Mushtak Talib Al-Atabi
From Iraq.
We are the same age.
At age 27 in 1997 he wanted to travel but the only way to leave was a bus to Amman Jordan, where it said, “No visas for Iraqis” for every country except one: Malaysia. So he flew to Malaysia.
2003 US invasion of Iraq completely dismantled the government just as his Iraq passport expired, so he was left stateless and the government here was so helpful. Been here in Malaysia since then.
Iraq is now a failed state that just pumps oil and pays some salaries.
The major conflict of our times is the western democracies versus the Muslim world.
Malaysia is the ideal trusted Muslim country - a safe democratic middle ground respected by both sides.
UAE aligns with Israel, and against Palestine.
Oman is the wisest in the GCC and the only one with a history, but not a democracy.
As an outsider he completely believes in Malaysia and appreciates its slow moves in the right direction, while locals focus more on the problems.
He appreciates it without judgement.
Since he's an outsider, the different racial groups in Malaysia confide in him, as they privately complain about each other but are friendly when encountering each other.
Professor of engineering.
He's so knowledgeable about the “behind the front page” side of the news.