When still in primary school in the early 1950s, I lived in a poor but tranquil kampong. Life then was very simple yet beautiful. The doors of practically every house were never shut, let alone chained with multi-locks.

I could walk into any house and help myself to a cup of water and walk out again without any one raising a voice. In fact, you would be most welcome to visit any family at any time.

Now, wealth and power are worshiped with unbelievable craze, people crave to become rich and powerful instantly by hook or by crook. Thus, fraudulence and corruption have become rampant, far beyond anybody's control.

A person's worth is now only measured by the amount of money and power he or she possesses, while honesty and trustworthiness have been pushed into a tight corner. A virtuous but impoverished person is often frowned upon, so is a scrupulous and sincere one. But then, who cares?

Well, would you call this progress, a life without quality? Of course, we have extraordinary tall buildings, posh cars and big mansions, but our people had grown mean and cunning, if not downright ultra-selfish and greedy. Relationships are only superficial and skin deep, money is the demi-god.

I have had enough of this so called modern life; I dream of the good old days. Who wouldn't?