This morning was a joy as we had the big white flappy things out almost as soon as we left the Burnam River, a joy because we rarely get the chance to sail in Malaysian waters due to lack of wind, it is usually motor sailing or plain motoring which is noisy and so much more tiring. We had about 2 glorious hours before our speed dropped into the 3-4 knot range and the motor had to go on. We can’t afford to dally as it will take us about 12 hours at 6 knots then up river to Klang. It will be getting dark by the time we get there around 6-7 p.m.

There have been many fishing boats today since we have left the shallow waters behind. The fishing industry is kept very busy here but the preponderance of the catch is small fish such as mackerel, prawns, squid and tiny fish which are dried or become whitebait. How long fishing in local waters can be sustained is anybody’s guess; like most countries there is over fishing, up to ten trawlers and numerous small open boats can be seen at any one time and this goes on for miles and miles. The fishing industry is a large employer and an important part of the economy.

Malaysia has ploughed its’ way successfully through the problems of 2010 and has a growing economy with little unemployment. Like everywhere else exports are down but the home market is thriving and within the Asian rim trading is good. The police, civil servants and teachers here have just had a national pay rise, lots of finance is going into infrastructure and education. The media really root for the country; there is an optimistic feel here and great encouragement by Malaysia’s Muslim Government for the young to make the most of themselves and for families to be successful.

As well as state Higher Education a good deal of education provision has been attracted here from abroad. There are already 4 UK University Campuses: Newcastle, Southampton, Lincoln and Nottingham, as well Westminster International College Cardiff from the London University School of Commerce Group specialising in MBA. Epsom College has opened a boarding college here along with Chris’s old school Marlborough College which is based in Johor province.

Having said all this one can only wonder about what is going on with the construction industry because everywhere there are new but wilting empty apartment blocks, lots of them, and many abandoned construction projects such as hotels and shopping malls as well as marinas that are half destroyed because they have been built in unsuitable places which silt up or where the current is so fast boats would be swept away getting in and out. So much money has been wasted in these new but mouldering edifices which just become an environmental eyesore.

Perhaps all is not as it seems.