Life after retirement usually takes some getting used to. After all, you’ve just ended a routine you’ve likely had for more than 30 years.

However it seems that for politicians, readjusting is a bit harder, as former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam shared in his book ‘Frankly Speaking’.

“Some failed politicians complain about having to answer their own telephones, or open the gate to their own homes when receiving visitors.

“These and other hard luck stories are really quite hilarious,” Musa wrote.

Of course, the former Umno number two also had his own hard luck stories.

One of the perks which he missed after quitting as deputy prime minister, he said, was that whenever he was travelling on business, he didn’t have to do anything but show up.

“Doors would be held open for me, and cars and chauffeurs would be on standby. There were always people to carry my files or luggage.”

However once he quit his very cushy job, Musa said he found that he had to “moderate” his lifestyle significantly.

Not only that, but whenever he was in a rough spot, no one helped, and former friends would run away while saying they want to “catch up” later.

One of the things he had to relearn he said, was how to drive, which he found to be an exciting affair.

“The only real challenge was the task of filling up petrol. I had to call my wife to ask her what to do,” he wrote.

Another challenge was getting around at airports, and learning how to find trolleys and check in himself.

“(But) now I resist any help whatsoever. I find pushing my own trolleys - whether at airports or supermarkets - to be a form of exercise, and this keeps me agile and healthy.

“It was also a salutary reminder that I was just an ordinary person.”

Musa, however, said that he did have some preparation for living life like a regular joe, telling of how he had to buy his own car, a little Fiat, after quitting Tunku Abdul Rahman’s government following the May 13, 1969 riots.

And now that he’s retired, Musa said he has been spending more time playing golf with a small group of friends, in an effort to stay healthy and in touch.

Musa was Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s deputy prime minister for five years from 1981 till 1986.

He quit office after a falling out with Mahathir, due to the latter accusing him of wanting to wrest power and become premier himself.