Take Bob Marley’s advice – Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
Hopped into the car, rolled down the windows, turned up the music and headed off to the islands. It was time to get away from the economic gloom, wars, starvation and human greed. Before the next person I meet says “things couldn’t be worse”. Before the next breaking news story on CNN. As I drove along the coastal highway where time had almost stood still and the South China Sea rolled in like a drunken washerwoman, memories of the ‘good old’ days flooded back like balm on a fevered brow. It wasn’t too long before I arrived at Perhentian Islands and was strolling along the beach to a glorious sunset. As the pristine turquoise waters lapped the shore and a gentle breeze fanned the palm trees, I met a young man sitting on a rock, fishing. I joined him for a chat. Moments later he told me “I wouldn’t swap places for all the tea in China”. It was a phrase I’d heard as a young boy dreaming at the time about who would be my first girlfriend and my first car. So it’s time Malaysians remember, it’s always darkest just before the dawn. All Malaysians in every walk of life have the golden opportunity to tap the wonderful natural resources of the country.
Reflecting upon the words of my fisherman friend let me pass on a few vignettes of simple opportunity. A recent visit to the beautiful Cameron Highlands and a chat with a strawberry farmer revealed that demand exceeded supply. Farming the hill slope land for over 80 years, he could only sell his strawberries to visitors, over 400,000 a year, and hotels in the highlands. He didn’t even have enough strawberries to sell to Kuala Lumpur hotels or supermarkets let alone export. The strawberry market worldwide is in excess of several billion dollars – from jams to syrups. Malaysian strawberries are reputedly some of the best in the world. What an opportunity?
Pineapples.
A recent report by the Australian Scientific Research Center stated that “Malaysian Pineapples are the best in the world – juicy, tasty and most nutritious”. Pop into a supermarket and you see Sarawak pineapples for a RM1.00, next to Philippine pineapples for RM5.00 and Hawaiian pineapples for RM9.00. But what are Malaysian consumers buying? Anything but Malaysian pineapples despite the economic climate. When asked why? The answer, “Not so good lah [Malaysian pineapples].” The pineapple industry worldwide is worth billions of dollars from pineapple juice to canned pineapples.
And then there is the papaya.
Research by world experts claim Malaysian papayas are the best and tastiest. Once again Malaysian consumers preferred choice is an overseas grown papaya. A booming potential market worldwide – untapped. The list of products from the ground goes on and on and on – from pomelos and bean sprouts in Ipoh to pepper in Sarawak, coconuts along all coastlines and flowers and tea in the highlands. Billions of dollars growing naturally and considered the ‘best’ in the world hallmark. Then there’s fish and seafood from the seas and rivers and vegetables from carrots to tomatoes.
Whatever the economic doom and gloom, the world’s population still needs food. Not just any food but healthy food to ‘boot’, as people are becoming more health conscious. So it’s not only oil and gas, banks and silicon chips that can grow an economy. As the fisherman wryly said, “Malaysia is a country blessed”. Potential industries lie relatively untapped that could be turned into multi million dollar industries. All that’s needed is a little entrepreneurial spirit plus a little government guidance and support. From a simple mathematical calculation put together – Malaysia’s natural resources, the agricultural and tourism potential and its manufacturing capabilities – the vision for 2020 can become a reality not a dream. And then all Malaysians can sing together “Don’t Worry Be Happy!”