PEOPLE are always making a big fuss about me not driving, and I think they should just give up. I can drive, but I choose not to.

Owning a car and driving it, now that is a huge fuss for me. I'd rather sit in a taxi, chill and let the driver take control. Me? I'd just tell them where to go. Simple.

While the driver sweats it out trying to figure the best route, I might be taking a nap, or just day-dreaming about things.

Economically, I save a lot too. While my friends would lecture me about the "joy" of having my own car and the "freedom" of going anywhere I want, whenever I want, I just do not find driving attractive.

Let's see. Without a car, I have somehow eliminated a number of elements that could give me that extra pain.

For instance, if I were to own a car (and if I have a choice, it would be a grand, shiny continental car), I might pay over RM1,000 per month to service the loan.

Since it's a continental car that might be a real gas guzzler, I might have to fork out another RM1,000 per month on fuel.

How about the daily toll and parking fares? All in all, I might have to fork out perhaps more than RM2,000 per month just to maintain a car.

A little more may be required for summonses (for speeding and such), as well as the monthly maintenance, for engine, tyres and various other miscellaneous items.

Then, there'd be the licence and road tax renewals and along with it comes the money that should be set aside for insurance.

When you total it all up, the amount could just be the monthly payment for a respectable house or apartment.

Heck, the amount would also eat up my shopping and "recreational" budget!

That's how practical I am. Sometimes, people ask me how much I spend on taxi fares per month, and honestly, the amount is just a fraction of the total sum I might have to pay for owning a car!

A lot of people have also asked me how I get around. Well, in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley, I take the cab.

Occasionally, if I feel a little more adventurous, you could see me at your nearest LRT and monorail stations.

To go to areas such as Rawang, Sungai Buloh, or even Seremban, there's a commuter station quite near my house.

The nature of my current job takes me to almost everywhere in the country, and so far, I really don't have that much a problem getting around.

Getting to the airport? Well, hop onto the ERL and you'd get there faster (and cheaper) than driving. You can even have an early check-in at the KL Senral station counters and walk around without your baggage.

Some five years ago, while I was still a full-time staff of a newspaper, and was moonlighting as a performer during my off days, I was once slotted for stage work in Kamunting. The call time was Saturday, and to get to Kamunting I had to find my way to Taiping first.

The transport that was assigned to bring all the performers left on Friday morning, and it was impossible (and illegal) for me to just leave the office that very same day.

My plan B was pretty simple. During lunch break, I went to the KL Sentral station, and booked a sleeping berth on the night train.

After I wrapped up everything at the office, I went straight to Sentral, got on the train, and travelled all the way to Taiping, and what an adventure I had!

During that trip, I also realised how claustrophobic I was – the sleeping berth gave me the illusion that I was lying in a coffin!

To avoid the feeling of being buried (think Ororo of X-Men), I would walk from one coach to another, and got myself ensconced in the cafeteria. Along the way, I made a lot of friends too.

I remember reaching Taiping at about 3am, and from there, I got a taxi, an old Datsun 120Y, driven by a half-awake elderly man who took me all the way to Kamunting.

The following day, I was already down at the lobby at noon, as promised, to be brought to the location of the event.

The whole process might sound like a hassle to many, but hey, I loved every minute of it.

There was another instance when I had to perform in Kluang on Saturday, and I was still stuck at the office on Friday night.

Not a problem… After I finished my work, I went straight to Puduraya and booked a cab that would drive me straight to Kluang.

To ensure that I had enough energy the following day, I'd just sleep, without having to worry about any navigational calamities, or any of those travelling woes.

It's not about how you get there, but the fact that you're there on time is what matters.

Till this day, I still have the same  attitude about travelling. After all, if you profess that you'd pay for comfort, that's exactly what you should do.

Heck, even when you're in Singapore, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai or Amsterdam, you'll realise that people mainly use public transport – MRT, tube, subways and trams – so why can't we just do the same in Malaysia?

One thing for sure, I've helped reduce any environmental complications — one car less in Malaysia that could spew poisonous carbon monoxide, so to speak.

After all, "to each his own", I would say.

My non-driving attitude also got me a television spot once. The producer thought it was fun to see me behind the wheel and even "dissected" my situation in a talk show.

Occasionally, I have strangers coming to me and we end up talking about my "driving phobia", and new friendships are forged.

See? Quite a lot of good things have happened because of my so-called "predicament".

Can I actually drive? You might ask again.

Well, I certainly can. I know how a car works. I also learned quite a bit about how a car engine functions, during Industrial Arts classes when I was in lower secondary.

Heck, I might even change the tyres faster than many car owners.

In fact, I was, once upon a time, a fairly good driver. At 18, I was driving my father's Volvo 144S around my hometown in Sungai Mati.

It was actually one minor nearaccident experience that shook me, and stopped me from driving altogether.

I was driving along Jalan Bakri in Muar when a boy on a bicycle crossed the road and I almost hit him if I had not swerved fast enough.

Right after that, until now, each time I'm in the driver's seat, I get extremely nervous and start to sweat heavily. I'd immediately forget where the clutch is, or how to engage the first gear. Chances are I might get the wiper moving, although the original intention was to turn on the signal lights.

Now that's the whole truth, and I guess if I force myself to drive, I might just get someone killed (if not myself).

So, please, please people. Just quit asking me why I don't own a car or drive. It's too heartbreaking… NOT!