I was first taken there by a colleague, a Red a la “The Shawshank Redemption,” a man who knows how to get things. Alcohol in Malaysia is very highly taxed to the point where a pint of beer in a bar or restaurant costs anywhere up to 8 GBP a go. Consequently I jumped at the chance to stock up on a cheap case of beer. Arriving at said location today, around 1700, the shop was in full swing. The bloke serving spoke highly accented Indian English and had a fluent slur clearly demonstrating confidence in the quality of his merchandise. Once we had negotiated a price that I was happy with and that he could remember and say without slippage the transaction was effected and money changed hands. While this was all happening various characters emerged from out the back of the shop and did their best to show how drunk they weren’t by attempting to walk in a straight line. After lots of shouts from these cheery chaps of “Hello Boss!” I was about to leave when I took a peak into the back of the shop. There, gathered round a metal trestle table and recumbent on the finest plastic chairs, were a range of fine fellows in various states of wear. Some debating furiously, some swaying slightly and others staring into the middle distance. It was like a speakeasy of 1920s America only a lot hotter and with slightly more dust. It appeared to be a fluid gathering in that people would arrive, drink, natter, drink some more, sway a bit, shout “Hello Boss,” and stagger away. Like me they were happy customers, although not exactly in the same way. My happiness was the sober joy of finding a good bargain.
And my Economics lesson? I paid half the price that more reputable vendors, Tesco’s (if they can be classed as reputable) charge for a case of Tiger lager. The Malaysian Government charges high tax on alcohol and hence the existence of such venues as the one I visited today. High taxation clearly creates black markets and black markets create dodgy dealings as well as decent material for blogs. The other lesson I learned from my mission was: Heaven help the person who gets in to the taxi that was parked outside this shop!
I like reading plays. I like reading Dennis Kelly plays. They are thought provoking although sometimes a bit too graphic and they can tend to labour the point a bit. So it was with a mixture of emotions that I sat on the bed this afternoon to read one his works. After act two I decided my enjoyment of the play would be improved if I lay down and read instead and then two hours later I woke up. I blame Dennis. It is clearly nothing to do with the vast number of miles I have driven this week or the cumulative effect of lots of 0530 wake ups.
I had a good conversation with a friend from Wolverhampton last night and spent a long time discussing the elections back in GB. With turn outs in the local elections of 22%, Parliamentary by-elections of 15% and Police Commissioner elections of 12% it has made me think whether people really do want democracy? I spent seven years working with some very good people to convince voters that they should use their vote and use it wisely, trying to give them a stake in local decision making. It would appear that around 85% of people simply can’t be arsed. Those non participants will have to suffer the consequences of the minority making decisions on behalf of the majority, an arrangement that I am not comfortable with. I do have some sympathy though. What exactly is the point of elected Police Commissioners?
And so to round off this update. I am waiting for IKEA to deliver between 1700 and 1900. The time is 1942. Welcome to Malaysia and KL traffic.