riche Manland Chinese, who the Racist bigots of the islamic ethnic UMNO Bumis are afeared of hordes more cashed up or agent fiddle residency Chinese changing their grip and losing ther nation as happened here.

    It is almost taboo to point at the Tcheow Chao moet lenders and who ther courtesans married. The Chinese saw what happened n Cholon and Indonesia where they were looted and discriminated against by the mad mullahs.

  25. #50
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    Quote Originally Posted by havnfun View Post
    Just trying to inspire some rigorous discussion cyssil

    Bottom line is that the Embassies of all affected countries should be arguing against the changes or at least tell Malaysia, "We will impose the same conditions on any of your citizens".
    Very very few Malaysians have the loot to retire even in malaysia, the few that are seriosly rich always find a away. If it wasnt for my 2 dozen Songkhla sharia wives down on my Somtam planations or in the Massaman factoy I'd be reduced to shirking for a living. I know I know one wife is enough for any man but they came by the crate full from Rohinghystan with no sale or return claws, ther egood lasses eager to meet clean living Westerners for long game.

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