‘KECIL-kecil lada api, besar-besar limau abung’ – a famous Malay proverb which translate to being a physically tiny person but strong willed and brave, is best suited to describe 47-year-old Norazimah Mohamad Nor, who is no stranger to the arena of local political activistism.
Standing at 155cm and weighing only 49 kg – this petite activist was first seen in ‘locked-heads’ with authorities during the famous Reformasi protest movement that began in September 1998 throughout Malaysia, after the sacking of the then finance minister and deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, fast forward 24 years, and Nora is currently residing in Seokjeok-eup, a town in South Korea on the Nakdong River, working in a Covid-19 test kit factory and alternating as a vegetable and fruit picker, making about 120,000 South Korean won per day (roughly RM409).
Nora had originally planned for a weeklong backpacking trip in South Korea on February 19, 2020, but it has now turned into a three year stay.
“Since a decade ago I started travelling the world alone, from Thailand to Makkah, everywhere in between and approximately 90% of Indonesia I have visited… I just love seeing the different cultures people have to offer.
“Awkwardly, when I arrived in Busan, within the next couple of days there were travel restrictions because international borders shut down due to the sudden Covid-19 pandemic,” said the single mother of five.
Nora then had no choice but to start working at a ginseng farm in Goesan-gun, which was 210 km away from her original stop, Busan.
She got the job offer through the help of her cousin, where she made 60,000 South Korean won per day, to make ends meet as she was not sure when all travelling bans would be lifted.
Nevertheless, Nora shares with The Vibes that living in South Korea has been simple yet adventurous.
“Halal food is easy to obtain while daily essentials are super cheap.
“Even my rental is 180,000 South Korean won per month, which comes with a kitchen, toilet with hot shower, washer machine plus dryer, living room and a bedroom, which is located only five minutes walk downtown, while 40 minutes away by car or bus you can find beautiful mountain and valley of fruits and veggies,” she said.
When asked how her Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations had been for the past three years alone abroad, Nora explained that she kept herself occupied with fellow Malaysians who are in the same boat as herself that she had met via a Facebook Group – ‘Persatuan anak rantau di bumi korea'
“Our Malaysian community is extremely proactive. We look out for each other. We are extremely tight and there is a beautiful bond between us,” she said proudly.
Home sweet home
Although the distance from Malaysia to South Korea is 4,402 km, Nora confessed that she misses nothing but only her 67-year-old father Mohamad Nor, who is currently residing in Kuala Lumpur.
“I always had a close relationship with ‘Abah’. He is now retired. He was a military man and was always strict.
“However, he seems to understand me well… as you can see, I’m pretty peculiar compared to my other eight siblings,” she giggled, adding that ‘Abah’ approves of her staying in South Korea as he believes that it is high time for Nora to start enjoying herself, when compared to before when she was occupied in educating and raising all her children alone.
What about her children? They too share the same sentiment as her father.
To date, four of her five children are happily married.
Nora has been blessed with ten grandchildren, aged from three months through to their mid-teens.
GE15 – ‘You can take a person out of politics, but you can never take politics out of the person’
Nora, who has always been famously known as ‘Nora Rock Reformis’ within the circle of politicians and activists, keeps track of the local political landscape, even from afar.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, while Malaysians from all walks of life took the liberty upon themselves in a social movement known as #benderaputih (white flag) to help families or individuals facing hunger or needing assistance, Nora also did her fair share.
“When I heard the difficulties some of our ‘rakyat’ were facing and most of them went to bed hungry, I could not ignore it… I knew I had to do something.
“I contacted some of my comrades and made the necessary arrangements.
“Alhamdullillah I managed to distribute 100 bags of 5 kg worth of rice, 100 packets each of sugar and cooking oil,” she explained with visible tears in her eyes.
For the record, Nora still donations these items to fellow Malaysians in need.
When asked whether she is planning to come home for the next general elections, Nora gave a cheeky laugh.
“It is not that I am no longer interested in our politics, or have I put up my hands to surrender in being an activist, I am just dismayed about the whole situation in Malaysia right now.
“Seeing some of my comrades turning against each other really boils me up and I feel that we the Pakatan coalition, are far off track.
“I still remember one of the first few pieces of advice ‘Abah’ gave me when he caught me red handed when I started getting involved in demonstrations… he said:
“Jangan letak satu kaki di luar dan lagi satu di dalam. Kena letak dua-dua kaki di dalam dan jangan undur (If you want to bring about changes, do it properly and never back down)." – The Vibes, July 9, 2022
