Water Crisis: The Malaccan Experience
The final countdown started ticking away as the gritty Gulf War oscalation blanketed the whole world. In one part of this globe, in a suburban town in the Asian region, the anxious eyes were given to the television set as they sparkled with curiosity. The much-awaited moment has made the advert and flamboyant voices played the prelude March. But ... ... but ... ... extinguish the flames, ... ... stops ... ... collaborate and listen ! The newsman is on air.
"Now we bring the latest news from the Malacca Water Authority (MWA). Water rationing will be imposed with immediate effect from tomorrow onwards due to the current day spell".
The newsman certainly punctuated at atmosphere and was answered by sights of frustration. The war thrills were suddenly dimmed; brought to a momentary pause. I turned back. Water-rationing in Malacca ! No big deal, at the most, it may just last about a day or two. Who cares ? If those brave soldiers in the Gulf region can fight in bone-dry deserts and in waterless and thirsty conditions, why should I worry about cutting down my water consumption ? No problem man, no problem !
That night, I collected an adequate supply of water filling bottles, kettles and and all my pails security retired with a sense of comfortable. However, this 'security' was shattered by gossips in my neighbourhood that the water supply will be at-off for many days.
For the first time in my life, the so-called 'multiloquence' was right.The very next day, there was not even a trickle of water from the dry, yawning taps. The days of gushing and running water out of the taps were over.
Today, the freedom to use as much water as you please has turned into confinement. Even water used for brushing teeth is rationed to a glass. After each pee, the patinent questioned is "To flush, or not to flush ?" My foot-caterer even passed a note stating that she could not continue to supply my meals until the whole situation was back to normal. Citing the water shortage as her excuse. On the brighter side, I began to put into practice the cooking lesson learned in the living skills classes. As for my supply of water, I would have to depend on the well nearby, a reliable source for generations.
Problem solved. Easy eh ? Not so fast ? Later in the day, as I was taking an evening stroll in my neighbourhood, my peace was rudely abrupted by the loud roar of a water tanker and suddenly hordes people throng the area from nowhere with the wildest assortment of containers ranging from oil tins to giant plastic basins. The authoritative-looking tanker worker rounded his waist with a huge hose to evenly distribute the 'human feel'. The crowd gradually merled away when they had either had their containers filled or when they has appeared too late.
Empty clothes-lines stretch bare under the rays of the burning sunlight and trails of water hoses shake their way from house to house. Stacks of pails, jam cans, drums and containers lined the roadsides, awaiting the arrival of 'rescue'. As the evening turned to inky darkness, those with great patience would keep vigil throughout the night.
Waiting throughout the night for water supply or washing up at the dawn to great the days of rationing hours. Malaccans had to fine-tube their daily routing to revolve around tankers and taps over the last few months. Patience was more often than not to stretched, frustration mounted and tempers frayed. One was at one's wit end to cope with the special hands of the infant, the infirm and elderly.
Bemoan too, the woes of the housewives - the water crisis had taken its toll on their health, wealth and breath. Backaches, torn-muscles and over-bordered ligaments and complaints were profusely shared among housewives. Some have to dig deep into their pockets to buy bigger and bigger containers while some who (overloaded) themselves ended up into the hospital beds.
The fac-file on the water crisis remains slim in the absence of any plausible explanation to date. However, the theory file burgeons with causes ranging from pollution to poor management and ....
At the hardware shops, price-tags were monked up for all containers mainly due to the sudden demand over the limited supply. Imagine-one had to chip in ten dollars for just a medium-size pail. Even the newsvendor from who I usually, get daily papers had a huge poster hanging from his ceiling, in bold print, it was written, "BALDI ADA DIJUAL DI SINI !" (PAILS ARE SOLD HERE) Enterprising way to make a fast buck !
Looking from a different angle, this water crisis has brought about a new awareness in the importance of water. In the midst of the moaning and grumbling over the water shortage, every trickle and gurgle of water was measured. Yes, water has claimed a respected place it will no longer be taken for granted.
It was a prevalent scene of people from all races and walks of life to come together to share and collaborate to ....
Pg 214 and 215, the Optimist 1991, Issue 70
"Now we bring the latest news from the Malacca Water Authority (MWA). Water rationing will be imposed with immediate effect from tomorrow onwards due to the current day spell".
The newsman certainly punctuated at atmosphere and was answered by sights of frustration. The war thrills were suddenly dimmed; brought to a momentary pause. I turned back. Water-rationing in Malacca ! No big deal, at the most, it may just last about a day or two. Who cares ? If those brave soldiers in the Gulf region can fight in bone-dry deserts and in waterless and thirsty conditions, why should I worry about cutting down my water consumption ? No problem man, no problem !
That night, I collected an adequate supply of water filling bottles, kettles and and all my pails security retired with a sense of comfortable. However, this 'security' was shattered by gossips in my neighbourhood that the water supply will be at-off for many days.
For the first time in my life, the so-called 'multiloquence' was right.The very next day, there was not even a trickle of water from the dry, yawning taps. The days of gushing and running water out of the taps were over.
Today, the freedom to use as much water as you please has turned into confinement. Even water used for brushing teeth is rationed to a glass. After each pee, the patinent questioned is "To flush, or not to flush ?" My foot-caterer even passed a note stating that she could not continue to supply my meals until the whole situation was back to normal. Citing the water shortage as her excuse. On the brighter side, I began to put into practice the cooking lesson learned in the living skills classes. As for my supply of water, I would have to depend on the well nearby, a reliable source for generations.
Problem solved. Easy eh ? Not so fast ? Later in the day, as I was taking an evening stroll in my neighbourhood, my peace was rudely abrupted by the loud roar of a water tanker and suddenly hordes people throng the area from nowhere with the wildest assortment of containers ranging from oil tins to giant plastic basins. The authoritative-looking tanker worker rounded his waist with a huge hose to evenly distribute the 'human feel'. The crowd gradually merled away when they had either had their containers filled or when they has appeared too late.
Empty clothes-lines stretch bare under the rays of the burning sunlight and trails of water hoses shake their way from house to house. Stacks of pails, jam cans, drums and containers lined the roadsides, awaiting the arrival of 'rescue'. As the evening turned to inky darkness, those with great patience would keep vigil throughout the night.
Waiting throughout the night for water supply or washing up at the dawn to great the days of rationing hours. Malaccans had to fine-tube their daily routing to revolve around tankers and taps over the last few months. Patience was more often than not to stretched, frustration mounted and tempers frayed. One was at one's wit end to cope with the special hands of the infant, the infirm and elderly.
Bemoan too, the woes of the housewives - the water crisis had taken its toll on their health, wealth and breath. Backaches, torn-muscles and over-bordered ligaments and complaints were profusely shared among housewives. Some have to dig deep into their pockets to buy bigger and bigger containers while some who (overloaded) themselves ended up into the hospital beds.
The fac-file on the water crisis remains slim in the absence of any plausible explanation to date. However, the theory file burgeons with causes ranging from pollution to poor management and ....
At the hardware shops, price-tags were monked up for all containers mainly due to the sudden demand over the limited supply. Imagine-one had to chip in ten dollars for just a medium-size pail. Even the newsvendor from who I usually, get daily papers had a huge poster hanging from his ceiling, in bold print, it was written, "BALDI ADA DIJUAL DI SINI !" (PAILS ARE SOLD HERE) Enterprising way to make a fast buck !
Looking from a different angle, this water crisis has brought about a new awareness in the importance of water. In the midst of the moaning and grumbling over the water shortage, every trickle and gurgle of water was measured. Yes, water has claimed a respected place it will no longer be taken for granted.
It was a prevalent scene of people from all races and walks of life to come together to share and collaborate to ....
Pg 214 and 215, the Optimist 1991, Issue 70
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