MY neighbour Kak Jah is a wonderful lady. Every time she makes something, she would pass us a plate of it. That’s how we ended up with her blue plate, when she sent over a dozen yummy lepat pisang the other day.

Kak Jah’s plate has been sitting on my cabinet for almost a week now. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable seeing it stare at me every time I walk into the kitchen, I decided to make her some of my famous sardine curry puffs and take the opportunity to return her blue plate as well.

Kak Jah has been our neighbour for more than five years. She and her husband, a retired army personnel, have nine children and survive on the income generated by selling ice blended drinks in our neighbourhood. Thanks to the Land Office in our district and the zakat authorities who built them a home, Kak Jah and her family have a roof above their heads.

“Assalamualaikum,” I greeted.

Looking at the plate full of yumminess in my hands, Kak Jah’s husband smiled from his front door. I tried passing the plate to him, but thanks to the Malay culture of wonderful hospitality, I was invited into the house.

Stepping inside the house, a ‘lalat’ (fly) welcomed me – I shook my arm only to have it fly away and return with another two, crawling up my other arm. I brushed my arms, trying to get rid of the lalat, when Kak Jah approached me.

“Apa tu?(What’s that?)” she asked.

“Karipap sardin (Sardine curry puffs),” I answered, with a smile.

“Jom ikut akak pergi belakang. Kita minum teh sama-sama (Come to the back with me. Let’s have some tea),” she invited.

Sitting in her kitchen, more flies started wandering around me. I was pretty sure that I had already taken my bath and did not smell like a pile of poop (nor looked like one), but the darn lalats insisted on flying around and landing on me. And no matter how many times I shooed and swatted, the damn flies never seemed to get the point.

As the sensitivity of the flies crawling on me drove me nuts, I realised they were also all over Kak Jah, her children and the curry puffs, too. Oddly, though, none of them seem to be bothered with the presence of the lalats like I was.

“Selalu ke banyak lalat (Is it a norm to have these many flies)?” I asked, trying not to sound rude.

“A-ah. Dah biasa (We’re used to it),” she replied.

My jaw dropped. The fact that flies are scavengers who are constantly visiting places such as dumps, sewers and garbage before sitting comfortably on our arms, our curry puffs or our teacups while shaking a lot of germs off their hairy little legs did not go down well with me.

“Lalat tu merbahaya, kak (Flies are dangerous),” I said to Kak Jah as I explained about the diseases the flies could be transmitting, including typhoid fever, dysentery and cholera.

“Alaa, dah bertahun duduk macam ni, tak mati pun (We have been living like this for years and we are still alive),” Kak Jah said, shooing the flies resting on her cup before sipping it.

Assuming it could be the cost associated with the preventive measures which is causing her ‘tidak apa’ attitude, I offered her some sticky fly traps we have at home and suggested where she could get the ultraviolet light traps for a good price.

“Tak payahlah, semua tu. Kami dah biasa dengan lalat (There’s no need for all that. We are used to the flies),” Kak Jah said blandly.

I was gobsmacked. Although I really like Kak Jah, I could not fathom her ‘tidak apa’ attitude.

But Kak Jah isn’t alone. Many people with similar mentality live around us, forming our society. These people choose not to do anything to correct a situation, although they could easily try to improve the conditions of their lives. They prefer to risk the future of their loved ones, instead of making an effort to bring changes into their lives.

I suppose that is why every illness associated with our nation continues to grow rampantly – because people like Kak Jah are used to it. And they do not see the need for a change. Just like they are used to the lalat, they are also used to being abused by those in power.

I still do adore Kak Jah for her kindness. But I can’t say I am not disappointed in her. I just wish she understood the fact that by not getting rid of the damn ‘lalat’, she is actually exposing me and my family to a risky future as well. – August 24, 2017.

* Fa Abdul is a passionate storyteller and a resident agitator of the idiots in society. Well-known for her straight-talking sarcasm and occasional foul mouth, she juggles between her work as a writer, producer and director.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.