Home After Work In 25 Years example essay topic

by: Woo Tai Kwan (First prize winner in the STAR 25th anniversary essay competition (Category C - adults) Should a fairy godmother suddenly appear before me with a crystal ball, a magic wand and a world atlas, and give me the liberty to select the country I'd like to live in 25 years from now, without a second's hesitation, I would point to that small nondescript, elongated peninsula straddling the equator called Malaysia. The reason is very simple. I firmly feel that 25 years hence, Malaysia would be one of the nicest - if not THE nicest - places to call " home". Let us take a little journey down the corridors of time and cast a glance at the destiny of some of the nations of the world over the past five decades. There is war and famine in some, greed and suffering in others. Quite clearly, Malaysia has reason to stand proud among the countries of the world.

The reis plentiful sunshine and rainfall, while the soil is rich and the harvests plentiful. Even Mother Nature has seen fit to bless Malaysia by exempting her from its tantrums - there are no tsunamis and earthquakes, no floods and droughts, no hurricanes and typhoons. Consequently, there is no need to live in fear of nature's sudden and unabated fury; no need to be constantly on the lookout for unexpected destruction and devastation Freed from the encumbrances of having to battle with the forces of nature, Malaysians are empowered to pursue lifestyles of their own liking. The economy is booming, jobs are for the taking... this is the scenario today and there seems little reason to expect this scenario to change adversely within the next 25 years. In fact, with proper management and leadership, the outlook for Malaysia in the next 25 years may even improve. Just for starters, imagine coming home after a day's work to a spotlessly spick and span house filled with the tantalizing aroma of rich coffee and roast chicken, all waiting to welcome one home...

Which Malaysian housewife-cum-career lady has not dreamed of this before? And yet, this dream may well become a reality just 25 years from now - all because of the winds of technological change, which are sweeping through the country right now. Pping! Just press that little button on your wristwatch 30 minutes before you head home and it'd activate the gamut of gadgets that will start the kettle singing, the rice boiling, the washing machine churning and the vacuum cleaner vs. rooming, and hey presto, all those tiresome household chores would be done before you can say Abracadabra! Ridiculous, you say? Well, with the setting up of the headquarters of computer giants in the Multimedia Super Corridor and the pace of development of artificial intelligence being what it is today, everything and anything is possible, and I, for one, am most definitely looking forward to some exciting changes in our lifestyles within the next 25 years.

And as we get into our cars and head towards home, we can rest tranquil in the knowledge that there will be no apoplexy-inducing traffic jams to brave through just to get out of the city - thanks to the network of Light Rail Transit criss-crossing the country and the emergence of monorail taxis which have taken the pain out of public transportation. Going home after work in 25 years " time would be a real pleasure as one breezes down three tiered superhighways, drinking in the kaleidoscope of changing scenery leading out of the Kuala Lumpur City Center and enjoying the sight of the interesting architectural landmarks sprouting up all over the country. Twenty-five years hence, the choice of homes would also be more varied. There would be bigger, more spacious low-cost homes for the economically less able and luxuriously furnished condominiums replete with swimming pool, gym, sauna for those so inclined.

And for those who favour the country way of life, think of what a heady experience going home everyday will be - speeding along jam-free highways to the sprawling country home nestled amidst green, rolling plains. Twenty-five years from now would also see a tremendous boost to the standard of life in Malaysia. Naturally, all this would come with a price to pay -there would be a commensurable increase in the cost of living too. However, this would be cushioned by the increase in the earning power of Malaysians brought about by the mushrooming of small and medium scale industries in the country in the aftermath of the 1998 Commonwealth Games, as well as by the further maturing of the secondary and tertiary sectors. The automobile industry in Malaysia would probably be in its element in 25 years' time, with a whole series of cars, vans and trucks, launched both locally and abroad, to its credit and plans afoot to move on to move on to even bigger projects. Translated into practical terms, all these means greater revenue for the country and its people.

There would also be great inroads in the education system in Malaysia. The seeds for changes have already been sown. The introduction of flex i timetables, revamping of school curricula to incorporate attempts to inculcate creativity and thinking skills, the introduction of computer literacy in all schools in the near future are all designed to breathe new life into schools. Most definitely, the implementation of and conferencing would mean that classrooms become literally border less. The sector, which stands to gain most, is the rural sector, as rural schools will be brought into the mainstream of educational development. Given the current impetus, it is highly likely that Malaysia would be internationally recognized as a centre of educational excellence by the 2020's, and would play a leading role in the dissemination of training at least in the East Pacific rim.

All this would unleash a multitude of learning opportunities and avenues for both young and old a swell as result in the gathering of a group of highly intellectual academicians in the country. Needless to say, this would make Malaysia a most attractive place to be in. But the crowning glory of it - the single most distinctive factor that will make Malaysia the best place to live in 25 years from now - lies in the government's genuine efforts to build a heart for the country. The umbrella blessings of Mother Nature, the winds of technological change permeating all strata of Malaysian life - all this would come to naught if a society has no heart.

In this sense, the government's attempts to develop a caring society are most commendable. Twenty-five years hence, these efforts would have begun to bear fruit. Palliative and geriatric care has already made itself felt while halfway houses for abandoned babies and abused children are increasing by the day. The groundwork for inculcating the caring attitude among Malaysians has already been laid with the move towards developing caring schools. Traditional values like thrift, hard work, respect for the aged and filial piety are being upheld as exemplary values which can hold the fibre of Malaysian society together. The voices of people like Marina Mahathir calling for tolerance and understanding for those most in need of moral support are like beacons in the dark, lighting the way towards the creation of the highest of all societies - that with a conscience.

Ultimately, the country, which would be best to live in, would be that which enjoys technological growth from without and strong moral and spiritual development from within. And it is exactly this factor which makes me firmly believe that Malaysia will be the best place to live in 25 years from now.