Migrating to Australia Good Meh?

Pnua1 khee3 Australia ho4 meh4?
© Ken Soong

This is an interview with Mr Ken Soong, the author of the book Migrating to Australia Good Meh? For the benefit of Penang Hokkien speakers, the interview is written out in Penang Hokkien in Taiji Romanisation with audio on demand. Details of the romanisation system is provided in Penang Hokkien Made Easy and words may be referenced in the Penang Hokkien Dictionary.

Pnua1 khee3 Australia ho4 meh4?

Tha1na1-eh3 tiam1sniah1 cin3 ce33 Malaysia-eh3 lang2 ai1 pnua1 khee3 Au1ciu1. Ta3pi1 pnua1 khee3 Au1ciu1 ho4 meh4? Cin3cnia1 ce33 lang2 ai1 cai1 - pnua1 khee3 khah1 ho4 a33si33 tua3 ti1 Malaysia khah1 ho4. Mm33tu1ho4 wah1 bat3 tiok3 cit3-khien1 lang2 mia3 Ken Soong. Ie1 2004 ni2-eh3 si2 pnua1 khee1 tua3 Au1ciu1. Ie1 yong33 than3-eh3 keng3giam33 lai3 sia4 cit3-pun1 chaek3 mia3 Migrating to Australia Good Meh4?

1. Mr Soong, to3long3 ka1 wah1 kong4, ti33si2 lu1 pnua1 khee3 Australia? Liau4, an1cnua1nyau3 lu1 e33 sniau33 boek1 sia4 cit1-pun1 chaek3?

Wah4 kah1 wah1-eh3 sio1tee33 2004 ni2-eh3 si2 pnua1 khee3 Australia tua3. Wah4 kokh1 e33ki3 gok3, leh1pai3, cap3 guek1 snar3-cap3-it1 ho33 wah1lang2-eh3 poay3ki1 poay1 chut3 KLIA. Siang33 heh1-leh1 jit1, Anwar Ibrahim poay1 khee3 Teik1 Kork3 khnua1 lo1kun1.

Ti1 2011 ni2-eh3 si2, wah4 kah1 wah1-eh3 sio1tee33 sniau33 boek1 sia4 cit1-pun1 chaek3. Wah1lang2-eh3 chaek3 chut3 lai2 ti1 2013 ni2.

2. A33si33 uh33 lang3 sniau3 boek1 pnua1 khee1 Au1ciu1 tua3, ie1 tiok1boek1 co1 ha1mik1?

Thau3-thau2 ie1 tiok3boek1 sniau3 ho1-ho4, tua3 Au1ciu1 ngam1 ie1 boh2. Ti1 Malaysia, cin3 ce33 lang2 kong4 cin3 ho4 than1 pnua1 khee3 Au1ciu1. Mm33thang3 ka3nia33 thnia1 ie1lang2 kong4-eh3 wa33. Kor1lang2 tiok3 toay3 ka3ki3-eh3 ceng3heng2.

Te33-it1 tok33si33 cha1 ho1-ho4 khnua3, lu1 keng4-eh3 sor1cai3 ti1 Au1ciu1 uh33 an3cuan2 boh2. uh33 lang3 sniau3 kong4 ha1mik1 sor1cai3 ti1 Au1ciu1 pun1 khah1 an3cuan2 goay3 Malaysia. Cit1-leh1 si33 boh3nya4 eh2. Pun1 uh33 cin3 hui3hiam4-eh3 sor1cai3 ti1 Au1ciu1. Co1 sin3khek3 ti1 Au1ciu1, lu1 khah1 ho4 mm3thang3 tua3 ti1 an1nae1-eh3 sor1cai3. Ciau1 kong4, sin3khek3 a33si33 lau33khek3, te33-it1 ho4 mm33thang3 keng4 hui3hiam4-eh3 sor1cai3. Lau33bae1 chu3 ti1 ho4-eh3 sor1cai3 pun1 khah1 ho4 goay3 sui4-eh3 chu3 ti1 boh3 ho4-eh3 sor1cai3.

Te33-jee33: a33si33 lu1 keng4 ho4-eh3 sor1cai3, heh1-peng2-eh3 ok3tng2 tok33 khah1 ho4 lah4. Boon3tay2 si33, ho4-eh3 sor1cai3 tnia33tiok1 si33 khah1 kui3 eh2 loh4. Ta3pi1, ha1mik1 si33 ho4, ha1mik1 si33 boh3 ho4, lan4 ka3ki3 tiok3 kuat1tnia33. Khah1 ce33 lang2 keng4 te33-it1 ho4-eh3 sor1cai3 ie1lang2 e33kham3 soay3.

Te33-snar1: cin3 ce33 lang2 kau3 ti1 Au1ciu1 mm33bat3 lang3, kokh1 ko1 boh3 peng3iu4. Cit1-leh1 boon3tay2 thau3 cit3 jit1 khi4 tok33 tiok1 liau4. Lu1 bat3-eh3 lang2 ti1 Au1ciu1 tnia33tiok1 be33 pni4 Malaysia-eh2 an1nae1 ce33.

Mm33thang3 sniau3 kong4 ti1 Au1ciu1 a33si33 lu1 gau2, lu1 eng3 than3 kang1. Ti1 cit1-peng2, lu4 gau2 pa3lang2 kokh1 khah1 gau2. Eng3goay33 an1nae1 ce33 lang2 pnua1 lai2 Au1ciu1 tua3, ka1liau1 lang2 sio3 chniau1 kang1. A33si33 lu1 boh3 gau2 bat3 lang2, lu4 tnia33tiok1 cin3 khan3khor4 eh2 .

3. Uh33 ha1mik1 boon3tay2 lu4 bat1 tiok1 koay3?

Te33-it3: siang33ka1 wah1 ba3lu1 kong4: mm33bat3 tiok1-eh3 lang2 tok33si33 te33-it1 tua33-eh3 boon3tay2. A33si33 lu1 mm3kna1 khui3 chui3, lu1 pun1 mm33cai1 ha1mik1 mi3knia3 lu1 mm33cai1 eh2! Mm33bat3 lang2, lu1 ka1liau4-eh3 mi3knia3 tok33 ka3ki3 tiok3 co3. Ti1 Au1ciu1, ha1mik1 pun1 cin3 kui33. A33si33 be33 chnia1 lang3 co3 hor33 lu4, lu1 tiok3 choay33 tiam1sniah1 ka3ki3 ok3 co3. Lu1 tiok3boek1 e33hiau1 cham3 lang2, co1 peng3iu4 ka1 lang2 boh3 siang33ka1 lu4 eh2. Ba3lu1 e33 tau1kha3chiu4 khi3 tau1kha3chiu4 lai2.

Tee33-jee33: mm33thang3 sniau3 kong4 lu1 e33 choay33 tiok3 lang3 khiok3 lu1-eh3 chu3, cu4 lu4-eh3 pnui33, say4 lu4-eh3 sna1. Ie1lang2 boek3-eh3 kang3cni2 pun1 siang33ka1 lu4 ka3ki3-eh3 sin3lo2 an1nae1 ce33. Sor1yee4, ka1liau1 lang2 tiok3 co3 ka3ki3-eh3 chu1lai33 kang1.

Tee33-snar1: cit1-peng2-eh3 Ang3mor3 lang2 khnua3 A3ciu1 lai2-eh3 lang2 boh3 hien3. Boh3 kuan4 lu4 co1 cai3hu3 kang1 a33si33 chor3kang1, lu1 khan3khor1 khi1seik3. Cit1-peng2-eh3 i3seng3kuan4 uh33 cin3 ce33 A3ciu1-eh3 lo1kun1. Ta3pi1 kui1 leh2 than1 co1 tua33thau2? Lu4 ka3ki3 khnua3, cui33-cui33 co1 tau3ke1? Ti1 Au1ciu1-eh3 tua33ok1 uh33 A3ciu1-eh3 lang2 ka1 chaek3, ta3pi1 kui1 leh2 than1 co1 tua33sin3snaeh1? Uh33 si3-uh33 si2 uh33 A3iu2-eh3 CEO. Ie1lang2 khah1 ce33 si33 thark3 accounting khi4 eh2. Cin3 cio4 thark3 marketing-eh3 lang2 than1 khi4 an1nae1 kuan2.

Co1 sin3khek3 ti1 Au1ciu1, Malaysia-eh3 lang2 uh33 snar3-leh3 tua33 boon3tay2. Te33-it1 si33, te33ya4 boh3 kau1giak3 chim1. Te33-ji33 si33, lang2 boh3 kau1giak3 bat3. Te33-snar1 si33, Ang3mor3 lang2 khnua1 be33 khi4 ie1lang2. A33si33 lu4 mm33si33 ong2-eh3 knia4 a3si33 ong2-eh3 chin3cnia2, lu4 si33 boh3 pnua1 hang2 ti1 heh1-peng2. Siang33ka1 ti1 Malaysia, cit1-peng2-eh3 lang2 khnua1 be33 khi4 Myanmar kah1 Bangla-eh3 kang3lang2, Au1ciu1-eh3 Ang3mor3 lang2 pun1 khnua1 be33 khi4 lu1lang2. Boh3 su3kak3 pun1 be33 co1 pnua1 hang33. Lu1 sniau33 ti1 heh1-peng2, ie1lang2 khnua3 Malaysia lai2-eh3 kang3lang2 khah1 ho1liau33 goay3 Myanmar lai2-eh3 kang3lang2 meh4? Boh2 co1 cit3 ae33!

4. Uh33 ha1mik1 ceng3cha1 tua3 Au1ciu1 ka1 tua3 Malaysia?

Ti1 Malaysia, lu1 uh33 ki3hoay33 co3 lu1 su3kak3-eh3 mi3knia3 kau3ka1 te33-it1 ho4. Ti1 Au1ciu1 boh3 an1nae1-eh3 ki3hoay33. Ba3lu1 kau3 Australia-eh3 si2, lu1 uh33 kho1leng2 la3sa1 cin3 song4. Ta3pi1, wah1 la3sa1 te33-it1 ho4-eh3 sor1cai3 hor33 Malaysia-eh3 lang2 tok33si33 Malaysia. Mm33si33 Australia lah1, a3si33 Eng3 Kork3, Bee Kork3 a3si33 Canada. Lu1 sniau33 Lee Kuan Yew e33 than1 co1 Eng3 Kork3-eh3 cong1li4 ah3, a33si33 ie1 pit1giap1 Cambridge-eh3 si2, pnua1 khee2 tua3 heh1-peng2? Lu1 sniau33 Lee1 Xiǎolóng e33 than1 co1 tua33 beng3seng1 ah3, a33si33 ie1 ka1nia33 pnua3 hee3 ti1 Hollywood?

Na33si33 lu1 boek1 tua3 song1-song4 ti1 Australia, lu1 tiok3boek1 e33hiau1 ceh33 tiam33-tiam33 than1 tua33 lui1. A33si33 ti1 Malaysia khan3khor4, ti1 Australia tok33 khah1 khan3khor4 gok3. Uh33nya4, Malaysia-eh3 kae33lor33 khah1 luan33, khah1 la3sam2, thni1 boh3 an1nae1 lam2, uh33 si2 kokh1 uh3 en1, chau4 boh3 an1nae1 chnae1. Ta3pi1 cnia1-cnia3 kong4, tua3 Malaysia khah1 ho1mia3. A33si33 lu1 si33 Bee1 Kork1 lang2 a3si33 Eng3 Kork1 lang2, uh33 kho1leng2 tua3 Australia khah1 ho4. Ta3pi1 hor33 Malaysia-eh3 lang2, tua3 Malaysia1 khah1 ho4 goay3 tua1 pa1-leh3 kork1ka1.

Ken Soong (cnia1chiu4) bat1 tu4 koay3 Ah3 Eng1 ti1 Monash Tua33ok1. Ah3 Eng1 ku33ca4 pit1giap1 ti1 cit1-leh1 tua33ok1 eh2.
© Ken Soong

5. Uh33 khan3khor1 than3 kang1 ti1 Au1ciu1 boh2?

Cin3 khan3khor4. Kokh1 ka1 khan3khor1 than1 lu1 ai3-eh3 kang1. Cui33-cui33 uh33 ki3leng2 co1 chooi1cuan3, co1 tien33hoay4, hnua33 lor3li1, co1 thau3mor2, khui1to1, than3 le1sen1 liau4 tok33 eng3 co1 seng3li4. Kang1 be33 sua4 khee3 pa3-leh3 kork1ka1 eh2 tok33 cin3 ce33. Kang1 e33 sua4 khee3 pa3-leh3 kork1ka1 eh2, tok33 sua4 khee3 liau4.

Ken Soong-eh3 co1kang3pai2
© Ken Soong

Cit1-leh1 tok33si33 wah1-eh3 co1kang3pai2. Uh33 si2 tiok3 co3 ka1 snar3-leh3 kang1 ba3lu1 kau1 khai1.

6. Uh33nya4 boh2, ti1 Au1ciu1 co1kang1-eh3 tiam1sniah1 khah1 tay4 goay3 ti1 Malaysia?

Cin3 khan3khor1 than3 cuan3cit3 kang1 ti1 cit1-peng2. Ta3pi1, a33si33 than1 co1kang1 ti1 tua33 kong3si1, gor33 tiam4 tok33 than1 tnui4 liau4. E33sai1 kong4, cit1-peng2 co1kang1-eh3 tiam1sniah1 khah1 tay4 goay3 ti1 Malaysia. Ta3pi1 ju1 lai2 co1kang1-eh3 tiam1sniah1 ju1 tng2, kang1 ju1 ce33. Eng3goay33 cit1-peng2-eh3 kang3cni2 kuan2, khah1 ce33 kong3si1 ai1 kiam1 kang3lang2 co1kang1.

A33si33 lu1 ti1 Malaysia luan33 kong4 GST 6%, ti1 Australia GST si33 10%. Cit1-peng2-eh3 ceng1hu4 kokh1 uh33 sniau33 boek1 khi4 GST kau3ka1 15%! Ti1 Australia ceng1hu4 ha1mik1 pun1 boek1 thiu3 say1.

7. Uh33 khan3khor1 co1 seng3li4 ti1 Au1ciu1 boh2?

Cin3 khan3khor14. Boek1 co1 seng3li4 tiok3 koay3 cin3 ce33 tiau33lay3.

8. Au1ciu1-eh3 kae33lor33 uh33 tua33 that1chia1 boh2?

Boh3 siang33ka1 Malaysia an1nae1 gai33, ta3pi1 ti1 Australia boh3 ce33 tua33kae33lor33. Chia1 uh33 ting1tang3, ta3pi1 tiok3 koay3 cin3 ce33 ang3chnae3hoay4.

9. Lu1 uh33 siau1liam33 ha1mik1 mi3knia3 ti1 Malaysia boh2?

Uh33, wah1 siau1liam33 heh1-peng2-eh3 ciak1, heh1-peng2-eh3 peng3iu4, cor3 eng2 khee1 shopping, cor3 eng2 co1 mi3knia3. Ka1liau4 kin33-kin33 nia33. Cit1-peng2 ka1liau4 pun1 kui3. Boek1 kae4 cit3-tiau3 khor3 pun1 tiok3 jee33-cap3 khor1 Au1ciu1.

10. Ka3 wah1 kong4, ti1 Au1ciu1 lang3 uh33 khnua1 phoay2 eh2 boh2?

Tnia33tiok1 si33 uh33 lah4! Ciau1 law si33 be33sai1 khnua1 phoay2. Ta3pi1 ka1liau1 lang2 pun1 cai1 cit1-leh1 boh3nya2 eh2. Cui33-cui33 lang3 sniau33 kong4 cit1-peng2 boh3 khnua2 phoay2 eh2 tok33si33 tua3 ie1 ka3ki3-eh3 se1kai3.

11. Uh33 ha1mik1 gok3 lu1 boek3 hor33 lang3 boek1 pnua1 koay3 lai2 eh2 cai1?

A33si33 lu1 boek1 pnua1 lai3 Australia tua3, hor33 lu4 ka3ki3 snar3 ni2. Khnua3 lu1 e33 ciap1siu33 tua3 cit1-peng2 boh2. Mm33thang3 sio1 lu1-eh3 kio2 gok3. Ti1 cit1-leh1 se1kai3, khah1 ho4 lau2 lu1-eh3 kio2 tiau3-tiau1.

Migrating to Australia Good Meh?

Cit1-pun1 chaek3 uh33 ti1 Amazon liau4. Click e3te1-peng2-eh3 siau1eng4 jip1 khee3.

Learn to read and write Penang Hokkien with Memrise

Memrise is a free online course that coaches you on Penang Hokkien step by step, enabling you to learn groups of words and sentences at your own pace. Click here to get started. In addition, you can read Penang Hokkien Made Easy and use the free Penang Hokkien Dictionary.

the World of Penang Hokkien

Songs about Penang

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.