Land of Cuti

The country gets a holiday today when the national football team won a minor title for the first time since the inception of the AFF Cup 14 years ago, a regional tournament in South East Asia. Malaysia has been known as one of the country that has the most public holidays. Winning the title is just another excuse not to go to work on the last day of the year 2010.

As I look out from my bedroom widow I noticed cars being park like on normal working days in front of the business office block across the road. I don’t believe they are unaware of the announcement by the Prime Minister on Wednesday night immediately after the match as I believe most of the staff working at the advertising and marketing firms are keen sports followers. Definitely dateline has to be met and year end stock taking cannot be put on hold on the last day of the year. These business concerns also seem to be open on Saturdays which has been declared a holiday in the public sector beginning 2010. So much for the private sector in contrast to the public sector.

Yesterday parents had to change their schedule and rush to school to make arrangement for their school going kid’s fees etc to avoid the inconvenience when schools reopen on the Monday 3 January 2011. When I return from Tanjung Karang early evening yesterday I noticed cars streaming out of the city, may be people are taking time off during the long weekend to greet the New Year away from Klang Valley. Strangely the roads were clogged with vehicles in Subang Jaya, and the supermarkets and shopping centres were crowded.

I suppose everyone one else is in holiday mood except those who has to attend to the datelines and appointments. They expect a holiday be announced when the football team captured the Cup.

The football team grabbed the imagination of the country and retiree like me came out to lend support after a long time. The Prime Minister took advantage of the mood by making the popular announcement to the chagrin of the distracters. Anyway the mainstream media did not bother to entertain their grouses.

Let’s hope the team keep up to their good showing and savour the reception they are getting for doing a good job. Keep in mind the same reception the Italian football team received when they won FIFA World Cup but when they lost the title they were pelted with rotten vegetables and eggs. At least in Malaysia nobody bother to greet them when they failed as mentioned by one of the member of the victorious team.

Enjoy the holiday and Happy New Year.