Balfour Ross
We caught up with Australian Balfour Ross, 71, who lives a blissful retired life with his wife June, 68, in Kuala Terengganu. They know Malaysia well and love it for the infrastructure and what the country has to offer them while they stay here under the MM2H programme.
The Expat: How long have you both lived in Malaysia under the MM2H programme?
Balfour: We have been in Kuala Terengganu for almost three years. We were accepted onto the programme in April 2006.
The Expat: How did you hear about the MM2H programme?
Balfour: We first heard of it in October 2005. I asked the Malaysian High Commission about living in Malaysia if you have an income and got the details of the programme and the requirements. We were also tolf that we could go directly to Malaysia to apply for it, which we did.
The Expat: What did you do before retirement?
Balfour: I was an artist (oil painter) and later ran a photographic studio on Thursday Island on the Torres Strait (between Queensland and Papua New Guinea). My wife, who is of Indonesian descent, was born on the island.
The Expat: Had you spent time in Malaysia before moving here?
Balfour: Yes, but it was a long time ago. My father was a civil engineer in KL and I practically grew up in Malaysia (Ipoh, Penang and KL) from 1951 to 1968. I had been schooled in Australia too and in 1960 I studied at Adelaide University for four years. It was only 40 years later that I returned to Malaysia.
The Expat: Just out of curiosity, what made you decide to settle in Terengganu?
Balfour: Actually, when I was 21 years old, I cycled to the East Coast by myself, slept on beautiful beaches and fell in love with the place. When opportunity struck again, I told June that we should avoid the hectic life in KL and settle in Kuala Terengganu, which to my suprise, is now really modern.
The Expat: What is it about Malaysia that tempted you to join the MM2H scheme?
Balfour: Malaysia was an ideal place for us because I knew the country well, spoke Malay and have always loved the place.
The Expat: Can you descibe the opinion of Malaysia that you had before you began looking into life here?
Balfour: I have always regarded Malaysia as a beacon of stability in the world and a place of harmony between the races. There is so much natural beauty in a small country and of course we can't resist the good foo...so much for so little cost!
The Expat: In what ways is Malaysia the same and in what ways is it different to that expectation?
Balfour: The Malaysia I knew in the 1950s and 1960s is a different world, but the thread of connection is still there. I knew the old Malaya and I am not disappointed with the present progress. From the short holidays we took in Malaysia previously, we knew what to expect.
The Expat: Tell us about your favourite holidays and experiences in Malaysia since joining MM2H?
Balfour: Travelling by bus and train to various destinations is always an eye-opener. We have holidayed in Langkawi, Fraser's Hill, Sabah, Melaka, Kota Bharu, Johor Bharu and many times in KL where we have friends and relatives. But our best experience in where we live: our flat is on the 14th floor with superb unobstructed viewsof the the town, Terengganu river and the sea.
The Expat: Have you found it easy to settle and make Malaysian friends?
Balfour: Yes..the people are very friendly here and Malaysia is such an easy place to live in. People in Terengganu are the friendliest in my opinion.
The Expat: How do the living standards in this country compare to other place you've visited?
Balfour: Malaysia is as westernised as Australia. The infrastructure is just amazing. Although some habits such as spitting and littering are offensive, at least there are no drunks on the streets.
The Expat: What do you miss most about your home country?
Balfour: Nothing much in Australia, but we do miss our relatives on Thursday Island, which was our hom and favourite place.
The Expat: Have you taken any trips within Malaysia in the last year?
Balfour: Yes, we take trips every two to three months. The last one was to Pulau Kapas. Before that we went to Singapore and Melaka.
The Expat: Please tell us more about how you pass your time - do you find that there are enough activities in Malaysia to keep an expat busy?
Balfour: I keep busy by taking and printing my own photos and my wife likes to sew and make her own clothes. We like to play chess together too. It also depends on where you live in Malaysia. Of course, KL would provide a lot more than Terengganu. We love the pretty beaches and islands nearby here.
The Expat: Was it easy to apply for an MM2H visa and would you recommend it to others?
Balfour: Doing the entire process yourself is a bit more difficult because for us, it involved many trips to the immigration office here in Kuala Terengannu. It took us three months to obtain the visa as we had trouble opening accounts on a Social Visit pass. I would recommend it to anyone who is adventurous enough. To begin a new life in a new country where the people are friendly with pleasant tropical weather: not many other countries have such a perfect combination!
By Aida Ahmad
