Eddy and Maithe Ng
As I stepped into the charming and cleverly decorated condo of Eddy and Maithe Ng, I was awestruck by two things: one - the breathtaking panoramic view of KL city and two - the amazing collection of timeless Asian decor and art pieces. Maithe, who exudes a pleasant and warm disposition, hails from the Loire Valley in France while Eddy, a retired businessman who previously worked for an oil company, is from Medan, Indonesia. They have been married for 28 years and are enjoying their life here in Malaysia.
The Expat: How long have you lived in Malaysia under the Malaysia My Second Home programme?
Maithe: It will be two years this November.
The Expat: What made you choose this part of Malaysia?
Maithe: Well, my husband and I were transferred here during his last posting to Malaysia. Plus, we love the city life in KL. Malaysia was the 13th posting for us so we decided to stay. We were actually thinking of settling in Penang, but because the island has changed tremendously and the cost of living is more expensive now, KL was the next choice. Also, a lot of our friends are here.
The Expat: Have you lived or visited Malaysia prior to that?
Maithe: Yes, we have, although it was about 20 years ago. We visited KL and Penang once. A lot has changed. During that time, KL looked so green with not much development and it wasn't so crowded.
The Expat: What was the main reason you decided to come and live here under the MM2H programme?
Maithe: Practicality. It made sense for us to come to Malaysia because since my husband is from Indonesia, he could still remain close to his family. It also made sense financially as foreign currency here goes a long way.
The Expat: What do you like most about living in Malaysia?
Maithe: The people here are so friendly and always smiling. For me, that's very refreshing. Of course, in Malaysia it's also easy to employ a maid. The good food here is another plus point. You can get all types of food here, anywhere and anytime.
The Expat: What do you like least about living in Malaysia?
Maithe: The way the motorists drive on the road here, especially the motorcyclists it's quite dangerous. Another grouse is the bouts of petty crime, although it happens in other countries as well.
The Expat: Did you travel outside Malaysia in the last year?
Maithe: Yes, we travelled to France twice to visit my relatives. We also travelled to Cambodia and Indonesia as well as Shanghai, Taiwan and Singapore. Our next trip is to Vietnam, Myanmar and Bhutan. Since my husband is retired, we have time to travel quite a bit, and we prefer to do it during the non-peak seasons.
The Expat: I see that you have a passion for collecting art pieces from various countries. What inspires you?
Maithe: I love Asian-inspired decor. When I was travelling with my husband during his postings, I managed to buy some art pieces from China, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia and such. Africa is also a haven for art, as you can see; I managed to purchase some nice pieces from there.
The Expat: What do you miss most about your home country?
Maithe: My relatives, of course, and especially the four seasons. The food in my home country of France is also something I miss dearly. Every time I return, I gorge myself (laughter). Nevertheless, the local food in Malaysia is great, if I do say so myself.
The Expat: Do you socialise mostly with foreigners, Malaysians or both?
Maithe: Both, actually. I do love to socialise with the locals here. I have a lot of Malay, Chinese and Indian friends. Whatever race or religion, it doesn't matter they are all good-hearted.
The Expat: So tell us, what do you do to pass your time?
Maithe: I study Mandarin because I just love the language. When we were in China, I went to the university there to study it. I also love the Chinese culture. Other than that, I do Yoga and play badminton.
The Expat: How did you find out about the MM2H program?
Maithe: We knew about the program through a friend of ours a couple of years ago.
Eddy: I think we went to a function at PWTC where Andy Davison had a presentation about the MM2H program. Following that, we got most of the information from The Expat magazine.
The Expat: How happy are you with the MM2H programme?
Maithe: So far, no complaints. We are happy being MM2H-ers and living in Malaysia.
By Aida Ahmad
