Holla everyone…

Neighbours by Robert Raymer
This story depicts the life of Malaysian multicultural people that live in the same neighbourhood area, live together with harmony. This story easy to understands because the way the writer wrote the story by using Malaysian context of language and we familiar with the lifestyle of Malaysian people.

When we scan through the event in the story, it is common situations that happen in Malaysia. Here, we can see how the characters playing their roles to light up the event. It is good as neighbours helping each other if among of them face problems. Just like what happen to Johnny Leong. His neighbours, Mr. Koh and Mr. Tan willing to sent him to the hospital. Even though their helpful but still not very good. They like to gossiping, talking something bad about Johnny’s family. They look concerned but actually all of them are nosy.

They just know how to gossiping but when it’s come to the turn whose going to tells Veronica about Johnny’s condition everybody refuse. They just go back to their home without any feeling of responsibility towards him.

That’s all…..

Holla jake

I agreed when you said this story depicts about multicultural issues in our society today. Within one day of setting, it's enough to described about Malaysian people and their lifestyle.

bye...

Neighbours.

This story is depicted a session for ‘busybody’ people who are living together as a neighbour for updating knowledge about the environment and for releasing their tension maybe. Nevertheless this session is more shortcoming than compensation. Everybody was just talking but have no actions. Mrs Koh libelied Johnny’s family live for gambling besides her husband and Mr Tan do help their neighbours who need a help. Miss Chee was a good listener and Dr. Nathan, the selfish dentist only worried for his business.

Malaysian people could be interpreted as ‘muhibbah’ or mixed and very comfortable with multicultural and multiracial life. Otherwise Malaysians are very ‘united’. They love to gathered in a place and discuss from heart to heart. They never bothered to mix with other races as we can seen in this story., However they are discussing or more to gossiping about their own neighbours. They are gaining much complete information and more to adding irrational information; rumors. Obviously, Malaysian could be interpreted eager to discuss problems but hard to solve it.

The main concerns in this story could be the spirit of neighborhood; the two men brought Johnny to the hospital, the tolerance and about helping each other. Nevertheless, not all Malaysian people are back talking and arrogant. There still have a concern with environment and people around them.

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SLYDONGWOOK

Hi there Mad'dam.....

Yes, you are right...The story does depicts the attitudes of Malaysian people especially those who live in a neighbourhood like in the story. This is the common scenarion that happen in our life. I'm not saying that everyone in Malaysia has that attitude. Like what have Mad'dam said just now, we cannot overgeneralize it. Yes, it's true sometime, but not all the time.... As far as I can see, the situation does happen. Thank you..

Bubyezz....

Chack!!!
It’s me again…

Robert Raymer in his story Neighbours tried to portrayed a real life of Malaysian citizens. Talking about people of Malaysia, something obvious we can see the people that busy body. This kind of habit Raymer want to highlights in the story.

Not only that, we can see how people of Malaysia that too hectic with their jobs and life make them not recognize their own neighbours who live beside their house. In this story, clearly we can see Mr. Nathan, Tan, Miss Chee and Ramli know that they are neighbours when they gathered in front of Johnny’s house. That is common problem faced by Malaysian people especially they that live in the neighbourhood area in the big city. But not all the Malaysian people like that!.

That’s all..ADIOS

The word ‘neighbour’ plays a significant role in this story. It brings the meaning of the person who lives next to you. Many of us live in residential neighbourhood but some of you don’t even know who is living next to you. It really happens in some urban areas especially KL areas. For instance, they don’t greet each other when they run into somebody on the street. Perhaps they have no idea who he or she is. Every one treats each other like strangers. These kinds of people are not concerned with the things happen around them. How terrible this sort of life we are living in! The problem arises when you need urgent favour from somebody else, they will hesitate about helping you out. Be frank, are you going to help a person whom has no connection with you at all?

However, after reading this story, I realized that this community really has good connection in term of their relationship. You can see how bad Mrs. Koh is depicted in the story, but it indicates that she is bothered to know every thing in her surroundings even though she is very talkative and busybody. Without racial prejudice, everyone join into the conversation. They are close to each other and live in harmonious neighbourhood. I think gossiping is a way to release stress in this story. The hectic life and pressure drive them into gossiping. Everybody get to know the latest gossip of each other after gathering. Do u agree?

As you can see in the story, the characteristic are totally different between Ramli and Johnny. Johnny, who was narrow-minded, committed suicide to get rid of the problems he encountered. He was unable to cope with the problem, therefore he decided to end his life. In contrast, Ramli was optimistic in thinking, able to see the things from different perspectives when facing problems. When you are able to do so, the situation comes naturally better than before. Every one has their own difficulties, as long as you know how to deal with that, the problem will be settled.

Taboo is another issue found in this story. In Chinese culture, the word ‘death’ is regarded as an offensive remarks especially during Chinese New year as it brings the bad luck. The thing in red colour is believed to bring prosperity. Living in such multiracial society, we need to be aware of this cultural taboo. Communication is important to develop an understanding community.

chee chak!! to rini84...
haha

MAlaysian people are really 'concerned' with other people. thats the thing Raymer centralized in his story. i'm not saying that all people are busy body but mostly cannot stop themselves from gaining information about another human being. people are highly respected if they desired to know others' problem and help them to solve it. the harassment in Lubnan for instance.
unfortunately, people are more attracted to hear gossips and alas, they blindly believe rumors than facts.

Come on Malaysians!
All people around the world are watching us!!!

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SLYDONGWOOK

hi,Pang! you definitely expressed what i wanted to say. Mrs. Koh is a big-mouth lady exactly how the writer describes her. she always wants to show off that her husband is the one who saved Johnny's life. Anyway, Mr. Koh is a humble person. He attempts to clarify that it is Tan who heard Johnny's groaning. Both of them are very generous in the story. I wonder how come these two different characters can be a couple. But may be there are some reasons behind the marriage. No love in their marrige??? Or because of money ??? what do u think?

Hello pang yau Caiwun!

Robert Raymer has circuitously depict the modern women of Malaysia. Even if you said that Mrs. Koh was a friendly to the people around her yet she was a bit chatterbox. There is something wrong with Mrs Koh who spreading the gossips on Johnny. In what circumstances Mrs. Koh attracted to Johnny till it keeps her to gossip on him? On top of that, it shows that the people in story are tend to fill their afternoon up with their ‘mini-forum’ and talk nothing but rumors.

It also show the Malaysian today still believe in superstitious things.
"And you had to put him in our BRAND NEW CAR!" Mrs. Koh said. "Just imagine if he died there. All the bad luck it'd bring, and with the New Year just around the corner! We'd have to sell it, and it's not even two months old!"

Well, this is the colour of our modern Malaysia.

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