Demolition

Here's a little poem I adapted from Chinese poet, Jun Er, from her poem entitled "Demolition".

<拆>

到处都在拆老房子
槟城，沙巴，彭亨，霹雳，雪州
到处都在为早日奔小康
宿昔努力
经济如大海
无人幸免于难
经济没有怀旧症
经济没有理想和历史
四合院
古老的寺庙
安邦的小窗和木门
娥麦河岸边的帐篷和老街
到处都在摧毁
大地一片钢筋水泥
哦，比拼高度
比拼华丽
比拼整齐划一
比拼谁能更酷
所过之处
季风扫落叶
片甲无回

And for those who don't read Chinese, here's a simple translation of the poem.

Demolition

Everywhere, Demolishing old houses
Penang, Sabah, Pahang, Perak, Selangor
Everywhere, mad Stampede for rapid Development
Constant battling
The Economy, like an Ocean
Nobody escapes Calamity
The Economy, Unsentimental
The Economy, Unidealistic, Unhistorical
Attap Houses
Ancient Temples
Ampang's little Windows, wooden Doors
Tents, Old Streets on the banks of the Gombak River
Everywhere, Demolition
Everywhere, Reinforced Concrete
Competing in Height
Competing in Opulence
Competing in Uniformity
To be more Cool
Everywhere
Monsoon winds sweep fallen Leaves
No Turning Back

View the meticulously collected and arranged set of photo essays on the plight of the Kg Berembang folks by Malayiakini and Nathaniel Tan here and here.

Read also the latest reports here and here on Malaysiakini, as well as an eye-witness account by Nathaniel here.