Happy to a superstitious 2023A

We Malaysians are a superstitious lot.

Just get into our lifts and there’ll be buttons for 3A, 13A, 23A, 33A etc.

Even our addresses suffer from it. No one likes to live in house number 4, 14 or 24.

Why?

Because 4 means death in Chinese.

But take a trip to other Chinese predominant societies. Singapore, Taiwan and China are some examples and you’ll find buttons for levels 4, 14, 24 and 34 in lifts. If they’re fine with it, then it’s time we Malaysians get out of our superstitious mentality and accept the number 4.

Otherwise we should just call 2024, 2023A!