the curse of easy wealth

Malaysia is one of those countries with many natural resources concentrated within its geographical boundaries. So much so that for many years we have been a major exporter of tin, rubber, cocoa, palm oil to name but a few primary commodities. Then the 80s and mahathir's social/economic re-engineering of Malaysia brought forth a spurt in industrialisation, some may argue of the less caring kind. It was also during the 80s that our petroleum resources were more fully exploited making Petronas the sole custodian of our nation's mineral fossil fuel wealth. It has been so that currently almost half of the government's total revenue comes from oil. Alarm bells have been rung and the slew of subsidy-reduction measures recently taken are efforts to forestall the erosion in revenue when the day of reckoning comes and we are well and truly out of the black stuff (oil). Perhaps we have had it easy for way too long, blessed with an abundance of natural wealth, that we suddenly find it hard to wake up and stare at the hard cold facts in the light of day. But all reckonings do come and they have to faced, whether with resolute determination or being rueful of a past that has all but vanished too quickly.