ANAK TAK TAHAN –Ulu Yam Story of third world mentality
It was Sunday , and it was a beautiful morning at Ulu Yam Waterfall. My siblings and our family members were gathered for no real reasons, simply to be together and have fun over a simple BBQ lunch.
Ulu Yam is one of great waterfalls bestowed by Allah S.W.T to the Selangorians, in particular. In my younger days My husband I used to frequent this place, and I vividly recalled the serenity and tranquility here. The stream was clear, crystal clear, the water was cool and clean. We could wash hands in the stream before having meals without any second thoughts. The current was gentle and we could simply float in the caved-in ripple for hours feeling cool and fresh, albeit any significant infra - development.
My two lovely daughters and sweet niece fixing the tent which was a free gift from Petronas, he..he..
Years passed and my recent visit was a gap of 15 years and it took me for a pleasant surprise, my first impression was wow! Fantastic development in terms of basic infra and amenities.
The place was cool! The basic infra/amenities included among others, concrete walk-way pavement, that run parallel with the stream, stylish huts for picnickers complete with in-built benches, toilets for those who needed them and ample clean spaces for BBQ.
For these remarkable upgrading, they charged us only RM1 per person. I reckon, it was very reasonable, and in fact they could easily raise the fee, not so much for the collection more so to instill the ‘ourness’ of the place. And not to forget there were garbage bins placed at all strategic locations
After our sumptuous BBQ lunch, and as what we used to do, of course the ‘berendam’ session, after all, we were well all set with ‘berendam’ outfits, something not to be missed, at any waterfall that is.
Somehow this time around my excitement for Ulu Yam distorted and stifled by the water quality, the color was far from clear, next to murky, there were empty water bottles being thrown, broken polystyrene containers drifted along with the current, thus disturbed my mood drastically.
How on earth was one able to enjoy the ripple, when it was visibly clear that one was surrounded by left-overs strewn in the stream?
I lost my appetite. However, since the top of the day passed 36 degree Celsius, it was good to be in the water for a while.
The water was far from clear, it was murky, hm.. not anything what it used to be..
The trio 'berendaming'...
There was not much of ‘berendaming’ that day, more of sitting around on the rocks and and getting cooled down by 'water splashing' on each other like what kids used to do- when forcing their mates to get wet. Not bad, at least we got drenched through splashing.
About 15 mins in the water, suddenly a family of 4 came down to the river bank, the very spot where we were having modest fun. We were happy to see more people are now able to use this place for a week-end recreation. This family is young and their two sons ranged from 2 - 4years old. As soon as they reached the river bank, the father stripped the 2 boys naked and showed them to the edge of the stream. My daughters and nieces alike, in a synchronized rhythm giggled for a ‘free-show’.Hm.. not prepared for the trip, perhaps..
The photo was cropped for confidentiality. The father was about to strip the son naked, ha ha,,about to see ‘the free show..
While glancing at them occasionally, I noticed that the younger boy was pinching his buttock vigorously and jumping up and down gently, signally to his father for a call of nature. Then the father had a quick discussion with the wife who was sitting on a small bench like rock behind a tree by the bank. Within seconds,( I presumed) they concluded that the boy could ‘poo’ near the rock where the mother was resting. Knowing very well the contour of the river bank could easily sweep down the poo into the river.
Almost instantaneously, hurriedly we paddled the water and fled like a lightening strike, at that moment all of us easily qualified for a water polo championship. Usually, it would take ages to get everyone out of the water.
Oh my, what a society, what happened to the good moral values that has been drummed into our brains? Why are the parents so oblivious of these basic values?...sigh…
Later in the day , as 'that' family was leaving, my eldest daughter intercepted their path and asked them why they allowed their son to ‘poo’ there, knowing very well that there were people bathing? The father was stunned and after seconds of recollection, he said ‘anak saya dah tak tahan’
To me, was there really an issue of ‘ anak tak tahan’ or the parents were simply lazy and could not be bothered. I tend to believe the latter. There were toilets put up for the picnickers, why couldn’t they teach their children the right values and manners?
I hope the authorities would take notice of this type of behavior and impose heavy penalty on such irresponsible people.
And also there should be some kind of surveillance being carried out to deter people from spoiling this beautiful place and polluting the stream with human poo.
That afternoon we left for home feeling hotter than ever, disgusted and more importantly feeling sorry for the Malaysians who were still ingrained with the third world mentality.
