Living in Harmony

Two days ago, my hubby was telling me this story about one of his Malay office friend's fortune (or misfortune, rather). I feel compelled to write about it. Read on, and you will understand why.

My hubby's friend, let's name him B (I really didn't ask my hubby what his friend's name was..). Now, B came across this notice for auction of a double-storey terrace somewhere. (Again, I didn't ask for the whereabouts of this particular house). But anyway, the auctioneer was RHB Bank.

Keen on owning a property, B took the opportunity to take part in the auction. It went well for him I guess, with him being the new owner of the double-storey terrace. B was ecstatic as he would soon have a place he could call his own.

Immediately after the auction, B went to view the property. You would not have believed what he found..

The house was there alright, but it wasn't an empty house. B found much to his horror, that there were still occupants living in the house! Wanting to find out what was going on, I mean, he did get the house, and the address was correct and all, B then decided to ring the doorbell. A man came out (the previous owner of the house), whom had defaulted on their mortgage with RHB Bank. Puzzled with B's presence, the man then asked what B wanted.

B explained albeit nervously (not knowing how the man would react) - that HE now was THE legal owner of the house and had just purchased the house when he took part in the auction held earlier that day by the mortgagor (Mortgagor la kan, the bank?). Further details of what was discussed here is not known.

Anyway, B mentioned that he had wanted to occupy the house, but seeing that the man's own family was still staying there, B would allow some time for them to pack their things and vacate the house. They were supposed to have vacate the house by last weekend. (The weekend of 13th & 14th Sept 2008).

So last Sunday - B went to visit his house again. This time, as promised by the man - the house was vacant. But it wasn't just vacant. It was vacant and DAMAGED.

B went in and found the following - Most Walls upstairs and downstairs had been spray painted with words of profanity. All Ceiling Fans had been bent. All Lighting fixtures had been broken and been taken out. Walls were also bashed exposing bricks underneath. Tiles and flooring (upstairs & downstairs, kitchen & bathroom) had also been damaged and broken. The kitchen sink was removed. And all toilet bowls and wash basins in the toilets were broken.

Not happy with the turn of events, the man had obviously thought - since he could not own the house - why should he make it any easy for B to own it, right? So la typical this Hasad Dengki antara Melayu. I really don't understand it lah.

It seems to me that these 'hasad dengki' has always been prevalent within the Malay community. Believe you me, I have heard many stories about this Malay hasad dengki (in my husband's family also got..) but you won't hear it from any other la. I don't know.

When it comes to preaching Kita Bangsa Melayu whatever, bukan main. But the basic virtues - for instance, Respect and Honour tak ada langsung! You'd expect it'd be the Malays who would be the ones who are always catching their fellow Malays' backs. But yet, they'd lash out too and at their very own. Very sad indeed.

I really kesian B. But am glad to find out from my hubby that B isn't just sitting still with what has happened. To date, he's already lodged a police report and is also considering legal action too against the very bank for auctioning a house which was not vacant. I agree that he's got a reason for considering legal actions, but with our 'super efficient' judiciary - I really dont think he will be relieved or compensated anytime soon la. It would be a long wait for him and I would have probably blogged into the thousands by then. In any case - I wish him all the best in the meantime.