GAMBLING is very much a part of life in communities like Sg Pelek. From the daily dosage of lottery or “ekor” to the occasional trip to the casinos, or monumental events like the World Cup.

There are frequent coach rides to the casinos and their fares are heavily subsidised. These and the “pirate taxis” offer welcome breaks to the simple folks who work very hard most of the week. There are also “special arrangements” to go to unlicensed casinos. These are located in discreet but securely boarded up buildings, or deep in some farm or kebun. The telltale sign is the large number of motorcycles parked outside.

If you are attentive enough at the coffee shops and eateries, you will notice the “runners” – those accepting bets on behalf of syndicates. These runners can be of any age, and of both sexes. They would arrive on their mopeds, or kapcai, and flit from table to table, either with pen and notebook, their phones or even some fancy mini printer. They do the rounds with familiarity as they are dealing with their regulars, but they will cater to strangers who want to place bets. There will be a few of these “agents” coming and going. The amazing thing is many of the regulars place bets with most, if not all of them! The runners even make house-calls. Trusted clients would have accounts, which enable them to place bets with a phone call or message.

The even more amazing thing about this is that these people also place bets at the licenced outlets, all three of which are strategically located in town.

The news that so-and-so has won money – the big wins, especially – frequently make the rounds. The runners who helped those punters strike it rich become very sought after.

We are always being told that one or another of our neighbours has struck 1st prize, winning from a few thousands to tens of thousands. A couple of times it was from the number that they got off the new cars I brought back. There was one time when I was asked to help catch an iguana that had gotten into a neighbour’s house. A few days later that neighbour brought over a gift, not for me getting rid of the reptile but because she had won money playing a combination of numbers representing iguana. She won again in the next draw, with a different combination.

Another neighbour has plenty of scorch marks on the street outside his house, from the burning of offerings to the deities, his ancestors and whatever else he relies on to win lotteries. He even forbids anyone else from taking care of the altar. And it seems to work out well for him as his spanking new house and cars are being paid by his occasional windfall. He owns a fruit stall in the market.

Speaking of the market, there is a lady stall owner who tried to take her own life by swallowing sleeping pills. She had run up huge debts with the moneylenders or “Alongs”, just by playing the lotteries. Her husband had refused to bail her out, saying: “Enough is enough.” She was unsuccessful in her suicide attempt; after a few weeks’ absence, she was back at her stall, going about her business.

Stories of sudden fortunes and dramatic falls from grace are urban legends here. There are even monuments to them, in the form of mansions and foolhardy projects, long abandoned.

And then there are the sad survivors – parents having to slog away in their twilight years while their errant offsprings have vanished. There is a couple who operates a food stall inside a shop lot, which they have to pay rental. They used to own the property. They had to sell it to pay their son’s gambling debts.

Quite a few families have had to sell their properties – house and/or land – bequeathed them, because of debts incurred, especially during the World Cups. It is a recurring nightmare for some residents. Savvy buyers always look forward to such events. – April 28, 2019.

* Mel Lee earned his way to an early retirement from his car magazine business, and moved to a small town with his wife in search of an eco-lifestyle. In their exploration of new places, backpacking on motorcycles or bicycles, they are looking for the extra in the ordinary.

* 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.