PS I Love You - Hilath's Home Page

PS, I Love You

By Hilath Rasheed

KUALA LUMPUR--No, it's not the first book in the Sweet Dreams series. Nor is it the shortened form of "post script" that is demanded at the end of a hastily written letter from which important points (or gossip) were left out. No, it is not even an initial that Sony came up to refer to its chic Playstation game machine.

In a Malaysian context, "PS" stands for the initials that have been forged by Maldivian tourists and Maldivian students living in Malaysia to refer to Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur's infamous flea market selling all sorts of cheap pirated products, ranging from video compact discs to "branded" T-shirts.

So why do they call it "PS"? Is it out of fondness? Or is to disguise the fakeness that is the trademark of all Petaling Street products which they buy nevertheless?

In reality, Maldivians enjoy a love-hate relationship with Petaling Street.

"It's just another Ungulhay Baazaar," says Aminath. "I always have to take a shower after coming from there and change into new clothes. It's hot--and sweaty people there!"

Whatever criticisms they have, they are still drawn to the street, lured by the availability of cheap vcd films, audio cds, T-shirts, jerseys, shorts, slippers, shoes--you name it.

But few will openly admit to things they buy from Petaling Street, especially if they are clothes they wear. They are embarrassed if someone finds out they are wearing a Petaling Street T-shirt or jeans, and will righteously declare that they are not. The reason? Some find it socially unacceptable to strut around in clothes they buy from flea markets because their fellow compatriots will see them having "neither class nor taste."

"Bah! Buying clothes from PS and wearing them. Have they got no taste?" You can expect to hear this comment from someone if he or she spies another Maldivian wearing a Petaling Street T-shirt or jeans.

Once my friend Thohir got "caught."

My friend Nayif must have seen that shirt from Petaling Street and recognised it immediately when he found Thohir wearing it.

Nayif went on a needling rampage. "Hey, Thohir, is that shirt you are wearing from Petaling Street?" he called out to Thohir loudly so that everyone in the vicinity could hear.

The bomb was dropped. There was nothing Thohir could do except turn towards damage control. "Sssh! Don't say 'Petaling Street.' I bought it from 'PS,'" Thohir replied, and recovered some of his self-esteem.

As long as you are not "discovered", there is nothing wrong with buying Petaling Street products. In fact, Maldivians who visit Malaysia on short holidays, medical purposes or to visit their children studying here, will make sure that they put aside a day to exclusively shop at Petaling Street. The day before departure back to Male' (the Maldives capital) is the PS Day. Hordes of Maldivians can be spotted buying bundles of T-shirts, jeans, jerseys, etc. Everytime a Maldivian student living here goes back to Male' for holidays during semester break, he or she will make sure that one last trip is made to Petaling Street.

"There's no way I can go back to Male' without buying presents--mostly T-shirts for my closest friends. And what better place to buy things in so much quantity yet at so cheap prices," says Mohamed, a Petaling Street regular.

Being in one of the most "happening" areas of Kuala Lumpur, namely near Kota Raya and Pudu Raya which are the central bus stations in the capital, you can see certain happenings at Petaling Street that most resembles the northern harbor of Male'. Petaling Street brings vividly to mind how crew from dhonies (traditional boats) at the Male' jetty used to forcibly lure people--who wait for transport to the international airport at nearby Hulhule island--to their particular dhonies. That was before the Maldives government enacted regulations protecting people from being harmed.

But no such regulations exist here in Petaling Street. Anarchy rules PS. Vendors shove people around, overeager to sell their products. You can see sellers trying to drag Western tourists to their stalls, anxious to make a sell. We Maldivians ourselves are not spared. Just step into Petaling Street and all those vendors surround you, holding onto your arm, trying to drag you to their stall. "Want this? Want that?" They will keep asking. Of course, the sensible thing is to ignore and just walk on.

However much distaste Maldivian folks have for such facets of Petaling Street, they nevertheless love hanging out at the place. Sometimes Maldivians can be spotted walking alone, eyeing new mobile phone covers, latest releases of Hollywood films on vcd, hip new clothes from "famous" brands, etc.

So why do they hang out there?

"I love the commotion of the place," says Ismail, a Kolej Damansara Utama degree student.

"When there's nothing much to do, just a visit to PS will kick you out of boredom," he says.

In a nutshell, it's the hustle and bustle of the flea market that makes Maldivians keep coming to the place--like flies are attracted to sugar, if you don't mind the pun.

Aishath, another student from KDU, neatly summed up the reason for hanging out at Petaling Street: "It's such a 'happening' place," she put in simply. "They (Maldivians) are a bored lot. They need some commotion in their lives to keep them from being bored, to keep them from being engaged in gossip."

Petaling Street may be the best answer. So whatever unpleasant thoughts we Maldivian visitors have about you, PS, we still love you.