Now Everyone Can Jump

Recently, some government representatives told unhappy Malaysians to emigrate if they were displeased with the incumbent administration. This was a seemingly simple resolution for the more privileged disgruntled citizens, but not everyone can afford to emigrate, even though the majority of us can now afford to fly because of the proliferation of budget airlines. For those who cannot afford to emigrate formally, some go on “holidays” exceeding the legal duration of overseas stays, never to return. This practice is commonly known as “jumping aeroplane 跳飛機” within the local Chinese-speaking community, similar to hopscotch. This work attempts to delineate the contrast between the innocence of this children's game and the leap of faith some take in interpreting the notion of an extended “holiday”.