AlwaysWoW! For a Great Great WoW in Life

I get local salary, I pay tax, I use local goods and services.

I think I have as much right to complain as anyone else does!

Jamil - hehe, I didnt say that those mentioned are complainers. Those were the blogs by Mat Sallehs that came to my mind. Sorry.

Mei, Dhana and Jenn - I actually agree with you. But there is also a difference between constructive nagging and nagging for the sake of nagging. And I think, that you, Jenn, have one like that in your condo. It is sad that there are so many that nag and complain without any involvement in the country as well.

Adam - that is one of those perceptions of Mat Sallehs. Even so it is not always true. Many, many times expats are paid local cash. But not necessarily those that live here only for 2 years, for work (also, again, this might also be a perception of mine)

Percolator - I agree. There is too much whining and bitching and nagging going on. and I think that those who do that should also come up with some form of solution - implementable solution. What do you think? I actually believe that Malaysia has a huge potential, is a great country, where it is fun to live. You still can move things. Otherwise, would I still be here, after all that years?

Ivy - as usual, a great comment :)

im just glad i wasnt on that list of MATSALLEH complainers.

i just realized my comment is 100 times longer than the entry. if ur lazy (like i am) just read the last paragraph. lol.

I think this is playing into the "Asians are inferior to Whites" mentality. Why must it be more grave if Mat Sallehs complain as opposed to Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian or Mainland Chinese? I think any foreigner can complain as they wish. It's not only reserve for Whites.

EG. Me. As soon I landed in Detroit, I started complaining all the way to Toronto. The jets, the service, the airports are no comparison to their Asian counterparts. 8 months after living in Toronto, I still find a lot to complain about. My roommate came in running and told me, OMG, I GOT A PICTURE PHONE. I was like, oh awesome! I'm so happy for u! I was actually thinking, we have 3 megapixel phones with video recording capabilities, 3G and bluetooth. (Samsung Anycall) Hahaha. And I've never learnt to appreciate the LRT until I saw the Toronto Trasit Commission. The TTC is more efficient true, but our conductors don't go on strike for 41 days and our trains aren't 50 years old.

I bitched when I went to England too. Those lazy people have their tea. A couple hours later, they're closed. It's bloody 4 o clock!! In Malaysia, malls close at 11, and in Genting and almost 2am.

As you can see it's a just culture and environmental shock. It's something that I've known and taken for granted for all my life. To realize that other countries don't work like that is really frustrating sometimes. I'm sure it's like that for those Mat Sallehs too. In their country security would have been an important issue (especially NYC). Being Malaysian, I know security had never been my forte and I would at most give the security and the management so shit. I know they'd be apathetic about it anyway. So I forget about it the next day.

Now you see, it's seriously got nothing to do with ethnicity, status or the money earned. I don't understand why host country people are so bitter about it (jealousy I know). My friends were in Ampang Coffee Bean. There were 20 of them. Of course they were gonna be a bit loud. This 200 pounder came up to them and started screaming at them. "You Americans come here and take all our money and not you act like you're the boss making so much noise like it's yours. Get out of my country".

Let's get this straight, not everyone there was American. They are 14-17 year olds - they know nothing. The guy just went there screaming and throwing chairs at my friends. Until this Malaysian kid's parent from my school chased him out.

Sometimes I think it's not that the Mat Sallehs who complain too much, it's the people from the host country that are not welcoming enough.

People need to understand that the Mat Sallehs there are not there to steal your jobs. They're there to lend their expertise to the host country because the host country do not have someone of the caliber. In the end of the day, the Mat Sallehs boost the economy while the host country gets learn some stuff from them. It's a win-win situation.

Okay to make a long comment short: I'm saying you don't have to be White to bitch about your host country. You just need to be an expat. And - it's not a crime to bitch because it's just the environmental changes that they cannot adapt to.

Phew. hahaha

do you mean 'nag' or do you really mean 'bitch/whinge/complain' or such?

Anyway, we have M'sians living in M'sia complaining about M'sia and those living abroad complaining about M'sia.

Kids complain about 'toxic' parents, parents lament their bratty ungrateful kids, people complaining about the govt, and vice versa... all manner of 'nag' complain.. whatchamacallit.. whether or not valid/legitimate/true/deserved.

I see no earthly reason why angmohs can't complain about M'sia - whether or not legitimate-blah-bla, is subject to perception, as is all else.

So go on, let loose.... but be mindful that you are responsible for any consequences... as with everything else in life, anywhere in this world, IRL or in blogosphere.

Everyone should be free to complain about any of their grouses (sp?) irrespective of whether they are an expat or local. Just because you were born somewhere else or hold a different passport, doesn't mean you should shut up and eat shit when it's given to you. Just me' two cents.

Well! The general concept of a "matsalleh" is of an expat working in a MNC, getting loads of money without working much, living in a condo, driving a big car and partying the nights away. So according to many Malaysians I know their reply is "who are they to complain?" ;-)
However, I disagree with that.

Depends on the nag I guess. If it is valid and constructive, I would take it into consideration. Otherwise, I would just ignore it.

Sure. I have a New Yorkian in our condo who complains the hell out of the security.

And he's from New York!