Visit Malaysia Year Haiku - Oil Me Baby Miri (State Of Sarawak) Poem by john tiong chunghoo

everywhere
a money lender
to oil your needs

Miri, two hours by bus from Brunei, was the first place where oil was found in Sarawak, Malaysia. The place on Canada Hill is now called grand old lady. The oil is exhaust and the place has been turned into a tourist attraction. A few statues of men drilling for oil have been erected. A petroleum musuem stands near the oil well detailing how oil was extracted in the old days and now. A section is also devoted to how Sarawak gained independence from the British and joined the Federation of Malaysia. While in the town, I was struck by licensed money lenders everywhere. Signboards read like 'You can lend money from as low as RM100 (US33) to RM50,000 (US16,000) ' and also 'Trade in your Handphone or jewellery for cash'. It sounds really ridiculous but it is true.