Independence

It's true that Westerners are more independent. I see it everyday here. Kids are encouraged to be their own "men" since young. And they are expected to leave the family home and find a place of their own once they are out of school.

But it's not only young people who are fiercely independent. A lot of senior citizens and the disabled are equally self-reliant. Many elderly people do their own shopping and drive around without being accompanied by their adult children. They also live on their own or in a retirement village. They don't feel the need to cling on to their children even in their golden years. They seem pretty happy with such an arrangement.

And I have nothing but respect for the disabled who bravely move around with the aid of scooters, power chairs and motorised wheelchairs. Most of them are on solo mode and they seem perfectly capable of doing their daily routines.

I suppose it helps that the government pays huge amounts of benefits for the ederly and the disabled. And also, we have a caring community in the real sense. All shopping areas, offices and public transport vehicles are disabled-friendly and nobody but only the disabled park at parking lots meant for them.

It's not just all talk, there's a lot of action involved too. You'll find most people willing to step in to help anyone in need of help anytime, anywhere.

Becoming independent is so much easier when there's help around. Another thing that Malaysians should've learnt a long time ago.