My Dad and grandparents had a similar story. They were kampung settlers and forced to move because of the government's plan to develop the area they were in. Up till today, my family still misses the kampung. They often tell me stories about the glory days.

Funnily enough, I am compiling these stories and using them for a little novel I'm writing. It will be appropriately titled, "Kampung Boy."

As for your last point, it is like what Machiavelli said: "It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both." This is a quote our former leader applied quite literally. I believe he has even openly quoted from The Prince.