Deal With It

There's so much anger concerning the toll hike and the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) issue right now. Maybe things are not all that rosy.

When Johor announced that it was changing the state's rest days to Friday and Saturday starting January 1, 2014, that left many baffled. Among the concerns was that the change would affect work, investments, family time, as it was not the same as other states and Singapore.

Currently only Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have rest days on Friday and Saturday.  Before 1994, Johor had Friday and Saturday as rest days. 

The people have probably gotten used to the change by now, and life goes on.

Then came the controversial Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014 issue that also got a lot of people talking about it.

And now it's the VEP and toll hike issue that have garnered criticisms even from some veteran Barisan Nasional lawmakers. Of course Malaysians who work in Singapore and those who have relatives across the Causeway will be really really pissed with the massive toll hike.

For Malaysians working in Singapore, driving in and out of the Causeway beginning August 1 is going to cost them about RM2,200 (just toll and VEP). Singaporean families who come to Johor Bahru for a meal, for a car wash, haircut, grocery shopping would probably reduce the frequency of their trips to JB.

Change is the only constant. No matter how unhappy you feel about these changes, it has and will take place. Work around it. A change in your circumstances and situation calls for change in mindset and game plan. And if you still can't accommodate the change, remove yourself from that predicament.

Take the case of the woman I talked to recently whose house is in Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad (Century Garden).  She has to come home either before 5pm or after 10.30pm, sometimes 11pm, because of the night market that is blocking the entrance of her house every Monday.

She knows the traders have to make a living.  But their presence is causing her some inconvenience.  She is in a dilemma, and it's sad that life dealt her such a card.  How will she play it? Complain, accept, resist, turn the other cheek, pray ... ?

“The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not look down on those weaker than you. One’s sorrow at the other side of the world can make the entire world suffer; one’s happiness can make the entire world smile.”

― Shams Tabrizi