Kertih 24300

When I used to work at Citibank Jalan Ampang and stay at my sister's in Puchong, I somehow found it hard to cope up with almost everythin, especially in terms of financial. Altho I did not have to pay the utility bills, roughly I can say I spent about RM20 per day. LDP toll to and fro, parkin at Kelana Jaya LRT, Monthly Pass, Petrol, lunch - it made my salary of RM2400 per month seemed so little. Not that Im not thankful enuff, but the portion that I use to spend on those things indirectly reduces my spendin power and I tend to get more skint as time passed by.

Then I got Kertih and that has become the turnin point of my life not just financially, but also in all other aspects. Prior to that, during the interview they (PETRONAS) asked me as to whether or not I am willin to work elsewhere other than KLCC and without a doubt I said yes and I up til now I can proudly say that I never regret sayin that. It's been almost 5 months now that Ive lived in Kertih and things arent that bad after all.

Here, the distance from my house to the office is like from KLCC to Tabung Haji, and there's no traffic jams. There's hardly pollution - only beautiful scenery and white sandy beaches. Work starts at 8am and ends at 5pm (Sundays to Thursdays), but I usually get gome later than that unless it's drivin range nights and horse-ridin evenings. It's a quiet place up here but the friends make it a cool place to live in. Rantau PETRONAS is the place (housing) where most of us live, it consists of Rantau Laut, Rantau Bukit and Rantau Paya. Here in Kertih, almost all of us know one another. Furthermore workin in the Public Affairs department of the holding company helps me to understand the locals even better. This include the Mentri Besar. In Kertih is only the Carigali office (which used to be Exxon's) and my office, East Coast Regional Office. The rest - Refinery, Gas, Vinyl Chloride, Ammonia, Optimal, Ethylene and others are located in Paka which is approximately 15 kilometres from here. In April Im gonna move in with Joe, Opie, Nasri and Borhan (KMYS people).

Kertih used to be only a fishermen's village with population approximately 5000 people before PETRONAS came in in 1978. Now, with the expansion of the Petroleum Industrial Complex, the population has risen to up to more than 20,000 people and still rising. Most of us, when I say that I work here, the response should be "apa la ada kat Kertih tu?", and I dont blame them for their ignorance. It's true that Kertih has nothing much to offer, but if we really try to get the best out of it, we'll definitely want to stay here for a little longer. The latest development in Kertih is the construction of Rantau Mall, a project under KLCC Holdings. It's a fast-track project and Insya Allah, by January next year, Kertih people can also have their coffee at Starbucks, buy their favourite best-seller at MPH bookstore, shop at Parkson Grand and watch movies at GSC Cinemas. If God permits.

I do miss hangin out you guys and gays. But life's not always gonna be that smooth and we dont always get what we want. Salman, Cherap, Rai, Fadley, Safa, Heydeq and all, thanks for not forgettin' me and always keepin in touch. Keep those calls and sms-es comin' and I appreciate your thoughts a lot. One day we'll meet again, Insya Allah.

In a nutshell, it is true that it's the people that makes the place great, not the place that makes the people great. come to Kertih, and my friends and I will show you a good time.