Pakdokter's eldest brother lives in this little corner of Permatang Batu on the mainland opposite the Penang Island. It was quite a while since pakdokter saw him - maybe a year or two ago. And Province Wellesley has changed so much - so much of development - roads, highways, industrial estates, housing developments and new townships - that pakdokter could no longer locate pakdokter's brother's home. Only the via the handphone was pakdokter finally successfully directed to his house by one of his daughters.Abang, pakdokter's eldest brother is almost 80. He has been a widow for several years after his wife, Kak Chak, passed away. One of his daughters, Shikin, lives with him with the three grandchildren whom Shikin is looking after since her unfortunate failed marriage.
Abang's house used to be in a nice green surrounding with paddy fields stretching fro miles. Today the area is somewhat thickly populated and driving through the narrow lane to his house is just like driving up to Kampong Kerinci in Bangsar of pakdokter's student days. Beyond the small patch of paddy fields that Abang still own, is the new township of PERDA - with its rows of shophouses and offices and threateningly encroaching Abang's property.
Until Abang agrees to an agreeably fair compensation - he will continue to live as a not so poor constituent in a potentially rich property.
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