JOYS OF MALAYSIANS
1 YEAR OLD Special Edition
50th Malaysia Day
ISSN 2201 - 3016
9 772201 301002
ISSUE 06 AUG/SEPT 2013
We serve our food with home in mind. That’s why we are coming up with new dishes in September! By frequently flying back and forth between Australia and Malaysia, we at PappaRich Australia have striven to spread our passion and love of quality authentic food. We only use high quality ingredients to bring out the best in our Malaysian Delights. Today, PappaRich has now grown to a total of 70 outlets in Malaysia and continuous to grow rapidly internationally. Malaysian food lovers, not only in Melbourne and Sydney but also in Canberra, will also soon be able to enjoy our offerings when we bring PappaRich to the Australian Capital Territory this year. At PappaRich it is our quest to provide quality Malaysian food all over the world!
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Sponsored Article Writes Jasmine Saw
Editor Joyce Ng Editorial Assistants Josh Yu, Harry Ward, Zaw Shane News Editors Trinity Chua, Kok Fai Loke Design & Layout Wiriyak Suvanmani & Melody Numa Accounts & Marketing Christina Soh Public Relations Clarice Chan, Pam Vasu Finance & Legal Eddie Lee, Josh Yu, Cheer Ray Ang Circulation Jun Tan Editorial Contributors Joanna Loh, Honming Tung, Tzu Ging Yap, Pam Vasu, Lianne Letitia Zilm, Jonathan Lian, Fern Yi Lim, Erick Ng, Andy Ellen, Jasmine May Chen Saw, Julian Lee, Datuk Abdul Samad bin Muhammad Said, Christine Yeo, Lean Hwa Kee Photographic Contributors Eric Chiang, Jonathan Lian, Siok Yee Tan, Joyce Ng
a prize based on There will be a competition to win this little drawing! magazineaus Check out www.facebook.com/jom for more info.
Illustrator Vanessa Law Website Designer Bei Xian Koh, Victor Yap JOM would also love to thank everyone who has helped or supported and given us encouragement over the past months.
ON THE COVER Malaysian elements, traces of Melbourne and overseas Malaysians Illustrated by Vanessa Law Advertise in JOM advertise@jommagazine.com.au General inquiries contact@jommagazine.com.au Work experience/ internships JOM is recruiting and is looking to facilitate work experience or internship programs. Please email Joyce Ng at joyce@jommagazine.com.au for more information.
JOYS OF MALAYSIANS
1 YEAR OLD Special Edition
50th Malaysia Day
ISSN 2201 - 3016
Submissions JOM welcomes article, story, comic, joke and photo submissions. Please email your submissions to editor@jommagazine.com.au or for more information.
9 772201 301002
ISSUE 06 AUG/SEPT 2013
JOM Magazine is published by JOM Media Printed by Forest Printing & Trading JOM is a bi-monthly magazine.Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright is reserved.
Correction:
A caption in JOM’s June/July issue, page 61, incorrectly stated “Visiting Sikh temple”. This should have been “Visiting Orthodox Church”.
Find us online Facebook www.facebook.com/jommagazineaus Twitter Jommagazine Youtube JOMmagTV Channel www.jommagazine.com.au
TRUE BLUE. TRUE UNITY Drawing by my eldest brother when he was 11.
As I am writing this, I have just come back from Malaysia after visiting my family, and the magazine is way behind publishing schedule. But I do not regret, for obvious reasons. Recently, whenever I have gone back to Malaysia, I have become more and more amazed by the scenery in my country. After residing in Melbourne for 4.5 years, I am now able to see some beautiful sides of my country of birth - sights that I failed to notice before. I have fallen in love with Malay kampung and the beauty of the houses, people and culture.
It has been over a year, and JOM is finally turning 1 year old. Looking back, I didn’t know where this path would take me, or take us, especially when everything was started from scratch with our own pocket money. But I am really glad that we have come this far. And for those who are reading this, I thank you. Thank you for holding this magazine (or browsing online). Each of you has given us strength in providing this little service for you. No matter what is ahead of us, I am sure that what we have done so far will be worth it.
Over my past year of JOM, one of the most often heard concerns from the many Malaysians here is the issue of unity and race back in Malaysia.
I dedicate this special edition of JOM Magazine to every one of you, whether you are in or out of Malaysia, who have hopes for Malaysia and for its future.
What I have not yet mentioned is that another vague vision of mine in creating JOM was to create a site of unity - regardless of political views, ethnicity or religion. I hope that in JOM, a space outside of Malaysia, we can somehow discover or express understanding and unity. In conjunction with our first birthday and 50th Malaysia Day, we made this issue a ‘special edition’ some pages in black and white with a touch of blue. In our national colours, blue means unity. Where ‘true blue’ in Australia means true ‘Aussie’, in this issue of JOM, I would like to call it ‘true unity’. In this edition we have also came up with special feature of lesser known histories of Malaysia. I hope you will learn a little something about our history.
Yours Sincerely, Joyce Ng Editor
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CONTENTS
PAGE
09 Letter to Editor 12 JOM Picks 13 Thank You Note & JOM’s story 16 Inside Malaysia and Beyond News Corner 18 Special Feature Little Known Histories 30 Malaysian Tales Sharyn Shufiyan Asgari Fuad Stephens Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz Pak A. Samad Said 41 Community, Culture & Art Chindian Diaries Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia LuxBite 48 Down to Business April Fools of Real Estate Migration Matters New Careers 54 Styling Life Nostalgic Restaurants The Melbourne Gaol 57 Talk, Think, Laugh Kurang Manis Di Atas Padang Sejarah Patriotism on a Foreign Land Yesterday - memory of a retired teacher
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60
Dear Editor My son-in-law showed me this special edition of yours the format of which brings nostalgia to older Malaysians like men like me; hence this response. Congratulations! Although I call Melbourne “home”, I still spend roughly a third of my time in Malaysia. I keep abreast with what is going on there. The Malaysian community in Australia in general and Melbourne in particular are a very intellectual lot. I hope your magazine will reflect their level of “sophistication” and expectation. I also look forward to contribute from time to time. Yu Book Lim, March 2013 Thank you for your kind comments. We are always hoping to provide content that is of interest and relevant to the Malaysian community here. We also welcome contributions from anyone who wishes to share their views and stories with their fellow Malaysians. As someone who was born a Malaysian, I read the JOM magazine with interest - kudos to you for all that you do for this magazine! What a great idea this is. If only publication of this magazine started many years earlier! Dr Yvonne Ho, June 2013 I’ve stumbled upon your magazine and am really impressed by what you guys have been doing. I really love the idea of a Melbourne based magazine, for Malaysians, by Malaysians. I’ve read the online version of the magazine and I just think it’s great. Joel Wong, September 2012 Congratulations on the production of this magazine and thank you for sending me the first edition. I enjoyed reading JOM magazine. In fact I have been toying with the idea of encouraging the production of such a magazine to show and depict the life of Malaysians abroad, in Adelaide. Datuk Hassan Salleh, January 2013 Thank you for your kind words, Datuk. We would be happy to help in any way we can should your ideas come to fruition.
I was at Orient East last night for the Election Drinks Night and got hold of a copy of JOM (issue 3) magazine. A very impressive publication covering a wide spectrum of current affairs and news. Congratulations to you and your team on starting such an interesting magazine for the Malaysian community in Melbourne. Love to subscribe to your online magazine. Keep up the good work. Josephine Tan, May 2013 It looks like you have a great magazine there! Thank you for making a fellow Malaysian proud! Siew-May Lim, March 2013 I note with interest you article about Ambiga in your most recent edition. This gave a really good insight into her motivations and modus operandi. I have also noted in past editions your focus on Bersih and other opposition organisations both inside and outside Malaysia. But what of BN? Are they silent or are you not willing to publish their viewpoints? Asif, June 2013 Thank you for your comments, Asif. We aim to be impartial and reflect the views of all Malaysians to the best of our ability. We hope to present as many different views of Malaysians as we can and would not exclude anyone’s views based on their political orientation, as long as they have a coherent and relevant view to present. Just want to suggest if there is any plan to feature or special allocate one column/page introducing Malaysian’s business/shop in Victoria? Thanks! Khoo Eng-theng, July 2013 Thanks for your question Khoo. JOM features Malaysian businesses in Victoria through features, advertorials and advertisements. If you have any particularly interesting business you would like to introduce to our readers, we would be more than happy to hear about it. Otherwise, we are always looking for more advertisers to help fund the magazine and let us grow to better serve the Malaysian community in Melbourne and Australia. We agree, though, that we should perhaps feature more successful Malaysian businesses in our magazine.
Letter to Editor
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UPCOMING
MELBOURNIUN EVENTS JULY 25 Jul - Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) 11 Aug All day, Forum Theatre, Flinders Street www.miff.com.au Showcasing the world’s best in everything cinematic, MIFF promises to be a treat for the film aficionado. Bookings available, see website for details. AUGUST 5 July - 30 Aug
Docklands Fireworks Every Friday 7pm, the Piazza at Docklands
Fireworks are always amazing to watch, whether for its vivid colours or just a good excuse to hold that special someone’s hand, head on down to the Piazza and check out other entertainment available at the promenade. 16 – The Herald Sun Melbourne Career Expo 18 Aug Friday: 10am – 3pm Sat & Sun: 10am – 4pm www.careerexpo.com.au Whether you are a student or a fresh graduate or a veteran in the field for over 40 years, this exhibition has something for everyone. 16 - Manifest 2013 18 Aug Friday - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday - 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday - 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Melbourne Showgrounds www.manifest.org.au Manifest is a three day festival focused on anime, manga, Japanese pop culture and video games. Featuring attractions from panels, anime screenings and competitions to numerous traders and stalls and of course ‘cosplayer’ attendees decked out as their favourite anime or video game characters, this is an event not to be missed by anyone who calls themselves ‘otaku’!
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JOM Magazine Upcoming Events
EVENTS 22 Aug – Melbourne Writer’s Festival 1 Sept All day, Federation Square www.mwf.com.au Celebrate the written word and the joys of literature as masters of the craft the world over converge to interact with each other and members of the public. Bookings available. 30 – 31 Aug
In the Beginning Symposium Melbourne City Conference Centre Fri: 6pm – 9pm Sat: 9am – 4pm
Explore three different views on the origins of the Earth: atheist naturalism, young-earth and old-earth creationism. 23 Aug – A tribute to Elvis in Concert Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm – 9.30pm, Dallas Brooks Hall https://www.facebook.com/ BluestonePresentsElvis Elvis fans, rejoice! Relive the King of Rock and Roll in at his last concert at Rapid City ’77 in a fitting tribute. Visit the Facebook page for more details. SEPTEMBER 31 Aug – Five-day Shoemaking Intensive 4 Sept Sat: all day, Nicholas Building http://www.prescottandmackay.co.uk/ courses/shoemaking/five-day-shoemaking- intensive-melbourne-australia Relive the childhood dream of becoming a shoemaker’s elf and join the course as you dip your toes in the wonderful world of foot fashion. 31 Aug – Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 8 Sept Various times and locations Entrance: $25 - $35 per pax www.msfw.com.au Check out the creations of local and international designers, experience the latest styles and couture in this celebration of everything fashion.
12 Sept – The Tulip Tesselaar Festival 8 Oct 357-359 Monbulk Rd, Silvan Entrance: $17 - $20 www.tulipfestival.com.au This is one of the most colourful spring events in Melbourne – a must go for anyone who has never been there. 21 Sept – The Royal Melbourne Show 2 Oct Various Times Melbourne Showgrounds Entrance: Various options available. General admission: $16 - $32 per pax www.royalshow.com.au One of Victoria’s most iconic events that showcases the best of the Victorian countryside, featuring animals, award winning food and wine, arts and crafts, amusement rides, showbags, free live entertainment, spectacular fireworks and much more. MALAYSIAN EVENTS Aug – Oct is a busy period for Malaysian events in Melbourne, but some Malaysian-related events have yet to confirm the details at the time of writing: 17 Aug
Mega Raya 12pm, Malaysia Hall
The biggest Hari Raya celebration in Melbourne! 24 Aug
2nd ASEAN-Australia Youth Summit (AAYS) 9am - 5pm Melbourne Town Hall facebook.com/events/492689647487564
AAYS is a key initiative of the ASEAN-Australia Agenda to ensure its sustainability. Themes for this year’s AAYS will be (i) Economics, Trade and Business Links between ASEAN-Australia and (ii) Regional Human Security Challenges. 25th Aug Aspirasi Rakyat Malaysia II (ARM II) 1.30pm - 4pm Multicultural Hub facebook.com/events/562137323849218/ Can we agree on a happy ending? What do you want your future Malaysia to look like? 6 Sept National Day Celebration Malaysian National Day celebration hosted by the Consulate General of Malaysia, Melbourne.
21 Sept
Inaugural Malaysia Day Festival Queensbridge Square
In conjunction with 50th Malaysia Day, JOM is organizing the first Malaysia Day Festival in Melbourne! The event will aim at building AustraliaMalaysia relationship, not forgetting showcasing Malaysian beautiful culture. One of the highlights would be a photo gallery by Australian war veterans to share their stories during their time in Malaysia. 21 Sept
Inaugural Spring Cup
Futsal tournament organized by Kelab UMNO Melbourne. 22 Sept Seminar Pembangunan Insan (SPU) or Human Capital Development Seminar An annual event organized by Kelab UMNO Melbourne, calling upon the leaders, entrepreneurs and exceptional individuals from Malaysia to discuss ideas and current issues that affect Malaysia and the globe with Malaysians in Melbourne. 27 Sept Grand Malaysian Ball Leonda by the Yarra http://www.grandmalaysianball.com/ The second Malaysian Ball that is organized by Malaysian student societies for all Malaysian students in Victoria. 27 – ASEAN Games Australia 29 Sept www.aseangamesaustralia.com.au An annual sporting event for athletes from ten Southeast Asian nations to showcase their skills and make new friends. 5 Oct
GRADUAN Crown Melbourne
Annual Career Fair for people wanting to work in Malaysia. 6 Oct
Malaysian Aspiration Summit Marriott Hotel
Annual conference to discuss about present and future of Malaysia, organised by Malaysian Student Council of Australia (MASCA) Victoria.
JOM Magazine Upcoming Events ||
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JOM
Lentil as Anything Vegetarian Buffet with donation Location: Abbotsford, Footscray, St Kilda Opening hours vary www.lentilasanything.com Lentil as Anything’s philosophy is based on the idea of ‘universal pay as you feel’. Yes, it is a place where you can eat as much as you want and pay as much (or little) as you want. Lentil as Anything is a not-for-profit organisation that provides vegetarian meals, relying on the generosity of volunteers, patrons and partners. Whether you are here for the healthy vegetarian food (tastes quite good actually!), or for the artsy and warm community space, or because you are on a tight budget, Lentil as Anything is a unique experience that is centred on the values of trust, generosity and respect regardless of financial situation.
FashionDacci Quirky fashion Tue: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm Thu - Sun: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm Address: 117-119 Therry Street. Melbourne 3000. www.fashion-dacci.com FashionDacci is a ‘crazy’ little boutique located just around Queen Victoria Market. Because the store is quite small, it is difficult to view the beautiful gems hidden in store from the outside. However, as soon as you step into the boutique, it becomes every fashionista’s dream. FashionDacci is like no ordinary store in Melbourne. The items it stocks are new, fresh, funky, edgy and a little bit bizarre, making them perfect if you want to stand out in a crowd. Don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself!
Montsalvat A day of art classes around a French estate
Werribee Mansion and Rose Garden A perfect place to relax in Spring
Phone: (03) 9439 7712 7 Hillcrest Ave. Eltham Victoria 3095 Entry fees apply www.montsalvat.com.au
K Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030 Opens daily, opening time varies Phone: 03 8734 5100 www.vicstaterosegarden.com.au/home.html www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Melbourne/Activitiesand-attractions/History-and-heritage/WerribeeMansion.aspx
Set in 12 acres of gardens, historic buildings and cottages, Montsalvat is a temporal home to many artists from all corners of the world. One can marvel at these artists hard at work in individual tiny cottages. If art isn’t your thing, you can spend the afternoon frolicking around the estate, which much resembles a typical French village. There is the Great Hall with wooden tables, polished slate floor and a large fire place. Sometimes, with only the fire illuminating the room, it gives the impression that the old hall used to be part of a grandiose French Chateau. A short walk from the Hall, you may also take a peek at the blue-stone chapel with its silhouette reflected in a pond of emerald green water.
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PICKS
JOM’s Picks
At the Victoria State Rose Garden in Spring, you will be surrounded by over 5000 roses that have been planted in the shape of a giant Tudor Rose. Awarded the International Garden of Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2003, it was the first rose garden to receive the award that is cared for entirely by volunteers outside of Europe. Next to the rose garden is the beautiful Werribee Mansion – “a living, breathing postcard of 19th century Australia”. The mansion has a long history that you can explore when walking through its halls and rooms– stories of early English settlers including the original owners of the mansion in Werribee.
T Y S J
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING JOM. Eddie Lee, Wei Liang Tan, David Teoh, Anthony Tan, Zaim Mohzani, Pam Vasu, Akmal Zulkifli, Ahmad Ahsan Khan, Sophia Leyz, Sonya Ong, Sumisha Naidu, Aik Sern Lee, Chen Wing Seng, Antony Wallace, Melissa Yang Ying Qing, Jing Xing Lee, Ammar Khairi, Ka Mun Ho, Emily Matthews, Harry Ward, Adeline Wong, Dato’ Dr. Rameez Yahaya, Fern Yi Lim, Joanna Loh, Honming Tung, Trinity Chua, Loke Kok Fai, Christina Soh, Calvin Chua, Tunku Abidin Muhriz, Charmaine Fong, Dwayne Ong, Melvin Castelino, Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman, Datuk Hassan Salleh, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, National Borneo Malaya Veteran Association, Owen Marshall, Amanda Wong, Gajan Jeyasundram, Chee Chin Lee, Praveen Nagappan, Norlim Ariffin, Haji Abdul Hamid, Wiriyak Suvanmani, Joo Li Su, Raymond Chai, Clarice Chan, Julian CH Lee, Melissa Yang Ying Qing, Chee Han Lim, Andy Ellen, PappaRich Australia, New Careers, SP Setia Melbourne, Jian Hui Tan, Wui Keat Chen, Extra Green, Kabo Lawyers, Malaysia Airlines, Chilli Malam, Chan Charlie Chan, Xynergy Australia, Mr. Choong Ka Wai, Cheer Ray Ang, Phillip Golingai, Bei Xian Koh, Jristan Chan, Eric Chiang, Lance Vun, Ian Tay, Erick Ng, Zaw Shane, Josephine Tan, Lianne Letitia Zilm, Puteri Sherry Mohamad Rameez, KC Boey, Chom Lee, Clive Magazine, BFM, Jason Lim, Hometown Asian Groceries, Ken Lin Ooi, Jasmine Saw, Tzu Ging Yap, Rosheen Fatima, Ty Tien Chew, Yik Hwa Tan, JS Teh, Marian Chow, Fikri Jermadi, Emily Yii, Kenneth Leow, Lebin Teo, Stan CH Lee, Veronica Hui Mei Lee, Julian Harding, Azim Hamid, Al Zaquan, Mohd Amin Zakaria, SABM Melbourne, MASCA Victoria & National, Cr Ken Ong, Christopher Chan, Jonathan Lian, China Bar Group, Siok Yee Tan, Paul Maric, Adri Praditya, Forest Printing & Trading, Swee Fong Pang, Secret Recipe Australia, i Darts Australia, Chin Huat Wong, Wing Seng Chen, Kevin Bathman, Charlene Chen, Kim Ong, Joe Perri, Marion Lau JP, Hong Lim JP, Lean Hwa Kee, Xiang Wei Ng, MA Legal, Metroplot, Bhagwan Hassan, Logann Mahadaven, Melody Numa, Loyar Burok, Josephine Foo, James Tan, Wei Hao Vice, Farah Hashim, Victor Yap, Monash University
and everyone else who has supported JOM over the past year for giving us strength and enabling us to grow and achieve our first birthday! Sorry for not being able to individually name everyone, including interviewees, various businesses such as groceries and restaurants that have allow us to distribute our magazines at their premises, and the kind and encouraging words from many people, for you who have ‘liked’ our Facebook page, and the passers-by who gave us a smile.
JOM’s Story & Thank You Note
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A Timeline of JOM! 2012 April – The idea to start a Malaysian community magazine in Australia is planted at the baggage claim area in Melbourne Tullamarine Airport between two strangers, one of them being the current editor. She then started looking for the right people to form a team. June – A facebook competition is run to name the magazine, with many interesting and funny names submitted, such as “Sambal Down Under”, “The Boleh-land”, “Durians United”, “Eat, Pray, Lepak!” etc. “JOM” obtains the highest votes among JOM members. Winner Erick Ng receives a $100 Coles voucher. July – JOM Media Pty Ltd is registered as a company in Australia. Logo is designed with a little Rhinoceros Hornbill – Malaysia’s national bird – which is now our cartoon mascot! August – Pilot issue this month as Merdeka Day approaches, but challengers are encountered in finding advertisers. JOM Magazine’s first website is launched. September – Pilot issue, Issue00 is published with Wai Hong Fong on the cover. The entrepreneur was among the top 100 most influential people in Melbourne in 2011 according to The Age.
October – Decided to take a break before publishing the next issue, and publishing bi-monthly instead of monthly. December – Issue01 is published, being a special edition with a ‘buku latihan’ (school exercise books) concept, and with a foreword from the Foreign Minister of Malaysia! Also went for a ‘Journey to the west’ – a dolphin trip! :D
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JOM’s Story & Thank You Note
2013 January – Website restructured, with news stories and updates being published online to be shared with readers. Execs committee of JOM is finally structured and formed. February – The first Consul General of Malaysia in Melbourne is on cover. However it is printed with Issue03 on the cover instead of Issue02. So in JOM’s history, there’s no issue02!
April – The last remaining WW2 Malaya and Borneo war veteran in Melbourne is featured on the cover. May – Editor is exhausted, stressed and a little depressed. But thanks to much support she is able to stand up and walk again! June – Ambiga Sreenevasan, figurehead of Malaysian civil movement Bersih, is on the cover. This issue achieves over 25,000 views in 2 weeks! August/September – We are officially 1 year old! There has been much blood and sweat, and even tears in creating JOM. But we are glad that we have come so far! Throughout this journey, we have also met many amazing people, from both Malaysia and Australia. We welcome any financial contributions, including advertising and donations, as this is crucial in maintaining our ability in serving you this little piece of Malaysia in our community magazine. Please contact advertise@jommagazine.com.au if interested. About JOM – JOM means ‘let’s go’ in Malay. It also stands for “Journal of Malaysians”, “Journeys of Malaysians” “Joys of Malaysians” and possibly some other acronyms we haven’t thought of yet! JOM magazine is the first and only Malaysian community magazine in Australia, and one of the only ones in the world. We are a diaspora Malaysian magazine for diaspora Malaysians, with interest in cultural and current issues around us and an investment in Malaysia.
JOM’s Story & Thank You Note
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15
NEWS
CORNER
NEWS FROM BOLEHLAND CRIME GETTING MORE VIOLENT IN MALAYSIA Victims in the past lost just their belongings but they now face the danger of sustaining fatal injuries says Criminologist, Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat. She believes this is so because onlookers are more likely to help the victims rather than give chase after the culprits. Last month, the shooting of a former senior banker in Kuala Lumpur shook the nation and sparked public concern over an increase in reports of other shootings, armed robberies and petty crimes. The Malaysian police has been criticised for failure to address the problem while the ruling coalition has been scrutinized for covering up the severity of crime in the country. The current action plan- the Home Ministry says more surveillance cameras will be installed in crime hot spots while Selangor government says 360 auxiliary policemen will be trained to help combat rising crime. Source: BFM 89.9, AsiaOne, ABC Radio. CHEAP GUNS FOR HIRE - Guns are rented out for less than a night’s stay at a local five-star hotel while bullets are sold cheaper than a bottle of water, crime watchdog MyWatch co-founder S. Gobi Krishnan says. RM 300 will get you a gun and 80 sen for a bullet. The business started out small but became quite popular when people come to know about it. Prior to this, it costs RM5,000 to RM6,000 for a gun. The Prime Minister has hinted that there will be a new law that is expected to be tabled this September to provide police with more power to curb armed crimes.Source: BFM 89.9, The Malay Mail MUSLIM WOMAN CELEBRATE HARI RAYA WITH HER DOGS - Last month, two young non-Muslims wished their Muslim friends, ‘Selamat Hari Raya’ while eating a Malaysian pork dish. They soon found themselves behind bars. In a more recent case, a video depicting a Muslim woman celebrating Hari Raya with her dogs has drawn similar criticism and she was quickly put behind bars for two nights. Maznah Mohd Yusof remained she did not deliberately insulted Islam, pointing out that the religion does not forbid a Muslim from keeping or caring for dogs. Online netizens on social media sites have criticized the government’s heavy handed approach to the dogtrainer while some Malaysians believe what she did is an insult to the religion. Source: BFM 89.9, News Straits Times, Facebook MINORS AND CHEAP SEX - RM 20 for sex with a minor that is the price for child prostitutes in Malacca. Six child prostitutes have been caught during an antinarcotics operation in the town. The six girls, all under 14, say they have prostituted themselves to keep up with their own drug use.
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Inside Malaysia & Beyond
WRITE TRINITY CHUA & KOK FAI LOKE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM JASON LIM, BFM
The Malacca authorities also have reported that a 26-year-old drug addict has forced his 13-year-old girlfriend into prostitution. The girls are currently in rehabilitation. Cases are no less severe in India. Recent cases include a couple in Jaipur who have purchased a minor girl for Rs.20,000 and since then have forced her into prostitution. Source: Yahoo News THE NEW VILLAGE: CENSORED - The New Village is a forbidden love story set in pre-Merdeka period by the award-winning director Wong Kew-Lit. Before its release, the Home Ministry has suspended it after the trailer sparked a storm on the internet. The trailer has drawn heavy backlash from right-wingers who believe the film glorified the communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. Malaysians who are against the film believe that it is an insult to Malaysia’s then national heroes including soldiers and policemen who have sacrificed their lives to protect the country from communist insurgence. Producers of the film comment that the trailer has been playing in Klang Valley’s cinemas since last year but did not spike any heated response till now. Source: BFM 89.9, The Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today MALAYSIA GETTING OLD - By the 2021, Malaysia will become an ageing population with the number of people aged 65 and older reaching 11.4 per cent in the next 30 years. Commentators suggest that government should invest in social development programmes that can yield substantial productivity returns. When people are properly trained, incenstivised and in better health, they can produce more and better for a longer period of time. Malaysia’s current social protection and programmes allocation is at 3.7 per cent of national GDP, which is lower than most Asian countries but slightly above Singapore’s. Source: The Star, BFM 89.9, News Straits Time APPLE HACKED, MALAYSIANS SPIED - Australian intelligence sources have confirmed that classified tool XKeyscore has been used to spy on Malaysia among other Asia-Pacific countries. Australian intelligence source says the program is only used for diplomatic, political and economic intelligence collection of ‘targets of interests’ across the whole Asia-Pacific. Similarly, Putrajaya has also revealed that it will soon be introducing new measures that allow law enforcers to intercept communications and snap electronic bracelets to track organised and violent crime suspects. On another note, Apple’s main website shuts down after intruders have tried to steal information, however, Apple have reported that no customer information is compromised. Source: The Malay Mail, BFM 89.9, Sydney Morning Herald
TALLEST BUILDING SOON CHINA’S - China is on its way to build an 838m skyscraper, which will also be the world’s tallest building. The building is expected to be completed in April next year. The building will cost a whopping USD 1.5 billion. The building consists of a 10km-long walkway stretching from the ground to the 170th floor as well as cinema, park and children’s playground. However, the speed of the construction raised concerns over the safety of the structure, in a country where infrastructures failures have caused many lives in the past. Source: BFM 89.9, eNCA
LIVING WITH YOUR PARENTS - The number of young adults living at home with their parents in 2012 have reached its highest level in the last four decades, according to Pew Research Centre. 21.6 million young adults below the age of 30 are living in their parents’ home. Experts believe the new trend is a result of lack of employment for the new generation. 63 per cent of young adults had jobs in 2012, down from 70 per cent in 2007. Many of these young adults are financially dependent on their parents. Other reasons causing this new trend include the increase college enrolment fee resulting in student debts, low-paying job or part-time employment and health insurance. Source: Newsday, Huffington Post, NyTimes
WORLD’S DISASTERS: RECAP - In India, scientists found pesticides in the food and oil used in free school lunch. The poisoned lunch pack killed 23 students and sickened 25 others. In China, an earthquake hit Gansu province and 22 died while 300 people were severely injured. In Pakistan, 17 people have been burned to death when a gas cylinder exploded on a bus when collided with a lorry. One passenger survived. Source: BFM 89.9
THE CHRONICLES OF KEVIN RUDD - Former Prime Minister has ousted Prime Minister Julian Gillard as leader of the Australia’s Labor Party. Gillard has now left politics while many analysts believe the Labor party brought Rudd back as a last minute attempt to save the party in this year’s coming election. Rudd is believed to be more popular with voters than Gillard and many parliamentarians calculated that Rudd will help at least prevent an electoral wipe-out and maybe help save their own seats.
NEW BREAKTHROUGH FOR DENGUE FEVER A collaboration between the French and Thais have found that dengue fever is spread through a genetic interaction between mosquitoes and the virus that causes the disease. The disease, usually found in the tropics, have migrated to more temperate zones thank to air travel and climate change. According to the scientists, only some mosquitoes are able to pass on the virus after sucking blood from an infected human but others do not due to the unique genetic pairing between insect and virus. These findings could have implications for developing geneticallyengineered, dengue resistant mosquitoes in the future. Meanwhile, Honduras has declared a state of emergency after a dengue fever outbreak that left 16 people dead. Source: BFM 89.9, RFI
Resuming his leadership, Rudd has announced that no asylum seekers boat will be resettled on Australian soil again. Instead, he recently has signed a new agreement with Papua New Guinea that will allow asylum seekers to resettle in the Pacific Island nation. Rudd says PNG can house up to 10,000 asylum seekers.
THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD
NAZIS WANTED - Some 2,000 posters depicting the Nazi Auschwitz death camp, calling for people to come forward with information are displayed in Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. The US-based Simon Wiesenthal Centre offers up to 25,000 euros for information which helps to prosecute war criminals in Germany. According to official records, 60 people are still alive and fit to stand trial for the atrocities in the death camps and mass killings during the war. The poster depict in German: “Late but not too late. Millions of innocents were murdered by Nazi war criminals. Some of the perpetrators are free and alive. Help us take them to court.” Auschwitz was the biggest Nazi death camp where more than 1.1 million people were murdered. Source: BBC
The Chinese-speaking Prime Minister also announced recently that Korean will be Australia’s fifth priority language and will be taught at schools alongside Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian and Hindi. Rudd also announced massive spending on childcare, the car industry and mental health. He made his announcement days after a shocking budget that increased taxes and cut spending by $17 billion to cope with a shock $33 billion hit to revenue. Rudd’s plan is to create 68,000 before and after school childcare places at 500 schools to help families tackle the cost of living ad balance work and family life. His plan costs him $450 million. His party will also give an extra $28.6 million to Toyota for its Altona manufacturing operations and $21 million will be spent on mental health services. Source: Herald Sun, BBC, the Daily Telegraph
JOM Magazine Inside Malaysia & Beyond
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Little Known Histories Written and compiled by Joanna Loh, Honming Tung, Lianne Letitia Zilm, Pam Vasu, Tzu Ging Yap, Joyce Ng
In this special edition of JOM, we have dedicated a section for stories that are not prominent or ignored in our history text books. These stories have been randomly selected, and might be presented from particular perspectives. We invite you to join us in exploring some lesser known but nevertheless significant or interesting pieces of Malaysia’s history.
Photo contributed by Jenny Poon Mei Yoke. Taken in 1957 under the well
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Merdeka Park Merdeka Park, Kuala Lumpur, was opened on April 20, 1958 by the first Prime Minister of Malaya/Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman, also known as the “Father of Malaysia” who declared the park to be “for all people for all future generations”. Merdeka Park, also known as Tunku Park, became a favourite recreational area for Kuala Lumpur residents, especially for the children whose play area included play structures like swings, see-saws, slides, a climbing frame and a maypole, which were donated by the Selangor Playing Fields Association and placed on the terraces. In 1997 the land was gifted to UEM by the government and in 1998, the park was demolished. Currently, the developer is PNB who took over the land from UEM. At the time of writing, the development plan is still a sketch, consisting of a 118 storey tower which will become PNB’s new headquarters, luxury hotels and serviced condominiums. Groups have called for preservation of the historical park and opposed commercialising the space, including a coalition of over 20 non-government organisations, called “Pertahankan Taman Merdeka Negara” (PTMN). The Master Plan architects for the project is Fender Katsalidis Architects from Melbourne, Australia and that Master Plan has not yet been made public at the time of writing. Sources: ‘Building Merdeka’ by Lai Chee Kien, interview with Merdeka Park KL facebook administrator
known ‘mushroom‘ structure at Merdeka Park, KL.
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Secret Societies / Communism Short story from a Chief Police It was the year 1946, just a year after the war had ended. If you remember reading about MPAJA (Malayan Peoples’ Anti-Japanese Army) in History textbooks, you may recall that they were intent on taking the law into their own hands and committed many brutal murders in the name of ‘justice’. Secret societies were another source of communist power. These societies were initially formed many centuries ago back in China, when there was general discontent with the Chinese government. This culture continued when the Chinese immigrated to Malaya, most likely as a means of unity and protection. They had their own set of 36 principles and even their own code of law for members, particularly for dealing with offences committed by one member against another. One such law is known as ‘death by submarine ride’, whereby a person who commits a crime such as adultery is shot, put into a sack and thrown into the river. In Penang, these secret societies organised themselves into 22 branches covering different territories. They acted like the
Robin Hoods of the state, taking from the privileged and giving to the oppressed; except this usually involved destruction and bloodshed. As it usually is with such operations, there was a ringleader whom the police were working to capture. This particular leader, Ooi, lived in the hills of Penang and had his spies. Hence he was always wellinformed if a party was out searching for him. This meant that most police operations had to be covert and organised at night. Once, the police were given a ‘red hot’ lead that took them to a coconut plantation, where they expected to find the man hiding in a squatter hut. After wandering in the darkness for some time, they all ran for cover, fully armed, upon hearing what sounded like a group of people running. To their amusement, it was actually a herd of cows that had been startled by their presence – yet another foiled attempt! Eventually, the police located Ooi in a small fishing village called Semeling, which is just south of Sungai Patani in Kedah. Under a Banishment Inquiry, he was sentenced to be deported back to China. Adapted from “The Adventures of Johnny Ritchie”, Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn Bhd, 1999.
In 2004, Leonard Andaya explored the origin of the Malay race, finding that the Malay ethnicity belongs to an Austronesian group which was based in Taiwan about 6000 years ago. In his book titled “Contesting Malayness: Malay Identity Across Boundaries”, he wrote: “Based on archaeological and linguistic evidence, it is believed that these people were in Taiwan between 4000 and 3000 BCE. They then migrated outward between 2500 and 1500 BCE through Phillipines, the northen half of Borneo, Sulawesi central Java and eastern Indonesia. From about 1500 – 500 BCE, there was a further movement southward in Borneo, then out to the western half of Java and eastern Indonesia. From about 1500 to 500 BCE, there was a further movement southward in Borneo, then out to the western half of Java and westward to Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and the central part of Vietnam.”
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Sybil Kathigasu During the Japanese Occupation in Malaya, Sybil Kathigasu (nee Daly) endured considerable torture from the Japanese military police as she refused to divulge any information about the resistance fighters who were hiding in the hills of Papan, Perak. A Eurasian midwife who spoke fluent Cantonese, Kathigasu and her family moved from Ipoh to Papan in late December 1941 to avoid the bombing of Ipoh by the Japanese. She was later roped in to provide essential medical services to the resistance fighters in Papan. Unfortunately, she was arrested in August 1943 along with her husband Abdon Clement Kathigasu and adopted son William Pillay after they were betrayed to the Japanese. Singled out for her refusal to co-operate with her captors, Kathigasu had hot iron rods sear her legs, her fingernails pulled out by pliers, and was forced to drink large amounts of water before her tormenters stepped on her bloated stomach. She was released 3 weeks after the end of World War II from her Batu Gajah jail, paralysed from a blow to her spine. Subsequently, she was sent to Britain for medical treatment, where she wrote her memoirs ‘No Dram of Mercy’. Tragically, she succumbed to septicemia from an infected wound on her jaw on June 12, 1948 at the age of 49. Her remains were eventually returned to Malaysia, and her funeral procession was attended by a crowd of 100 000. She was survived by her husband, her adopted son and her two daughters, Olga and Dawn. In recognition of her courageous efforts to protect the resistance fighters in Papan, Kathigasu was the only Malayan to receive the George Medal, a second-level civilian award from the United Kingdom. Until today, her clinic in Papan is still preserved as a gallery in her memory, a road in Ipoh is named after her, and several TV series have been made about her. Interestingly, Elaine Daly, an actress-model who played Kathigasu’s role in the TV series ‘Apa Dosaku’ (What is My Sin?), is Kathigasu’s grandniece. Sources: 1. Interview with Law Siak Hong, the keeper of Sybil Kathigasu’s gallery in Papan. 2. Vimla C. Sybil Kathigasu – Malaysia’s Unsung Hero. http://digitaljournal.com/blog/13366. 2011.
The 1988 judicial crisis The 1988 judicial crisis began with two amendments made to the Malaysian Constitution in March 1988. These amendments removed the High Courts’ constitutional right to judicial review, resulting in the diminishing of judiciary independence. Meanwhile, the results of the United Malays National Organisation’s (UMNO) party elections that took place on April 1987 was challenged by the supporters of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who ran for the post of party president and had marginally lost to Tun Dr Mahathir. The outcome of the UMNO party president elections was important as it determined Malaysia’s prime minister, given that UMNO was the dominant party of the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (National Front). Tengku Razaleigh’s supporters argued that some delegates who voted in that election were from unrecognised party branches, and thus, altered the results of the election. In February 1988, UMNO was declared as an illegal organisation on the basis that it contained several unregistered branches. Tun Dr Mahathir and his allies proceeded to
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set up ‘UMNO Baru’ (new UMNO), which was made up mostly of Tun Dr Mahathir and his own supporters. The Tengku Razaleigh camp then appealed against the previous decision to declare UMNO illegal, as restoring the old UMNO’s legality would have excluded Tun Dr Mahathir’s camp from the old UMNO as they had already joined another party. Lord President Tun Salleh Abas scheduled a hearing in 13 June 1988, which placed Tun Dr Mahathir’s political future in a precarious position. On 27 May 1988, Tun Salleh Abas was suspended as head of Malaysia’s judiciary on the basis that he had displeased the king by previously complaining about the Government’s persistent criticism of the decisions made by the judiciary. The acting Lord President, Abdul Hamid Omar, eventually dismissed the appeal lodged by the Tengku Razaleigh camp, and was involved in a tribunal that sacked Tun Salleh Abas with effect from 8 May 1988 for being guilty of misconduct. 20 years later, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was premier at that time acknowledged the injustices suffered by the judges involved and issued ex-gratia payments to them or their families on 17 April 2008. The 1988 judicial crisis has often been cited as the beginning of the decline of the independence of Malaysia’s judiciary. Conversely, it has also been hailed as the beginning of the increased efficiency of the judiciary system due to a reduction of its backlog, and its liberation from being deferential to Malaysia’s ex-colonial powers. Sources: 1. Wain B. Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times. Palgrave Macmillan. 2010. 2. Interview with the Bar Council. 3. News sources with regards to Abdullah’s ‘apology’.
Sarawak Museum and its Recent Archaeology Findings Until 1964, Sarawak Museum was the only museum in Borneo since its establishment in 1891. Due to the absence of professional crew in archaeological study at that time, the first excavation by the museum staff only took place in 1948. The findings were both rewarding and exciting. Ever since, extensive archaeological works have been carried out on more than 50 sites throughout Sarawak. The excavations disclosed the best-kept secret of Sarawak’s past history and the rich and varied heritage of its indigenous people. The earlier definite representative of Homo Sapiens in Southeast Asia has been found at the West Mouth of the Niah Great Cave. Numerous prehistoric artefacts had been discovered. At the depth of 96 inches, a skull of one of the oldest humans was excavated, with the surrounding charcoal dated by experts at about 40,000 years old! In a separate limestone outcrop nearby the Niah Great Cave, a 200 feet stretch
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in length wall paintings was discovered. The paintings were generally drawn in bold and thick strokes and depict an array of boats and spreadeagle dancing human figures. Also found in this Painted Cave were “death-ships”, Chinese stoneware and many ancient glass beads. Carbon-14 dating on four “deathships” gave between 0 and 780 A.D Thousands of ceramic sherds were excavated in Santubong in 1949, the largest archaeological site in Malaysia. Other than Chinese ceramics, about 40,000 tons of iron slag formed another salient discovery. It is believed that this area was once an important centre of traders and iron mining in the region between 11th Century A.D. to 13th Century A.D. Another interesting discovery was made in late 1974, when seventy-nine stone tools in association with metal objects, ancient beads and local earthenware were uncovered on a remote site of Ulu Baleh, Kapit. It is the first open stone age site ever located in Borneo. Adapted from the Sarawak Museum website
Kelantan’s iron lady: The legend of Princess Saadong Princess Saadong ruled Kelantan, a state off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, around 1663 to 1671. The story of Princess Saadong has often been shrouded in mystery, as there is little tangible evidence of her existence. She is of the Jembal lineage, which was from a kingdom near Kelantan. She was said to be adopted by the mythical Che Siti Wan Kembang, who was the queen of Kelantan. After her father’s death, Princess Saadong was installed as ruler of Jembal, and was also eventually made ruler of Kelantan by Che Siti Wan Kembang. She was married off to a relative, Raja Abdullah, whom she was deeply in love with. Meanwhile, the king of Siam attacked Kelantan and was reportedly extremely interested in securing Princess Saadong as a concubine because of her beauty. After attempts to defend themselves from the Siamese scourge, Princess Saadong decided to give herself in to prevent more deaths of her people from occurring. Princess Saadong and her husband, Raja Abdullah promised to remain faithful to one another throughout her impending time in Siam. Although the king of Siam was smitten by the Princess’ beauty and talent in dancing, Princess Saadong inflicted a skin disease on him, which she cured on the condition of her release. Upon her release and arrival in her native Kelantan, Princess Saadong was shocked to find that her husband, Raja Abdullah, had taken another woman to be his wife. There are several versions as to what subsequently occurred. A popular version was that Princess Saadong inadvertently stabbed Raja Abdullah in her rage with her hairpin during an altercation about Raja Abdullah’s infidelity. Another version states that Raja Abdullah stabbed himself with Princess Saadong’s hairpin out of remorse. Princess Saadong then appointed a relative of Raja Abdullah, Raja Abdul Karim, to become king of Kelantan, and she subsequently vanished. Although Raja Abdullah’s mausoleum is still in existence until today, Princess
Saadong’s remains have never been found. She was said to have either eventually disappeared into the supernatural world, or eventually migrated to Acheh and married into the Bugis sultanate. In June 2010, the story of Princess Saadong was back in the news as a local woman, Raja Tengku Putri Anis, stepped forward to claim that she was a descendant to Princess Saadong and a legitimate member of the Jembal royal family. Source: 1. Putri Anis sah keturunan Puteri Saadong. http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info. asp?y=2011&dt=0725&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_ Negeri&pg=dn_14.htm. 2011. 2. http://pinkkebaya-lifethewayiseeit.blogspot.com. au/2010/06/4-legend-of-princess-saadong-princess. html. 3. http://infinatus-lagendamelayu.blogspot.com. au/2012/04/puteri-saadong.html. 4. http://azmipasak.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/puterisaadong.html.
Sabah: 1985 State Elections and the Aftermath Did you know that Sabah once had two Chief Ministers? Back in 1985 when Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) won the state elections under Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, it was the first time that the opposition held control over the state. While there was originally an informal pact between PBS and USNO, a communication failure on the election night panicked USNO because PBS was then able to form the state-government without honouring the pact. On impulse, USNO decided to collude with BERJAYA, a BN component party, and had their USNO president, Tun Mustapha Harun, sworn in as Chief Minister. However, his appointment was deemed illegal because the collusion between USNO and BERJAYA did not result in a simple majority. Tun Mustapha could not form a democratic state government. Thus, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin was subsequently sworn in as the rightful Chief Minister. In response, Tun Mustapha filed an injunction against the State Governor over the results of the 1985 State Elections. This resulted in a court battle that eventually ended in the favour of PBS. Throughout the eleven months leading to the result of the civil suit, demonstrators launched fish bombs randomly across Sabah. But the worst came on the day of the
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court result. Seven fish bombs exploded in Kota Kinabalu, targeting primarily petrol stations. USNO supporters then hit the streets and marched their way to Tun Mustapha’s residence. Tun Mustapha brought in Muslim Filipinos from the Semporna islands to support his street riot on the alleged illegality of the 1985 election results, and also to protest Tan Sri Joseph Pairin’s appointment because he was Christian. There was an attempt to turn the political demonstration into a religious one when two red crosses were painted onto the state mosque’s walls. These incidents led to a curfew which lasted 39 days. This turn of events forced Tan Sri Joseph Pairin to dissolve State Assembly and call for fresh elections in 1986. Sabahans expressed their disgust over the riot via the ballot box as PBS won by a landslide majority and USNO was silenced, thus marking the end of a black episode in Sabah history. A total of 34 bombs, 20 arson cases, 56 bomb threats and 73 destroyed cars were reported. 1763 people were arrested, and there were 5 known casualties. Yet given the scale of the incident, it is surprising that the 1986 Sabah riot was nearly forgotten and is rarely spoken of to this day. Sources: 1. Ilana N. Rusuhan Tersembunyi / The Silent Riot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymTL8LiRn_U. 2013 2. The Silent Riot – a Documentary on the Sabah Riots of 1986. http://thesilentriotdocumentary. wordpress.com/
Merdeka & Hartal Beyond UMNO “Kuala Lumpur came to a standstill on October 20, 1947. The street is throttled by hartal (strike action) and the city looked like it was defeated by garuda (eagle of apocalyptic legend).” (Forgotten Wars: The End of Britain’s Asian Empire, 2005). Hartal, which means protest, was said to be the first political strike in Malaya to be observed by all sections of society. The strike was planned by All Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA), a coalition consisting mostly of left-wing political groups, which referred to people who were against the British. They were critical in pushing Malaya towards Independence, with the slogan “Merdeka” (independence) in contrast to UMNO’s “Hidup Melayu”,
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according to Yahya Nassim, former Vice Treasurer of PKMM. The hartal was a response to the British Empire’s Malayan Union, as groups regarded the Federation Constitution in 1948 as another form of Britain’s continued governorship of Malaya with tactics such as segregation of races. AMCJA was a coalition of 29 groups, included Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) and Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS) to name a few. The coalition represented the youth, labourers and women from different backgrounds, including a trade union which was made up of mostly Indians. AMCJA was the first Malayan multiracial political coalition that came to prominence. The AMCJA, together with PUTERA (Centre for People’s Power), drafted and proposed a “People’s Constitution” for Malaya in response to the proposed Malayan Federation Constitution created by the British, Malay royal kings and UMNO in December 1946. Among the policies in the “People’s Constitution” included Singapore being part of the federation, all citizens to be referred to as “Melayu” which was agreed unanimously by AMCJA’s non-Malay members, and that Malaya would be a new nation instead of another colony of British. As PUTERA-AMCJA’s People’s Constitution was ignored by the British, Hartal began on October 20, 1947, from 6am until midnight, with many businesses closed for the day in many towns. Despite public protest, the British colonial government enforced the Federal Constitution on February 1, 1948. Emergency regulations were enforced on June 18, 1948 during the communist period, which caused many organisations to be banned. Some leaders of AMCJA were detained under the ordinance and only released after many years. Sources: 1. Harper T., Bayly C. Forgotten Wars: The End of Britain’s Asian Empire. Penguin Books Limited. 2008. 2. Weiss ML. Protest and Possibilities: Civil Society and Coalitions for Political Change in Malaysia. Stanford University Press. 2006. 3. 10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka (2007). http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=4Sn3C2QTeRs
The Senoi Praaq during Malayan Emergency Orang Asli: No bystanders in Malaysia’s history The Senoi tribes are a part of the indigenous people of Malaysia (the Orang Asli), and mainly live in central Malaysian Peninsula, particularly in Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, and Selangor. They were actively involved in the Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960 along with other sub-ethnic groups of the Orang Asli by supporting the efforts of the British Administration to quell the influence of the Communists on Malaya. During World War II, the Communistinfluenced anti-Japanese resistance forces were based in the Malayan jungles and formed good relationships with the Orang Asli. In the beginning of the Malayan Emergency, the jungle-based Communist guerillas procured the services of the Orang Asli obtaining food, porters and even new recruits to their cause. Concerned about the growing Communist influence on the Orang Asli, the British sought to win over the Orang Asli via psychological warfare. The Orang Asli were also increasingly disillusioned with the Communist guerrillas as they had killed some Orang Asli who were not directly involved in the anti-Communist efforts. For example, an entire Orang Asli village in Bidor was reportedly massacred by the Communist guerrillas due to suspicions that the village was collaborating with the British. The Senoi Praaq, which can be loosely translated to ‘war people’, was set up by the Orang Asli Department to further counter the Communist influence over the Orang Asli. Being natives of the jungles in Malaysia, their knowledge of the jungle proved extremely useful in sighting Communist guerrillas, providing intelligence and killing these guerrillas. The Senoi Praaq garnered a reputation for being extremely effective in the antiCommunist efforts, so much so that the Communist guerrillas were careful to avoid them. The efforts of the Senoi Praaq were said to have expedited the end of the
Malayan emergency. Notably, although not much fanfare has been made out of the contributions of the Orang Asli, they have been deeply involved in shaping Malaysia to become what it is today, having sacrificed their own time, effort and lives to safeguard the safety of all Malayans during the Malayan Emergency. Sources: 1. Interview with Anthony Williams-Hunt, an Orang Asli activist (a Senoi) and a lawyer based in Ipoh, Malaysia. 2. http://www.senoipraaq.com. 3. Chin CC, Hack K. Dialogues with Chin Peng: New Light on the Malayan Communist Party. NUS Press. 2004.
The Sephardic Jewish Their influence and existence in today’s Malacca During its heyday, Malacca had a uniquely cosmopolitan society, comprising not only of the Malay people, but newer migrant communities such as the Peranakan people, and the Eurasian community that formed after the advent of the Portuguese colonization of Malacca. The Kristang people were the offspring of Portuguese men who married local Malay women in Malacca. Interestingly, a proportion of these Kristang people could have been of Sephardic Jew origin. The word ‘Sephardic’ is derived from a Hebrew word referring to Spain. The Sephardic Jews came from Spain, Portugal, Middle East and North Africa. However, many of these Sephardic Jews moved to Portugal after fleeing Spain during the Spanish inquisition after a royal decree between 1492 and 1501 ordered Jews and Muslims to either convert to Catholicism or leave Spain. Unfortunately, the inquisition caught up to Portugal in 1536, after the King of Portugal married Maria of Aragon, a Spanish princess. The Sephardic Jews were faced either with forced conversion to Catholicism, or execution. The Portuguese inquisition also focused on persecuting the ‘New Christian’ community by compelling new converts to Catholicism to strictly adhere to Catholic orthodoxy. The Portuguese inquisition subsequently spread to Goa and Malacca as they were Portuguese-controlled regions.
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In a pursuit of a better life and freedom from the pressures of the Portuguese inquisition which was taking place in Malacca, the Sephardic Jews living here assimilated with the Kristang community and converted to Roman Catholicism, although some persisted in secretly practicing Judaism. Moreover, the local community was more hostile towards the Inquisition, rendering the persecution of Jews to be less effective within the Kristang community. Today, the Sephardic Jew influence in the Kristang community is not overt, although some Kristang people bear names or surnames that bear Sephardic Jewish influence. There are also some Kristang people who are returning to their Jewish roots by beginning to formally practice their Jewish customs, and either practice Judaism or Christianity in a more Jewish fashion. Sources: 1. Interview with descendents of Jewish community in Malacca 2. http://malaccajews.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/iderived-notes-below-from-my-book.html. 3. http://www.cordeiros.net/index.php?cID=10. 4. http://www.jewfaq.org/ashkseph.htm. 5. http://kristangcommunity.blogspot.com.au/.
Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman The Reluctant Politician – former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia “I will do for the country what I will not do for myself and my family”. When Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman returned to Malaya after years of medical studies in Melbourne, he envisioned a life working as a doctor in private practice. He gave up that dream however, when Tunku Abdul Rahman appeared at his doorstep, asking him to help lead Malaya in her beginning steps as a multiracial sovereign nation. In the world of politics, his style of leadership was unique. Everyone in Malaya knew him to be a man of unmoving principles, “a stickler for total fair play, for correctness; total anathema to him to be anything else.” This trait earned him the trust and respect of Malaya’s citizens regardless of race, even the Chinese, as Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah remembers. The people’s faith in his
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fairness allowed him to restore peace after the 13 May 1969 racial riots. Tun Ismail’s conduct reflected a strong sense of honour and integrity, both in his official dealings and personal life, making him beyond reproach. He was resolute about this, to a point of stubbornness. He chose not to stay in close contact with his friend Suffian Hashim, who was serving as Chief Justice of Malaya at that time, because it was “not proper” given both their positions in government. He refused to allow Robert Kuok, his best friend to buy him any expensive gifts or trips as a matter of principle. Moreover, when a Chinese peasant woman came offering a cart of vegetables in exchange for the release of her imprisoned son, Tun Ismail flew into a rage and chased her away with threats of imprisonment. He set himself apart as a hardworking and intelligent man, handling tasks accorded to him with excellence and dedication. Whilst he was the permanent representative and ambassador to the United States, he had the monumental task of consolidating Malaysia’s new position as a nation of the world. For this he would often work tirelessly for 1820 hours a day. He expected those working with him to work as hard, and to keep up to task. He had a fiery temper and minced no words in expressing his contempt for any incompetency among his staff. The reverse is also true and he would not hesitate to say a good word about those who worked hard under him. When Tun Ismail agreed to take on Tunku’s offer, he did not know that he would eventually give his life to this job - sacrificing his health by taking on unpleasant, taxing roles such as Home Affairs Minister, Internal Security Minister, and eventually deputy prime minister. He suffered a heart attack during his last term as acting Prime Minister, dying an untimely death on 2 August 1973. Source: Ooi KB. The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time. Institue of Southeast Asian Studies. 2007
Kuala Lumpur and Yap Ah Loy From Mud to City and the Rise of the “City Planner” Arriving on the palm lands of Malacca in 1854, Yap Tet Loy (known as Yap Ah Loy) expected a short and exciting working trip. He worked hard at Durian Tunggal for 4 months, making a profit and saving enough for the journey back home to China. But fate had other plans for him- in a turn of events, he lost all his money and was forced to stay on in Malaya. Penniless, he decided not to go back to Malacca, but to settle in Lukut, Negeri Sembilan, rebuilding his life as a petty trader. Liu Ngim Kong, his friend became the second Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur and asked Ah Loy to assist him in administration. Wishing to repay his friend’s kindness (and smelling opportunity), Ah Loy moved to Kuala Lumpur to become Ngim Kong’s lieutenant. He eventually became the third Chinese Kapitan in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur, literally translates to “pool of mud” had troubled beginnings, plagued by constant floods and fires. In addition, in 1870 civil war broke out amongst the Malay aristocrats- Tengku Kudin and Raja Ismail versus Raja Mahadi. By supporting Tengku Kudin, victory in 1874 cemented Ah Loy’s position and gave him political power akin to those of a Malay community leader. However, it did not look like much of a victory, as the war left the once promising Kuala Lumpur in tatters. Yet, Yap Ah Loy took a risk in 1875 when he borrowed money from the Malaccan Chinese Chiefs to bring in 2600 mining workers. Kuala Lumpur eventually grew into a prosperous commercial centre, so much so that it was named the state capital in March 1880. Kuala Lumpur in the 19th century was an unplanned city. Houses were constructed of atap and wood, posing a fire hazard. Yap Ah Loy’s fire plan was for each household to have a bucket of water on standby at all times. This understandably was not a fool-proof plan. On 4 January 1881, an overturned lamp in an opium den set the city on fire. A hefty $100,000 was required to rebuild the city, motivating Yap Ah Loy to come up with a better building plan. He started a brickwork factory in the outskirts to provide bricks as construction material, leaving behind the area known as Brickfields today. Much of Kuala Lumpur’s development was due to Yap Ah Loy’s city planning. After a discussion with Frank Swettenham, Yap Ah Loy spent $20000 to build roads connecting the mines to the city. Some of these roads e.g. Jalan Ampang, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Petaling remain the main arteries of the city till this day. Until the introduction of a British Resident in 1879, Yap Ah Loy was almost supreme in the interior of the state. No other subsequent Kapitan commanded as much influence as Yap Ah Loy did. Sources: 1. Cartens SA. From Myth to History: Yap Ah Loy and the Heroic past of Chinese Malaysians. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Vol. 19, No. 2, (Sep., 1988), pp. 185-208. Cambridge University Press. 2007. 2. Yap Ah Loy. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/651972/Yap-Ah-Loy.
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Australian troops served in parts of Malaysia during World War 2, the Indonesian Confrontation and Communist Emergency. Over 2000 Aussie troops gave their lives in our land throughout these periods, making Malaysia one of the countries that most Aussie troops died in - chapters that are forgotten by many. Photo: Australian rangers at a jungle in Sarawak in 1956, contributed by National Malaya Borneo Veterans Association Australia (NMBVAA) Inc.
Sandakan Death March The fall of many Australian soldiers in Sabah during WW2 470 men carrying heavy loads trudged lifelessly through knee high mud, wading across the unforgiving marshlands and dense jungles of North Borneo. Accompanying them were their captors, Japanese soldiers armed with bayonets and no hesitance to kill. They formed the first of three marches, which would eventually come to be known as the Sandakan Death March. These men were Australian and British prisoners-of-war, captured after the Battle of Singapore and sent to Sandakan to construct a military airstrip and prisoner-of-war camp. But as the Allies started gaining foothold in North Borneo, Captain Hojishima Susumu decided to move the remaining prisoners 260km westwards to Ranau. The first march consisted of four hundred seventy prisoners deemed fit enough to move baggage and supplies for the accompanying Japanese battalions. Rations for four days were allocated for a journey of nine. Food disappeared quickly, and the men resorted to eating snails, roots and ferns. Though hungry and weak, stragglers were forced on with a boot of the rifle butt, and the exhausted shot and left unburied. Those that survived and arrived in Ranau were herded into insanitary and crowded huts and many died from dysentery. A survivor recounted: “No one can imagine the filth and the death rate that occurred during the days spent in this cesspool. Mud was ankle deep, sick men were lying about unable to move in their own filth.�
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The second march beginning May 29 was led by Captain Takakuwa Takuo and Captain Watanabe Genzo. These 536 prisoners were comparatively worse in physical condition yet provided with smaller rice rations –a measly 3 ounces per person. The same fate befell those who could not keep up. Owen Campbell, a cattle rancher from Australia was part of this group. Learning from a friendly Japanese guard that the men were to be executed when they reached Ranau, he and four others risked an escape during an American air raid. Unfortunately, Owen was to be the only survivor from this group. Only 183 survived to reach Ranau on June 24, 1945, and were added to the remaining six from the first group. But by August, only 133 of them were still alive. As they watched their friends die, four soldiers- Nelson Short, William Moxham, Keith Boterill and Andy Anderson said: “[We] picked the moment when we knew death was imminent, a sure thing in a couple of days and there was no option left. Die in the camp or die in the jungle, so we just decided there and then to go.” After that, there was one final escape from Ranau by Sticpewich and Reither. 250 people were left at Sandakan, weak from starvation. 75 men were sent on the third march, and the rest left to die of starvation. However, none survived beyond 50km. The heroes in this massacre were the locals in the area. Widow Burih of Paginatan village secretly provided Sticpewich with sweet potatoes, ubi kayu (yams), fowls and eggs. Gulunting and Lap from Kampong Muanad found Owen Campbell in a near naked delirious state during a fishing trip. They subsequently took him in and hid him, while providing clothing, food and shelter. Local man Bariga was the one who found the four Ranau escapees, and hid them until after the Japanese surrendered. 2434 walking skeletons, 1787 Australian & 641 British, marched through the steamy jungles of North Borneo to face certain death, ending with only 6 survivors. And some of the horrible details were never recounted, forever remaining a mystery, left untold for the best. Sources: 1. Remembering Sandakan 1945-1999. http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/publications/commemorative/sandakan/Pages/ sand10.aspx. 2. Stolen Years: Australian Prisoners of War; Prisoners of the Japanese; Sandakan. http://www.awm.gov.au/ exhibitions/stolenyears/ww2/japan/sandakan/. 3. Fuller T. Borneo Death March/Of 2700 Prisoners, 6 Survived: An Old Soldier Remembers an Oldtime Atrocity. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/23/news/23iht-borneo.2.t_0.html. 1999. 4. Death March to Sandakan. http://www.examiner.com.au/story/201825/death-march-to-sandakan/. 2012. 5. Southernwood R. Final Footsteps of POWs. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/final-footsteps-ofpows-20121124-29zk2.html. 2012. 6. Bowden T. Dead Men Walking. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/dead-men-walking-20121018-27s5t. html. 2012.
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Sharyn Shufiyan Descendent of Bapa Merdeka Critical thinking, kindness towards others and appreciation towards tradition. Those are the values Malaysia’s first Prime Minister handed down to his descendants. Tunku’s great-granddaughter, Sharyn Shufiyan shares her brief memory of the man, her thoughts and opinion on the current Malaysia. INTERVIEW TZU GING YAP & JOYCE NG TRANSCRIBES TZU GING YAP
JOM: How does it feel to be related to Malaysia’s first Prime Minister? Sharyn: I’ve got mixed feelings. On one hand, it feels normal because he was my great-grandfather and he was my family. I loved him regardless of who or what he was. On another side, I do feel in awe of him because of his contribution to Malaysia. However, I do not feel as deeply as my parents and grandparents because I was not there to experience his time as Malaysia’s first prime minister because of the distance between their generation and mine. Sometimes, I get emails from older Malaysians who’ve told me that he was a great man. I am moved by their comments and I know he was a great man but because of the distance, it is something that I can never understand because I was not there. Most of the time, I see him as how anyone would see their great-grandfather, as part of family. I just happened to be related to The Man. Share one of your memorable moments about your great grandfather I remember he used to call us (my brother and I) to the dining room where he would be hosting his guests at our house in Bukit Tunku. He would
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introduce us as his great grandchildren (his cicit in Malay) and then give us RM10 as pocket money. He spent most of his time in Penang and every year during Raya we would go visit him. It would be a huge family gathering. He used to say how he’s proud that there are four generations in the room and that he was fortunate to meet his great grandchildren. We had to mind our manners in his presence. We were taught since young some protocols; we had to sembah and kiss his hands whenever we greeted him. (Ampun Sembah is an act of respect towards royalty.) I remember a little bit during his funeral. I didn’t really understand what was going on but I remembered seeing my family crying. I remembered going to the Parliament for the funeral ceremony from Bukit Tunku. Then we flew to Kedah on a military aircraft to bury him at the royal mausoleum in Langgar. Most of what I know of him is through stories told by my grandmother and mother. I suppose that is enough for me; that I got to meet him and he got to meet me.
Is there any pressure or expectations placed upon you? And why? Not many people recognise me in person. They may recognise my name though. I usually get people encouraging me to carry on his ‘legacy’ but I’m still finding out what that means. I’ve got a couple of people who’ve suggested I join politics but I’m not interested. I’m political but not into Politics.
Is there any issue(s) that you are passionate about? What and why? I think being recognized as ethnically Malay and being born into a particular religion yet having a certain distance from it allows me to see certain things in a critical manner. This ‘ability’ I will have to attribute it to my background in anthropology. Having said that, I am quite worried of what I’ve observed from my fellow Malaysian Malay Muslims. More and more I feel that Islam is fore fronted at the expense of others. Islamisation has always been there but in the past few years, it is getting too much and too public and too one-sided. For example, when Malay Muslims insult non-Muslims, they usually get away with it – like the cow head incident or threatening to burn Bibles. But when non-Muslims insult Malay Muslims, all hell breaks loose and it becomes a circus of finger pointing and idiotic statements.
At first, I did feel pressured to do something more but then I realised that I am my own person and that I can choose to follow or not to follow his footsteps. So I choose to contribute in my own way, like through writing or to be conscious of the work that I choose – that my day job entails me to contribute towards my society in one way or another. What are the influences your grandfather had in your life? If he were to have any form of influence on me, it would be an indirect one. It would be through my family members who have spent more time with him and who have been shaped by him. I’m thankful that my family is unconventional and that they possess a critical mind.
What’s your view about the current ethnic relations in Malaysia? I think it is very complex, I think a lot of people are trying to simplify racial relationships in Malaysia. All these talks about unity, 1Malaysia and tolerance, what do they really mean? On one level, we are embracing the fact that we are Malaysians regardless of ethnicity and religion. Even among the Malays, a new ideological trend is emerging. We can call a spade, a spade. There are some who recognize the redundancy of Malay rights and privileges because elevating the poor should be across all ethnicities regardless. Back then, we needed to secure certain things for the Malays because economically we were behind. But it has been 56 years, why are we using the same model now just in different names? But ethnic superiority exists even among non-Malays. Malays are generally looked down upon by the Chinese. Unless we start mixing with each other and getting to know one another and not just as The Other, we will not be truly united as Malaysians. The racial relation in Malaysia now is merely acquaintanceship. We are cordial with each other but when it comes to certain things we don’t cross the line. We are to an extent segregated and have not become true friends. Yes, some may say
“ He liked to wear the baju Melayu and he loved the joget.
We are not conservative yet we have an appreciation for the Malay culture. Of course, this appreciation may manifest differently across my family but at the core we respect the adat. All these are somewhat related to Tunku Abdul Rahman too; he was Anglicised yet he had high regards for the adat (custom). He liked to wear the baju melayu and he loved the joget. He was a great cook too both in Western and Malay food. His architecture was inspired by Malay buildings like our National Museum after the Minangkabau rooftops. We are very blessed to have both worlds. On one side, we are exposed to westernization but we never forget our own roots at the same time. Sometimes I get criticized by this – people think that because I’m a bit more critical on things or because I write in English, I’ve forgotten my roots. This is never the case. We don’t have to be ultra Malays to know and understand our roots.
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they have a lot of Malay friends or non-Malay friends, but to what extent or deep is the relationship? Are you able to ask difficult questions to these friends? Can you invite them into your houses and not be worried that they will be offended by your pet dog? Can you date a Malay girl without risking hell from your parents? Stereotypes dominate our perceptions of each other. For example, my mother has just started teaching English and English is her first language because she grew up abroad. The Queen’s English, she likes to say. She was told that Chinese parents prefer non-Malay teachers while Malay parents prefer native speakers aka mat salleh. They think Malays can’t speak good English. We have preconceived ideas based on ethnicities and we refuse to give ourselves a chance to learn about the other person and this is eventually a barrier. Ethnicity does not seem to be so important in Sabah and Sarawak even though they are much more diverse than Peninsular Malaysia. But unlike Malay Muslims whose identity is constitutionally bounded in the Constitution, you can be a Christian Iban, or an animist Iban or a Muslim Iban. Religion does not define who you are. That’s why the Allah issue is more of a Peninsular-Malay-Muslim problem than it is a Muslim problem.
someone banned wayang kulit yet some of us practice animism by way of using amulets and such. What do you think are your current role and contribution to society? I would not say that I have contributed to the society. I am merely doing what other people are doing. I try to share opinions on issues that concern me through writing. But sometimes, I find myself talking to likeminded people and I’m not changing anything. I guess we need to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to people that matters most like your ultras but I cannot do that yet. My interview piece that went viral garnered positive comments from mostly non-Malays while Malays would tell me to go read my history. It is really intimidating trying to reach out to these people because they are not interested in engagement and discussion. Does the current Malaysia fulfil your ancestor’s vision? I cannot speak on behalf of him but from what he has written and how he did things back then, I would say no. I say he would be rolling in his grave right now if he knew what is happening in Malaysia at the moment. Our current situation is so far from what he would envision. There was a book written about him from his friends and family members, I remember one account from Tengku Razaleigh. He said that Tunku regretted not abolishing the Printing and Publishing Act. Tunku said if there is no freedom of information, you do not have a society that can think on its own and that is dictatorship.
“ I find myself talking to likeminded people and I’m not changing anything. I guess we need to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to people that matters most .
In your opinion, is being a good Malay being a good Muslim as well? I find this question quite troublesome because they are two separate things. One is ethnicity and the other a religion – a faith that one professes. One does not make the other good or bad and vice versa. Of course at the moment in Malaysia, you cannot separate the two because Malays are born Muslims regardless whether they choose it or not. This is the root of all our problems. What we are is defined in the Constitution and it applies for everyone. If you speak Malay, practise the culture and you are a Muslim, you can be considered Malay. This caused confusion because you will have a person who is not ethnically Malay but he or she can become one by virtue of practising the culture and by converting to Islam. The Malay culture is derived from our animistic and Hindu past. Some aspects of our culture clash with Islamic beliefs like Wayang Kulit, but sometimes they merge like believing in spirits and semangat.
I find a problem with people adopting certain Islamic ideology and that is a very rigid one. But we were never rigid because Malays believe in keramat, jin and holy spirits which are animistic in nature. There is a selective amnesia of this part of our history from our consciousness. So you see, our culture and religion have already been merged and it represents who we are. I am fine with that. So it is contradicting when
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What is your personal hope and vision for the country? I would like to see more voice. I want it to be a normal thing for us to do. If we are unhappy with something, we are able to say it. That is democracy; being able to disagree with government policies and the society’s inputs matter, not bulldozed over. Society is not stagnant, we are constantly growing. The government cannot expect us to accept whatever we are told to do. We need a healthy democracy. I try to do something meaningful. For the moment, I am working with small oil palm farmers in Sabah, trying to organise them and improve their practices for higher yields and better income. I try to motivate myself to do good things and to be a good human being even if I’m not changing the situation much, but I’d like to believe that I’m part of the mechanics that will bring about change.
The establishment of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, at Padang Merdeka Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (From left) Tun Fuad Stephens (First Chief Minister of Sabah), Tun Mustapha Harun (First Governer of Sabah) and Tun Abdul Razak (Former Deputy Prime Minister).
A chat with son of ‘Bapa Malaysia dari Sabah’ (Father of Malaysia from Sabah)
Known to many as Donald, Tun Fuad Stephens is a remarkable figure in Malaysia’s history for his monumental role in bringing Sabah into the Federation. Having survived through World War 2, Fuad Stephens was a journalist, editor, publisher and then founder of Sabah Times, before becoming the first Chief Minister of Sabah. Tun Fuad passed away in a controversial plane accident in Kota Kinabalu 44 days into his second term as Chief Minister of Sabah. JOM spoke to his son, Mr. Asgari bin Mohd Fuad Stephens, to talk about his father and his thoughts about Malaysia. Asgari, a former Melbourne University grad, is a director and founding member of a number of investment companies in Malaysia including Intelligent Capital Sdn Bhd.
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Asgari Mohd Fuad Stephens Son of Father of Malaysia from Sabah
guy. In fact, you needed his permission to miss the family dinner. If you wanted to leave the dinner table, you had to have his permission. He enjoyed dinner because he came home from work and had a long dinner with the family. He talked about work, politics and news most of the time.
INTERVIEW JOYCE NG & TZU GING YAP TRANSCRIBE TZU GING YAP & JOSH YU
JOM: How do you feel about being one of the sons of “Bapa Malaysia Dari Sabah”? I am very proud of course for what my father achieved and its an honor and an obligation to be one of the sons of one of the fathers of Malaysia. My father was one of the old style politicians who overcame a lot of adversity in his life and went on to help a lot of people and a lot of people hold him in high regard. I hope to live in a way to honor his memory.
What made your father join politics and lead Sabah towards unification with Peninsula Malaysia? He was a leader and a journalist. He was writing about all the issues. In the forties, the British were looking for Sabahans who can speak English to represent the local people. They developed the state Executive Council and my father got selected to represent the people. He got to know all the other leaders and they used to come to him to help with writing speeches and letters. He could communicate well with the british so became their leader.
“ He talked politics with his Chinese taukeh friends even when they were playing mahjong.
My father knew many languages. He spoke Kadazan, English, Malay, Hokkien, Japanese and some Hakka. I remembered he was a hard worker. He worked seven days a week. He would take the time off for his friends and family. But since his job was in politics, he would always talk politics. He talked politics with his Chinese taukeh friends even when they were playing mahjong! Everything was about work to him.
What do you remember about him the most? He was forever smiling, loved to have a good time and a very strong guy who loved his kids. He was a family
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Do you think joining Malaya to form Malaysia was the right decision for Sabah? If you look at 1963, originally, my father was opposed to Sabah joining Peninsula. And then he changed his mind. They had a thing called the Cobbold
Commission. The Cobbold Commission was a commission set up by the British Government to to see what the people of Sabah and Sarawak wanted to do. At that time, the Philippines and Indonesia made a claim on Sabah. We were surrounded by belligerents to the North and South and I think that was one consideration. And when Sabah joined in a trinity with Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, which kind of balanced off the West Malaysian power. There was a real threat from the Phillipines and Indonesia and Malaysia gave a lot of assurances for special treatment to Sabah (the famous twenty points) so on balance it made more sense to join Malaysia.
Sabah. In West Malaysia, you are a Chinese. You are an Indian. You are Malay. We don’t do that here in Sabah. It’s not a big deal here so there is more of a sense of us. Have you heard of a saying that West Malaysia is trying to Islamise the East? What do you think and what has happened? Agreed. It’s true. They gave 1 million ICs (Malaysian Identity Cards) to immigrants such as Indonesians, to increase the Muslim population. It all now subject to a Royal Commission of Inquiry and it’s a big deal in Sabah.
“ Tunku just lied and said yes. He did not ask my father.
What happened was that Singapore pulled out because Tunku Abdul Rahman basically booted out Lee Kuan Yew. After that, Sabah became very weak, and West Malaysians became a lot more assertive. In 1966 they removed the Sarawak Chief Minister through a state of emergency, and then they got much more involved in Sabah. If you look at ‘63 when Singapore was involved, it probably made a lot of sense. If you said we shouldn’t have joined - I think it was a good decision to join, but what’s a shame is that we had leaders who didn’t manage to keep asserting our rights. Since the end of the mid-’80s, we had much more divided mis-leadership. Does the current situation in East Malaysia fulfil your father’s vision? If so, how so? No, I don’t think it does. I think he will be upset how divided the Kadazans in Sabah are today. My father was the leader of Sabah and its people, especially among the Kadazan community. He tried to unite them but today they have become splintered. During the nineties, Mahathir asked Anwar (Ibrahim) to strengthen UMNO in Sabah. One way they did that was by weakening the Kadazan parties. Anwar encouraged the second in command to leave and form a new party and the Barisan immediately adopted them as a component party. Can you imagine if a Malay guy did that? It’s the reason Sabah has, I think, four parties representing the native people of Sabah and not one of them has any real power. Do you think that East Malaysia should celebrate Merdeka? It’s not a huge deal in Sabah. It’s a public holiday, that’s it. Do you recognise yourself as a Malaysian or Sabahan? And why? Sabahan. West Malaysians have always been conscious about their identity. In Sabah, we are not so racially conscious. Sabahan are not worked up on religion, nor about race. That’s not a big thing in
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What more could be done for Sabah? A lot more money for rural development. Sabah has the poorest areas in Malaysia like the ones in the north. More could have been done to help the poor. Yes, Sabah is doing really well in tourism, oil palm and has oil but there is a huge gap between the rich and poor. The poor in Sabah are really poor. More effort needs to be taken for this. We read that your father could have been killed in foul play. What is your view on this? I think the plane was overloaded and it was a poorly designed plane. It was not supposed to fly. We did research later and found out there were problems in the plane. It was an Australian design. It was so badly designed that the Australian army who had bought some planes refused to fly on these planes as many crashed in Australia. During my father’s time, it was supposed to be a new design from Australia. I think six or seven of those planes crashed after that in Australia. But, we didn’t know. We bought it and use it. Any interesting anecdotes during your father’s time as Sabah’s Chief Minister? When Lee Kuan Yew wanted to leave Malaysia, he asked Tunku (Abdul Rahman) whether he had informed my father and had he agreed. Tunku had lied and said yes. He did not ask my father. When Lee Kuan Yew thought that he had no support from Sabah and Sarawak, he agreed to pull out of Malaysia. When my father found out, he went to see Tunku and the man admitted he lied. Then, he wanted to ring Lee Kuan Yew to apologise to him but the man refused to take my father’s call as he felt betrayed and it possibly also suited his purposes. Tunku was a sly man. What’s your biggest hope for Malaysia? What is your most passionate area? I hope Malaysia can become more understanding. A Malaysian becomes a Malaysian. I hope that one day, we will call ourselves Malaysian instead of identifying ourselves racially. I’m trying to help with the poor people with their education. Funding for the under-privileged kids.
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A Chat with Nazri Former Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister department of 9 years and now the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz shares some thoughts about his new role and his hopes for Malaysia during his trip to Melbourne in June to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2014. WRITES JOYCE NG PHOTOGRAPHS ERIC CHIANG ILLUSTRATES VANESSA LAW
The Legal Minister turned Tourism and Culture Minister The tall, bald man in black suit, flanked by staff also in black suits and a group of people in colourful Malay traditional costumes, waved and smiled at everyone as he walked into the press conference in Melbourne. “It is important that the number one person, the minister (himself), must reflect the hospitable character that we Malaysians are”, he says to JOM with a broad smile. The barrister turned Minister describes his nine years as De Facto Minister of Law and Minister in charge of Parliament as ‘difficult’, especially in the last five years. He explains that previously, his role was very serious, facing many challenges and people with glum expressions on all the time. But now, it’s the cheery, smiley faces that look at him. When he was questioned about his qualification to be the Tourism and Culture Minister, his answer was “to be a tourist”. “Since the first day I got my portfolio, I felt great relief. I started to enjoy since my first day when I stepped into my office,” he says. However, it’s not all play and no work. “What needs to be done, I will do it,” he says.
When asked about the difficulties he has faced as a minister for almost 10 years, the cheery look momentarily leaves his face. It takes a few seconds before he reveals: “There were many occasions, difficult situations, that I was caught in. I can’t pick one occasion… there were too many. You can’t figure out the gravity of the occasions.” “When you are in the government... then you will know how difficult it is. As I said, I believe in freedom of speech, people can criticise as much as they want to. [They criticise] us because they are looking at us from far, they are not in position to govern, they don’t know how difficult it is,” the minister tells JOM, adding that he will not spend much time to think about unnecessary criticism. Nevertheless, the minister is convinced that he has been able to overcome these difficulties. He adds that he has no target or expectation for himself. “Whatever I do, I do for Malaysia... I live for Malaysia, I breath for Malaysia... I will do everything within my means to ensure that this beautiful country of ours will not be destroyed by any undesirable elements,” he says.
The Aussie Encounter and Welcoming War Veterans Visiting Malaysia Speaking about Australia, Nazri recalls his time when he was 6 years old, going to the Royal Selangor Club with his father and being scared of the ‘big, tall white men’ in the fields. “There were about 20 to 30 adults, running around and throwing balls at each other. I felt sorry for the ball. The ball was kicked, smashed,” the minister says to the audience’s laughter. It was only years later that he realised that the Aussies were there as part of Commonwealth forces serving in Malaysia. “We owe Australian troops our eternal gratitude for their willingness and determination to defend our country against the onslaught of the Japanese and Indonesians,” he says. Further expressing his gratitude, he adds: “I would like to invite the war veterans, their children and grandchildren to visit Malaysia and get in touch with me.”
Merdeka and Vision for Malaysia Nazri was present at Stadium Merdeka when the late Tunku Abdul Rahman chanted Merdeka (Independence) seven times. “My memory was prompted by my granddad. He says that he carried me to Stadium Merdeka. I vaguely remember, there were alot of people, a lot of people,” he says, recalling his time when he was only three. For Nazri, Merdeka in its real sense means one is free, however freedom must be enjoyed with responsibility and with respect.
“Malaysia is headed towards [being] a country which is developed and all the rights of the people are respected and of course, subject to laws of the country. This is what independence means to me,” the former barrister says. Nazri is passionate about a truly united Malaysia regardless of skin colour. “To me, every one of us is God given, it’s not my choice to be a Malay, and it’s not your choice to be a Chinese. You are not given a choice. Because of that, we must respect each other.” “Even though we are independent for more than 50 years, it has never been easy to do truly 1 Malaysia. ... Culture is something that evolves over years.” “Who knows, maybe in 100 or 200 years, we may actually evolve into one united race,” he says. However, he believes that there’s already a 1 Malaysia spirit among some Malaysians. “There’s no definition of what 1 Malaysia is about… it’s unity, loyalty to Malaysia,” he says.
“ [They criticise] us because they are looking at us from far... they don’t know how difficult it is [to govern]. ” Malaysian Tales
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A NATIONAL TREASURE
Greek Philosopher Aristotle once said that the energy of the mind is the essence of life. Datuk Abdul Samad bin Muhammad Said, more commonly known as his pen name A. Samad Said, is recognized both for his contributions to national literature and for his fervent activism in co-panelling the Bersih coalition alongside Ambiga Sreenevasan. For his accomplishment in the field of literature, the 78 year old author was prestigiously awarded with the title of “Sasterawan Negara� (National Laureate) while his published works have received widespread praise. JOM caught up with the famous Malay poet strolling alongside the cascading waters of the KLCC fountain. His weary looking eyes possessed fierce determination, as his white robes glowed in the morning sun. With the backdrop of the twin towers and the bustling capital behind him, Pak Samad sat down with JOM and shares his timeless passion for literature and change, inspired by his desire for a cleaner and more equal Malaysian society. INTERVIEWS JONATHAN LIAN PHOTOGRAPHS JONATHAN LIAN
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JOM: Based on your previous novels and poetry, what aspect of society do you think need to improve? Samad: “I think as it is now, the most important thing is to see the elections machineries, it should be cleanup. I know it’s difficult but it’s already half a century, we know this thing has been going on and I think if this is not enough, I think we can never have a fair election. It is the most important thing now.”
as possible but, the one who is not clean as far as we know is from the government side, the people responsible for the ghost voters and all that. So naturally, the opposition political parties will now have attention on them, it is equal to what we are thinking. So it is easy to identify Bersih as the opposition just because of that. But actually, we are as free as we can.
Does living through terrible events of the past, such as the brutality of the Japanese occupation and the May 13th incident dampen your view on society? I have lived through the long Japanese occupation, but at that time, I was still a child, you know, I was scared. And then when the May incident came, of course I was a young man and I was trying to understand what is happening to this country. Especially the racial relationship, which actually scared me that such things can happen. So, I try to understand from that day onwards. Most of the time, I read books about racial relationship. I have read books by Han Suyin, ‘My House Has Two Doors’. According to Han Suyin, the racial tension started during Japanese occupation. The Japanese seem to be with the Malays, or the Malays seem to be with the Japanese, and Japanese is very antagonistic towards Chinese. So that’s how it begin, the Chinese saw the Malays as with the Japanese. It brings some uneasiness and of course, when one of the things happen and explodes, it becomes worse. It started from there.
If the Opposition won, would Anwar Ibrahim make a good prime minister? That, I’ll leave it to the political parties as it is now, it seems he is the one. Do you think that having a Malaysian prime minister of a different race would benefit the country in the near future? It can! It has happened in America! And it happened in, if I’m not mistaken, in Peru before. When the right and proper time comes, when everybody is more logical and when there are less racial tension, it will come. Maybe another 50 years? Maybe 100 years? It will come.
“ I hope more young people come in and make sure this country becomes RACELESS.
So what is your main goal in being the Co-chairperson of the Bersih coalition? Actually I don’t play the main role in Bersih, I came in only because Ambiga was not accepted by certain parts of the Malays and because they were thinking she was before a Lawyer for a case, a Gay incident, so I come just to make sure Bersih is not being tainted just because of that. but You are a popular figure in it! I don’t know, (laughs) I don’t know whether I am popular or not, what I know, is that when I came, it helped, it did help, so Ambiga is ok. And that’s why, most of the time I don’t interfere in whatever the main things are, I leave it to Ambiga. Only when it touches racial things, especially the malays view, then I’ll come in. About Bersih, the movement itself claims that it is free from political influences, but on April 6th you called for voters to support the opposition to end the “BN’s rule,” what’s your opinion on this? I think, yeah, we really try to be to be as clean
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Alright, let’s talk Literature! What’s your favourite literature piece to write about? I like to write novels, in the beginning, that was my field, novels and short stories. But as I grow older, it is poetry. It is spontaneous and I feel ok, with poetry. Of all your previous works, which piece of literature did you enjoy writing the most? I think the first novel “Salina”, It was the first piece of writing and I was happy with it, but later I wrote “Hujan Pagi” and I was also happy with that, because I think I have mastered the technique and I had a very good theme. What is your current opinion of this generation, a very tech-savy society? Do you think that more traditional works of literature is being lost on the youth of today? That should start in school. And if you don’t start in school, I think for Ancient literature, not many people are interested. But I think people should read ancient Indian works and ancient Chinese works. Every Chinese should read literature books like “The Dream of the Red Chambers” or “The Scholars”. They should read these because it is the mirror of centuries ago. Nowadays I think, we have many good writers, but the attention is driven to English. So you can easily assess works by Han Suyin, which I think is a good start! Do you read a lot of western literature? Which is your favourite book and author? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, he is a Russian author.
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What books has he written? One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, there is a lot of his work, all about revolution. I read all that first, then Bersih comes later.
“ I would like to see more young people pay more attention to what is happening in the country... They should involve in NGO’s and all that.
So then, Pak Samad, are you planning to retire soon from writing? You’ve written your first novel in 1957, it’s now 2013 and it’s been a long time. Ah, I would not retire, I will go slower. I’ll go on writing, but in the meantime, I’m in the middle of this thing (Bersih, GE13), so, I’ll just write poems related to whatever happens now.
Do you have hope for Malaysia’s future from witnessing the young population openly engaging in politics and change? Yes, I would like to see the young people pay more attention to what is happening in the country. Of course they should first be doing their studies, but at the same time, they should involve in NGO’s and all that. I think the power of the young is important. We old people are not as dynamic as you young people. To make a change, we would need a young voice. Are you planning to write personal biography detailing your remarkable life and career anytime soon? Um, Not that I can think of, no. Maybe people write biographies, but I don’t think I will write it.
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In autobiographies, you tend to exaggerate yourself and it’s not fair (laughs). Lastly, do you have any advice or message for the youth of today? I want them to pay attention to what is happening.
I want them to make sure that they really have to make the elections clean because it’s more for them than for us. Because we are the going generation you are the coming, and I hope more young people come in and make sure this country becomes RACELESS, no race and not racial, but race-less. I know it is far, but we must start from now. In fact, we are late, we should have started before. And I think, we can make it.
The Chindian Diaries
Stories of the rise of the ‘Malaysian race’ Decades ago, during the post-war period, many Chinese travelled south to ‘Tanah Melayu’ (back then Malaya) to seek a better life by working in the mining industry and small businesses. Also at this time, many Indians were transported by the British to Malaya to work in the rubber tapping industry. These are the stories we have heard. But what happened when these two cultures fell in love in the land of Malaya? Kevin Bathman from Sydney, Australia, a third generation ‘Chindian’, began collecting Chindian stories in June 2012, when he participated in a weekend storytelling workshop in Sydney to dig deeper about ancestors. “There were big revelations that I had not known throughout my life. When I embarked on this project, I never realised that I would be meeting other Chindians like myself, let alone helping to write their stories,” says Kevin. WRITES FERN YI LIM PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY CHINDIAN DIARIES
FORBIDDEN LOVE “Our story is like Romeo and Juliet”, says Nathan (not his real name), recalling the love story with his Chinese wife. Due to strong disapproval from their parents, they ran away from Malaysia to UK in the ‘80s, and are now settled in Melbourne with two kids.
Kevin tells the story of his Chinese-Nyonya grandmother and Indian-Tamil grandfather when they fell in love long ago in Malaya. “Eventually, my great grandfather found out and he was infuriated, he even called my grandfather ‘Hak Kuai’, which means black devil,” he says. “My father used to tell me about their union and how my grandmother was disowned by her family for marrying my grandfather, a dark skin Indian man,” Kevin says. After the marriage, Kevin says, his grandmother embraced Indian culture very well. “She mastered it so well that she began cooking for her Indian neighbours. She even adopted an Indian name, Jeyah Ang.” “My dad used to say he liked to see the puzzled look on people’s faces when they saw a Chinese woman speaking fluently in Tamil.”
Hema Tan Sui Lan recalls her parents’ love story which was started with a shared love of durian. “In 1984 during a hot and sticky durian season, my Chinese Dad, Tan Kim Seong met my Indian Mum, Mathevi Malaiethan in a durian plantation in Merlimau, Malacca.”
“Culturally, Dad had never been exposed to the Indian culture and Hindu customs, so he had to patiently follow orders from my grandfather and Mum. Likewise, with Mum, she had to adapt to the Chinese side but she found it easier than my Dad,” she recalls.
IDENTITY CRISIS As the creator of the Chindian Diaries Kevin Bathman observed, many Chindian children grew up with the conflict of identifying with a particular race. “Because of my skin colour, most of my friends are surprised that I am well-versed in the Indian culture. My favourite cuisine is Indian, and it fascinates them when they see a Chinese tanned-looking guy enjoying a curry, and is able to cook Indian food too. Likewise, my Chinese friends are surprised I don’t speak Cantonese or Mandarin,” Kevin says. “In Malaysia, it is common practise to reveal your race and religion in official papers. I was always unsure which box to tick as I was neither Indian nor Chinese. So already, at that early age, I was beginning to feel that I did not fit in.” “One of the odd things in Malaysian schools is how they like to force upon you a religion - you have to belong to a distinct religion (Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or Christian). There wasn’t a place for people who had not ‘fit in’ the tick boxes. So I was moved from Buddhist classes to Hindu classes to finally settling in the Catholicism classes, even though I wasn’t Catholic. All throughout my schooling years, I had to attend Catholic studies but I never practised it at home nor anywhere else,” Kevin says.
“What was originally a durian plantation visit and feast amongst friends turned out to be the day my parents first met and fell in love with each other.”
Sherlyn Yap, who was born to a Chinese father and an Indian mother, agrees that most Chindinas have an identity crisis.
But when her maternal grandfather found out that they were dating each other, he forbade her mum to see him.
“You can identify yourself as Chindian but what is the actual definition of Chindian, what is the culture of a Chindian person? It all depends on which side of the family is stronger.”
“He is a Chinese man - you have to marry an Indian Hindu man. He doesn’t even have a government job…..only a technician in a factory,” he said. Her grandfather eventually arranged a marriage for her daughter. Being a strong willed woman, Hema said, her mum refused. Things got better when Hema’s maternal great grandfather intervened and advised to accept her dad. After two long years, they finally got married with the blessing of both sides of the family.
“It doesn’t matter how old you get, there is always a feeling of what am I?” she says.
A STRANGE CONCLUSION “In Malaysia, birth certificates have a column for “race” for each parent and child,” Sherlyn Yap narrates.
“It was my father’s older brother, Yap Beng Leong, who was given the task of registering my birth at the State Registration Department.
I am one of the few Chindians, who is blessed to be able to celebrate Deepavali, Chinese New Year and Christmas.
“The officer who was writing my birth certificate said to my uncle, “Bapak Cina, mak India, anak Melayu la!” (The father is Chinese, the mother Indian, then the child is Malay!)
That, to me, is one of the highlights of being a Chindian: the multiple celebrations.”
“Puzzled and slightly annoyed, my uncle replied, “Kalau bapak Cina, emak India, anak macam mana jadi Melayu?” (How can a child of Chinese and Indian parents be Malay?).
INDIAN, CHINESE OR OTHERS
Till today, my family is still puzzled as to how this officer came to that conclusion.
“We experienced many complications growing up because of our surname. When we were small and we had enrolled in school, everyone thought we were orang putih,” says Francissca and Bibiana Peter, two Chindian sisters.
After much negotiation and a heated argument, the officer then begrudgingly wrote ‘Cina’ (Chinese)”
“Then when they saw us they said ‘oh rojak kids lah -- mixed must be Portugese Eurasian’ . The fun part is, they could never figure out what we were and we loved that mystery.
DIFFERENT APPEARANCES
We are proud of our beautiful heritage and mix, but all we have ever wanted to do, was fill the race column on every form as ‘Malaysian’. Not this race or that race but MALAYSIAN!”
“Growing up was difficult for me and my sister, says Kannan Nadarajan. “As we predominantly look Indian, it was hard trying to understand why there were so many bad remarks about our race. “My sister had it worse than me, as she was often mistaken as my mother’s Sri Lankan domestic helper. “It was a steep learning curve for us. “Now all grown up and studying in Australia, we have both accepted that issues on race will always be present, regardless of where we go in this world.”
THAT’S YOUR CHILD? “When I was younger, it was probably more interesting to see how society perceived my parents, especially my Mum,” says Tabitha Rani. “Once, when I was 5 years old, she took me to the market and someone came up to her and asked, “Anak siapa you jaga?” (Whose child are you looking after?) When Mum told her I am her daughter, there was a look of disbelief. They even thought she was lying.
Caught in between two very distinct cultures and races, many Chindians may have had to struggle in a very uncommon journey of self discovery. ‘Chindian’ is undeniably a unique race of its own, and Chindians all around have carved their own path to achieve acceptance and a sense of belonging in their own right. Because of that, the very nature of their heritage is cause for celebration and remembrance.
Kevin Bathman, founder of Chindian Diaries project, hopes to turn the Chindian Diaries into a book or play in future. Follow www.facebook.com/ TheChindianDiaries for more stories and updates.
About the Chindian Diaries: The term ‘Chindian’ is used to refer to people who are of both Chinese and Indian descent. Compiling stories about childhood experiences and the compromises that come with mixed marriages, The Chindian Diaries has inspired a sense of community through these shared experiences. For the rest of us, it has somewhat opened our eyes to the previously undocumented struggles Chindians and Chindian families have had to go through due to their Chinese and Indian heritage.
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Some of the current committee members of SABMOZ Melbourne. (From left) Afiq Rahmat, Praveen Nagappan and Clarice Chan
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (I am a Child of the Nation Malaysia) Inspired by Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) in Malaysia, SABMOZ has been in operation in Melbourne since 2009, seeking to provide a space of discussion and support for passionate and concerned Malaysians in Australia. SABMOZ past activities have included conducting exit polls during the postal voting in Melbourne this year, engaging forums, and organising the largest Bersih rallies in the world outside of Malaysia. JOM spoke to the current President of SABMOZ, Praveen Nagappan, to give a better understanding of the direction of SABMOZ. INTERVIEWS JOYCE NG
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What was the push for the formation of SABM in Australia or in Melbourne? Sensing a gradual decline in communal values in Malaysia fuelled further by political divides, a number of passionate Malaysians living in Australia formed SABMOZ as a means to encourage the spirit of “One People, One Nation” taking root amongst all Malaysians. What are SABM’s purposes and beliefs? How do you deliver these? Our key purpose is to engage with the Malaysian diaspora and friends of Malaysia in Australia with a view to promote inclusiveness and equality rising above social constructs and political divides. To this extent, we aim to create events where our multicultural heritage and rich diversity is celebrated. Through these events, we also aim to create an atmosphere where participants can freely voice their opinion and share their ideas on matters such advancing good governance and what exemplary leadership might look like. Any plans to unify all Malaysian groups under one umbrella of SABM in all states in Australia? We actively engage with the different Malaysian groups around Australia, often sharing resources and ideas. On occasions we also collaboratively organise events with other Malaysian groups. However, it is not our aim to bring all Malaysian groups in the different states within Australia under one umbrella. We believe it is best each group is left to operate on their own as they are better placed to understand local sentiments within their locality and as such be more representative.
What are SABM’s future and ongoing plans? Our focus until recently had been on the recent general election. Now that the election is over, we wait to see the outcome of election petitions and Bersih’s public tribunal. We will decide our course of action from there. A new phenomenon in Malaysia has also caught us by surprise – the spike in violent crimes. We are currently discussing what role the Malaysian diaspora can play to help alleviate this problem. On a more positive note, we are joining in the Malaysia Day celebrations with JOM Magazine! Anything else to share? Following a very divisive general election, there is a crucial need for national reconciliation. Much has happened in recent years to spur disunity amongst our society, and with the growth of social media, former school friends are now raging political commentators who don’t think you are worthy of their friendship due to political views. However, I am positive our young nation will overcome this. It is pleasing to see that the young are full of spirit and critical of things happening around them rather than accepting the norm. As long as this spirit continues to thrive, there will always be hope. You may find updates about this passionate community on facebook at https://www.facebook. com/sabmoz.
Is SABM associated with the Malaysian civil movement Bersih? Why or why not? SABMOZ hopes to one day see the spirit of One People, One Nation strongly rooted amongst all Malaysians. We do believe good governance and leadership is a key to achieving this. To this extent, we are open to assisting any individual or movement which promotes enhancements to governance in Malaysia. We have seen events that SABM organised in the past that provided a space for opposition leaders to speak to overseas Malaysians here. Is SABM affiliated with Malaysian opposition parties?
Malaysia Day BBQ in Melbourne in September 2012.
Most definitely not – as I mentioned earlier, we are open to assisting any individual or movement which promotes enhancements to governance in Malaysia. In this regard, we do not differentiate a civil movement to a political party – be it opposition or the incumbents.
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Malaysians Recreate Australian Classic Sweets.
“They want something not on the menu, something creative, something that is, out of [the contestants’] comfort zone”, Bernard says.
“The cake was created by an evil genius!”
“But why you?”
The words of one contestant on Masterchef Australia. If you know what ‘Asian level’ is, you will get what we mean when you find out about their ‘Lolly Bag Cake’.
“Because… they want new faces, they need someone to work outside of comfort zone,” the Malaysian born pastry chef says. Bernard further agrees that he was approached because apart from having a reputation for his dessert shop in Melbourne, it was also because of his Asian background.
INTERVIEW TZU GING YAP & JOYCE NG WRITES JOYCE NG PHOTOGRAPHS SIOK YEE TAN
The Sweaty Sweet Lolly Bag Cake Challenge Bernard Chu of LuxBite is the first Malaysian to be featured on the popular Australian TV show Masterchef on Channel 10. Introduced as ‘the rising star of pastry’, Bernard appeared at the show to present a dish for a pressure test for the contestants in June this year. The appearance came about when one day Bernard and his partner, Yen Yee, received a phone call from
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Masterchef to create something with Australian sweets for their Kid’s week.
Community, Culture & Art
“We were doing something that no one has ever done before,” Bernard says. Bernard and his team had only two weeks to recreate the dish. They had to come up with a recipe and do many trials, which had met with lots of failures. Bernard says that, in the two weeks of trials and failures, possibly five years’ worth of kids sweets ended up in their kitchen. “We were having a hard time,” he recalls. Nonetheless, the final work he created gained ticks from the bosses including those of Channel 10, Coles and of Masterchef Global. After a long process and
a few test runs, his creation of the lolly bag cake was finally on one of the most popular shows on Australian TV! The seven-layered lolly bag cake is made of ingredients comprising classic sweets featuring nostalgic Australian favourites of Redskins, spearmint leaves, bananas, musk sticks, Jaffas and Freckles. The combination of sweets makes each bite taste like a party in your mouth. It was a panic challenge and a disaster for the contestants on the show, however. Bernard rates the difficult level as 10 out of 10 to make the lolly cake. “I personally think that the challenge that is shown nationwide is exactly what a pastry chef’s life is, not just for TV. It is the everyday life of a pastry chef,” says the pastry master.
Journey of the Malaysian Pastry Chefs and LuxBite
French technique pattiese. That’s why their macarons include Malaysian flavours such as Pandan, Coconut and Kaya! They even have savoury dishes that incorporate Malaysian flavours into Western dishes such as one that is called “Prawn Biqsue”, which has otak-otak in the soup! Working almost 17 hours every day and hardly having any off days, Bernard works in and supervises the kitchen whereas Yen manages the store’s image and presentation. Even though referred to as ‘the rising star of pastry’, the humble Bernard is always open to criticism, and listens to the customers.
“ I make sure that our customers are happy with our product. In my mind, I am thinking of how to make it better all the time. ”
When arriving in Australia, Bernard and Yen had only each other here down under, leaving families and friends behind in Malaysia, to chase their dreams in pastry and baking. “Chefing in Malaysia is hard,” Yen says, further adding that many top pastry chefs in Malaysia are ‘imported’. Bernard and Yen met in 2001 at Sunway College in Malaysia as hospitality students. About ten years ago, the couple moved to Sydney and studied French patisserie techniques at Le Cordon Bleu. Life was not easy. While studying in Australia, they were working tremendous hours to sustain a living, but also to learn the cultures.
“I make sure that our customers are happy with our product. In my mind, I am thinking of how to make it better all the time,” he says.
His humble, hardworking attitude and great passion for pastry were inspired by his grandfather. The Kelantan born Bernard says that since he was just a baby, he was raised by his grandparents. He still remembers how his grandfather, who owned a traditional Hainanese kopitiam in a small town called Kuala Krai in Kelantan, used to make his own butter cakes, kaya, charcoal toast, and the best coffee in town. “[Every day before dawn], he lit up the charcoal… he froze the ice… and smashed the ice… and he made cakes,” Bernard recalls of when he was just a kid, roaming, and sometimes helping around his grandfather’s kopitiam. The kaya at LuxBite today is actually made of a recipe by Bernard’s grandfather. His grandfather passed away earlier this year. As the 29-year-old couple started to notice that their family members are getting older each year, they are determined to go back home more often despite busy schedules.
“We worked in many fine dining restaurants for about five years before moving to Melbourne, there we decided to do something for ourselves,” Yen says. “You got guts to do business only when you are young,” says Bernard while hitting the table gently with his hands, the passion of starting LuxBite back in 2010 still burning in his eyes. Today, the couple own and operate LuxBite, a busy shop in South Yarra, which serves mouth-watering, eye-appealing and exquisite macarons and desserts that are full of surprises, intricacy and each with a personal touch. Aspiring to be a trend setter, they have incorporated Southeast Asian flavours into their
“We would love to bring LuxBite to Malaysia, if there’s a chance. So that we have more time to spend with families”, says Bernard.
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Home staging techniques can deceive buyers into thinking a room is bigger than what it really is. This bedroom in Glen Iris only measures 2.2m x 3.4m with no built-in-robes. The use of display furniture gives the illusion that the bedroom is spacious and the occupant can walk around the bed. If a standard-sized bed is used, it will be too tight to do so. WRITES ERICK NG
Is that a Beautiful House, or a Beautiful Stage? TRICKS AND TRAPS OF REAL ESTATE (PART II)
Erick Ng is a licensed property buyer’s advocate at Capital Exchange International. He exclusively represents homebuyers and investors to master plan, search, research and negotiate the lowest possible purchase price and best terms. Trained in architecture, construction and real estate, Erick’s client base ranges from first home buyers/investors to property developers and government officials. Erick was featured on Channel 9’s prime time show ‘Hot Property’ and 3CW Chinese Radio Station. He can be contacted via erick.ng@cexi.com.au.
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Down to Business
Going to a property inspection for the first time is not dissimilar to going on a date for the first time. Many things can appear perfect at first impression. But when you examine further, you may find that the person, or the property, is not what it seemed to be. People can dress up to look the part, put on makeup, wear a wig or tighten up body parts where they want to be slim. Similarly, a property can look more appealing to buyers with home staging tasks as simple as cleaning, removing and rearranging furniture or as extensive as styling with hired furniture and art work curated by interior staging experts. Home staging is the act of preparing a property for sale to appeal to prospective buyers. When you sell a property, this can be a profitable activity to rake in
extra dollars. However, a cleverly disguised home can be a tricky distraction for buyers. In fact, some home staging techniques are so good that buyers will get deceived time after time. Let’s look at some of these tricks of the trade. Building Flaws Playing Hide and Seek No vendor would like prospective buyers to use property flaws as their bargaining power. The question is, can buyers find them? Freshly painted walls can be a delightful touch for the buyer as the vendor has already done the work. On the other hand, paintwork is an effective cosmetic concealment of any ceiling or wall leakage marks. A shoddy paint job over wallpaper or tiles can mean more work for the future owner when the paint starts to peel and reveal the original surface. Building flaws can also be hidden by strategic placement of furniture, an artwork, a rug or even a potted plant. If you find something out of the ordinary, put on a detective hat and find out more. That could very well be a decision maker for you to purchase the property or not. Honey, I Shrunk the Furniture Many apartment buyers wonder why they cannot make their queen-sized bed and bedside tables fit as suggested by the stunning display unit. The truth is, some of these pieces of display furniture are made smaller than they normally are. Display beds are specifically made smaller to create the illusion of a larger bedroom. Smaller than usual hired furniture such as bedside tables, sofas, coffee tables and dining sets are used in some display units to visually enhance the size of the rooms. Home staging companies offer smaller furniture for existing home sellers to visually enlarge their properties. Off-the-plan properties for sale may also have smallerthan-usual furniture drawn in floor plans to mislead potential buyers into thinking they have a spacious property. Another trick for enhancing space is the use of mirrors. When mirrors are used on walls, it is wise to check if there are any space shortcomings in the property. It is always a good idea to measure the rooms whenever practicable to avoid post-purchase surprises. The Illusion of Quality Selling properties with furniture provides buyers an opportunity to imagine how they can utilise the spaces. Carefully selected high quality furniture has the ability to transform drab to fab. They can distract the attention away from low quality floor coverings and the cheapest window furnishing. It is important therefore to imagine the room without the furniture so as not to get carried away. After all, the furniture does not normally come with the sale of the property. There are instances where vendors may sell the furniture with the property, but these are rare.
Controlled Views Unsightly views are often blocked away by halfopened blinds or the usage of translucent window materials during inspection times. Views directly to the neighbour’s windows, clothesline, main roads and bin areas are usually hidden from sight. Draw down the curtain and open the blinds of rooms to see where the window is looking into, or if there are any views the vendor is trying to hide. Car Space Trap Often, vendors are advised to vacate the garage or the carport to make the space look bigger. The last thing the vendor wants the buyer to find out is how difficult it is to get in or out from the car in the car space. Some of the car spaces on title are so small that it is possible to park a car in but difficult for the driver to get out. In some houses, the driveway is in an awkward curve or slope, which is not ideal. Some driveways are so tight that driving in and reversing can be a frustrating daily experience, should you buy the property. Undesirable car spaces often deter potential buyers, hence it is best to check dimensions before making an offer. Open Time Tricks For certain properties, it is advisable to do inspections at different times of the day to have a feel of the streetscape and neighbourhood other than the allocated inspection times. Some properties are allocated a particular inspection time to hopefully prevent buyers from noticing the busier traffic, the cars parking right in the front yard during office hours or the crowded school hours when parents pick up their children. Some newly constructed homes are only open during daylight hours to prevent buyers from noticing the lack of interior lighting provided. Some brand new million-dollar builder’s homes have only one halogen down light in each bedroom, making the rooms very dim during the night. Ambience Or Cover Up? Have you noticed that sometimes you walk into a property and there is Jazz music playing or the television/radio is switched on? Most of the time this technique is used to drown out undesirable external noise such as those from traffic or construction. If possible, make a request to the real estate agent to have these audio distractions turned off so you can determine the extent of the noise level, if any. What about those enchanting fragrance from candles and air fresheners? Some vendors are genuine aromatherapy aficionados. Other times, however, these are gimmicks to get buyers in the mood and affect the way they feel emotionally about the space. They are a nice touch but avoid being carried away by these mood-controlling scents.
Down to Business
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Migration Matters
BY ANDY ELLEN
A new Law was passed through Parliament at the end of June which is aimed at tightening the regulations for new 457 visa applications. For the last few months, many potential 457 visa holder were becoming worried by the media reports that Australia does not welcome future migrants. The front page headline in the Australian Financial Review “PM: Put Foreigners Last” was one example. Under a new PM, Mr Kevin Rudd, less aggressive language towards migrants will be welcome and should be forthcoming. In reality, upon closer inspection of the details, the new 457 law mainly acts to tighten up the existing regulations as follows: Labour Market Testing for 457 visas Employers seeking to sponsor for the 457 program may need to demonstrate they have first sought to fill the position through advertising with an Australian permanent resident or citizen. However, some occupations will be exempted. Latest news indicates that the introduction of this controversial legislation may be delayed until November 2013. Changes to 457 Work Condition Sponsored employees will have 90 days rather than the current 28 days to find a new employer if they cease employment with the sponsoring employer. Good news for those employees. Employer Obligations Measures have been taken to make the current sponsorship obligations more enforceable. For example, meeting training benchmarks is an ongoing and enforceable requirement. Fair Work Ombudsman Powers The Fair Work Ombudsman will have enhanced powers to inspect workplaces to ensure compliance with Migration Laws.
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Skills Assessments for Two Occupations Only Previously, skills assessments were required only for certain trade occupations from certain countries’ applicants. The occupations of Program and Project Administrator and Specialist Managers must now undertake a skills assessment. Limitations on Certain Hospitality Occupations Some concern has been expressed about the rise in the number of positions sponsored in the hospitality industry. As a result, there are now limitations on the sponsorship of Cooks, Chefs and Cafe/Restaurant managers. Such employees cannot be sponsored to fill positions in fast food or takeaway restaurants. Increase in Minimum Salary The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has been increased from $51400 to $53900. Increase in Application Fees Nomination fees will increase from $85 to $330, while the visa application fee has doubled from $455 to $900. However, the fee to apply to be an approved Business sponsor remains unchanged at $420. Requiring Sponsors to Pay for the Cost of Obtaining Approval as a Business Sponsor These fees cannot be paid by the 457 applicant or another person. In conclusion, the new regulations have been tightened to ensure that only genuine sponsors and applicants can proceed. The fees for an application have increased in line with other visa application fees and the minimum salary makes it more difficult for a small business to sponsor an employee on a 457 visa. However, if you need some assistance or advice on making a successful 457 visa application, you should contact a reputable migration agent.
MARN 0209289
Not Just. Not just a legal firm. Not just migration services. Not just the best lawyers. Not just in Melbourne. Not just your language. Not just quality. Not just services. Not just recognition. Not just business. Not just skills. Not just student services. Not just experts. Not just promises. Not Just.
A Legal Firm with Migration Services. Kabo Lawyers is more than just a legal firm. We provide a full range of services to support you in LEGAL matters (such as Commercial Law, Business Law, Family Law) as well as MIGRATION Services (Permanent Residency, Business Visa, Student Visa, Spouse Visa Applications, and more). In all matters, we deliver quality.
MELBOURNE Level 5, 100 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Telephone +61 3 9663 3337 Facsimile +61 3 9663 3334
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Telephone +62 21 522 7475 Facsimile +62 21 522 7475 Mobile +62 818 11 33 66
SYDNEY REPRESENTATIVE info@kabolawyers.com JOM Magazine Telephone +61 2 9299 5886 www.kabolawyers.com
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Sponsored Article
NEW CAREERS, NEW PERSPECTIVES, NEW SUCCESSES New Careers Australia is a career management and communication skills training agency that cares. With a collective of experts who have worked in various industries around the world together under one roof, the New Careers Australia team provides specialised career planning based on your unique, individual situation. Over the past 9 years, New Careers Australia has actively worked together with new Asian immigrants, helping to cultivate their lives and to begin the process of career planning as early as possible. New Careers Australia is proud to announce since creating their company they have achieved a 99% success rate in helping people to find the job they desire. The remaining 1% did not succeed only because the job seeker him or herself decided to give up trying. Do you know the difference between a ‘job’ and a ‘career’? Getting a job and building a career go handin-hand, but at the same time they are completely different matters. A job is a role you’ve assumed, while a career is the accumulated experience obtained from all of your jobs. For the sake of longterm employment, it’s not unusual for people to bury themselves in their current job, neglecting the importance of building their overall career. These people eventually find they are floating endlessly around the wide blue ocean of the job market, and after many years are still unable to find stability or true job satisfaction.
jobs after graduation. After examining the situations of the large number of people they have worked with, Ms Chan and her colleague Ms Epstein reveal a few insights that university students should always be aware of: Networking New Careers Australia Occupational Psychologist, Ms Harriet Epstein, says international students are often afraid to speak up and communicate with others due to various reasons, therefore missing out on numerous good opportunities. On top of expanding your circle of friends, improving one’s English is another major benefit gained through new interpersonal communication. Ms Chan adds to this assertion by encouraging students to break out of their personal circles. When looking for jobs in Australia, if a student only associates with friends who speak their mother tongue, we find his or her English level does not improve, and often actually deteriorates! Extracurricular Activities As well as concentrating on one’s studies, taking part in different activities inside or outside of your university can help you develop various skills. Ms Chan believes volunteer activities are tools that provide job seekers with ‘extra points’.
Tips for international students The early bird does get the worm Having a career plan mapped out for you as early as possible in your job search contributes tremendously to bringing a successful future career to fruition. A career plan not only helps students to focus and prioritise when making major career decisions (especially concerning what to major in and/or subject choices), but it also impacts upon a student’s time management and organisation skills. New Careers Australia Senior Career Consultant, Ms Chan Lai Hoong, points out one of the benefits of having a skilled consultant help students to plan their future early on in their lives, is the importance of setting up future targets and goals to work towards. She says a lack of early planning and preparation often results in increased stress, anxiety, and additional efforts needed to compete with others for
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Ms. Chan, Managing Director and Senior Career Consultant New Careers Australia
www.newcareers.com.au/ 1800 155 326
Internships Many students seek out part-time jobs when not studying, but usually go for the jobs that are the easiest to find and obtain, such as restaurant waiting staff. Ms Chan says unless the student in question would like to develop their career within the restaurant industry, experience gained from these odd jobs won’t be of much help to their future occupation. She proposes students not waste their time with these types of jobs, instead focusing on jobs or activities that provide ‘extra points’ such as knowledge, skills, and exposure useful for their future career’s direction. Tips for Employees – Reach for the Skies After obtaining a job, many people will often simply stay in the role they have, and are somewhat satisfied with the current situation – at least for now. Living in the moment is definitely not a bad philosophy; however, always striving to improve one’s career will bring greater achievements and successes in the long run. Ms Chan says every person should set a clear, ultimate career goal, and all preceding jobs should be seen as stepping stones serving towards that goal. She reminds employees, ‘From the moment you enter a company there may be three other people on the same level as you. However, there is only one manager position.’ In other words, successfully obtaining a job is only the first step in a career. We must continuously enrich
and improve ourselves in order to stand out from the crowd. Ms Epstein noted that new professional immigrants sometimes don’t understand workplace culture in Australia, and are consequently faced with difficulties. This is where adjusting and stabilising one’s state of mind can be very important. Trying to understand and improve on your strengths, as well as facing your weaknesses with a positive perspective and continually working to overcome them are great examples of this mental adjustment. These ideas are not new, but they are easier said than done. Ms Epstein uses her professional experience to analyse the mental states and backgrounds of job seekers, and ultimately helps them to solve their problems while maintaining their confidence. Not only does this process help with career related problems, it can also change a person’s perspective on life, which can last forever. Mind over matter Having handled so many cases, Ms Chan’s extensive career mentoring experience has meant she has met a lot of people who would stay in an unsuitable role rather than embracing change. These people just don’t feel confident to leave their comfort zone to work towards the career they really desire. Both Ms Epstein and Ms Chan agree if these people were willing to change their attitudes and seek out professional help, they would eventually attain greater success in their careers. If a person perseveres and is willing to try again and again, and never give up, the path to success will surely open up to them.
“ I finally got the job I wanted, but I didn’t get here the way I thought I would. My career coach showed me the many paths I could take.”
“I felt pressure from all sides - my parents, society, my culture and myself... After meeting my career coach, everything looks much clearer.”
JOM Magazine
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A Culinary Step Back in Time Interesting Nostalgic-themed restaurants in Melbourne.
Soda Rock Diner 257 Toorak Rd South Yarra VIC (03) 9827 3500 During the 1950s and 1960s, small restaurants and hamburger stands began popping up along the highways of most American cities, on neighbourhood street corners, and at busy downtown intersections. Fresh, tasty food was served in a friendly and inviting atmosphere. U-shaped black and chrome counter, bar stools, framed prints of 1940s Coca-Cola girls, and tabletop jukeboxes that play those familiar tunes are just some of the little cues at Soda Roxk Diner taken from the era. So whenever you feel like stepping back in time to those simpler days and enjoy some classic favourites: juicy hamburgers, crisp fries and thick milk shakes, visit Soda Rock! Some Soda Rock populars! Burgers Made based on recipes from American diners in the 1950s and ‘60s. They’re real, homemade burgers, for people who appreciate quality! Hot Dogs Oversized (10-inch) old-fashioned frankfurts. One of the most popular hot dogs in Soda Rock is the Hound Dog, with cheese, grilled onion, sweet pickle relish, American mustard and ketchup! Fries Soda Rock’s cheese fries and chilli fries are authentic American recipes and can’t be found anywhere else! Shakes Claimed to the best in Melbourne! Thick, creamy and icy cold, they’re made exactly the same way as they were back in the American diners of the 1950s and ‘60s.
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WRITES PAM VASU
Little Nyonya 818 Bourke St Docklands VIC 3008 (03) 9640 0237 NYONYA, an endearing term attributed to the unique culinary fare found only in Malaysia. A legacy from the intermarriage of Chinese seafarers with the local Malay dating back to the 16th Century, the Babas (males) and the Nyonyas (females) merged local and their Chinese ancestral cooking skill utilising herbs and spices readily available from the ancient Entrepôt of Malacca. At Little Nyonya, the spirited fusion of flavour derived from Malaysian and Chinese cuisine is offered at Docklands, Melbourne. The surrounding and interior decor of the restaurant are uniquely flushed with antiques from Malacca to create a warm, relaxing and homely ambiance for customers to enjoy their NYONYA experience. The Little Nyonya offers cuisine of home style cooking, involving exotic ingredients and the layering of flavours. Aromatic roots such as ginger, turmeric, galangal, and lemongrass are commonly used along with special concoctions of herbs and spices to create electric and delicious tastes for all Nyonya food lovers. Give Little Nyonya a go and see what Nyonya is all about!
Orient East 348 St Kilda Rd Melbourne VIC 3004 (03) 9685 2900 Orient East is an eclectic combination of old British colonial times in Malaya with a modern twist of the multiculturalism in Melbourne which offers classic flavours from the Peninsula. The Malaysian owner told us that the people in photos on the cover of the menu and on the wall are even related to her! The in-house restaurant at the hotel Seasons Botanic Gardens, Orient East has an extensive menu ranging from Asian to classic Australian, complemented by their amazing cocktail list. Orient East serves hotel classics you long for for as well as Colonialinspired favourites from the Straits of the Malay Peninsula, with a hint of retro Penang vibe. Orient east serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with coffee and conveniently offers bar service too. If you plan to visit Orient East on Fridays, be sure to look out for their Happy Hour specials which include craft brews, cider and cocktail of the day, served with St Kilda Road’s BEST free finger food!
The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Enjoying a meal on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is guaranteed to be the highlight of your day. The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is one of Melbourne’s star attractions, offering a sightseeing tour with a twist; taking a tram ride while indulging in great food and enjoying the atmosphere of the Australia colonial period. The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant has been carefully refurbished to provide all the modern conveniences you would expect from a first class restaurant; comforts such as seats covered in plush velvet, beautiful brass fittings to cast a cosy glow and background music to add to your dining experience. Hop aboard for a unique and unforgettable experience and you will find out why the tramcar restaurant is a proud four-time winner of the coveted National Tourism Award. Scheduled Service
Price
Luncheon - 1:00 – 3:00 pm 4 Course Meal
$82.5 per person
Early Dinner - 5:45 – 7:15 pm 3 Course Meal
$77 per person
Late Dinner - 8:35 – 11:30 pm (Sun-Thu) – 5 Course Meal
$121 per person
Late Dinner - 8:35 – 11:30 pm (Fri-Sat) – 5 Course Meal
$137.5 per person
DEPARTURE POINT The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant departs from and returns to Tramstop # 125 Normanby Road, near the corner of Clarendon Street, South Melbourne. Passengers must arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the departure time. Please be aware the trams must depart promptly at the scheduled departure time, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
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A Visit to the Old Melbourne Gaol WRITE TRINITY CHUA & KOK FAI LOKE
“Hands on your side! Back against the wall! Stand still!” The Charge Sergeant made us stand in two lines. We had our backs pressed hard against the cold prison wall. We had a charge sheet in our hand when we first came in. When I took a peek at mine, it read, “Offense caused: rape.” Boy, was I trying my hardest not to blush. “Read me your charge sheet!” the Charge Sergeant yelled, inches from my face. When my turn came, I hung my head and read mine. The rest of my prison mates burst out laughing. The Charge Sergeant perhaps expected the response, started yelling and stomping up and down between the two lines. Once order was restored, he threw us into our prison cells. It was dark and the door felt like they weighted a hundred tons. The walls were thick and no one could hear us outside. Wooden planks laced the sides of the wall. At the corner of our cell, there was one solidary toilet bowl to be shared by the fifteen of us. In that darkness, I huddled next to strangers, the other inmates. There, I spent the next 10 minutes as a convicted criminal.My Watch House Experience lasted 40 minutes. Located at the heart of Melbourne
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CBD, next to RMIT Campus, the Old Melbourne Gaol offers visitors a chance to experience what it is like to be a ‘bloody scumbag’ and ‘locked up behind bars’. The last inmate has left the prison since 1990s but nothing has changed in the place to maintain its authenticity. The cells, the prison courtyard, the graffiti, the hangman gallows have all remained. Visitors are allowed to explore the three-storey prison where many of the cells belong to the most notorious criminals in Australia. When night falls, one may choose to come back again for the Hangman Tour. Following a ‘nicer’ and very much more excitable Prison Warden, you will be led to a dingy cell with a hole in the ground for toilet. There, he will tell you the stories of the countless inmates while the prison was in operation. Visitors get the chance to walk in the inmates’ shoes as the Prison Warden takes you on a tour through the rickety prison floorboard to the punishment area, individual cells and hangman gallows. All of these places offer unique, haunting stories of their own. Then, for finale, you will hear the gory yet laced with dark humour tales from the gallows! Ticket information for Watch House Experience: Ticket price: $25 for Adults, $20 for Concession, $13.50 for Child Ticket information for Hangman Tour: Time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights Tickets: $38 for Adults, $33 for concession
possum’s aid. With much more confidence and skill than we could have managed, she used a blanket to cover the possum, then she picked it up, wrapped it in warm blankets and drove it to a nearby animal hospital. A couple of days later, I received a call from the rescuer who informed me that the possum had made a full recovery and would be released again soon, but that if it weren’t for the call we had made, the outcome would not have been good.
Kurang Manis
BY JULIAN LEE
I don’t think that I have ever seen such a sad, forlorn creature as I did one cold and drizzling night in July this year. I was walking home from work when my partner called me to say she had come across an injured possum near where we live. The poor thing was curled into a ball and when I reached my partner, who was standing nearby it to make sure no cyclists might accidently hit it, the possum occasionally looked up drowsily and limped around a little before curling into a ball again. Unable to leave such a vulnerable creature to its fate, but feeling ill-equipped to handle wildlife ourselves, we called two of the volunteer-based non-profit organisations in Victoria that rescue injured wildlife – Wildlife Victoria and Help for Wildlife. They in turn called their volunteers to find out who was nearby and soon a kind volunteer was able to come to the
For me, and my partner, the image of that injured possum was one of the most poignant we had ever seen. I don’t recall being so affected by something so sad, helpless and alone as that possum. But another thing that struck us was how relieved we were at being able to help it. We had no experience with undomesticated animals. Our ability to help this possum and to do the right thing rested on the efforts of volunteers and non-profit organisations like Help for Wildlife and Wildlife Victoria, which receive no government funding. They have our personal thanks, and deserve all our support. For more information or to make a donation, see these organisations’ websites. www.wildlifevictoria.org.au www.helpforwildlife.org.au Julian CH Lee is a lecturer in International Studies at RMIT University.
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DI ATAS PADANG SEJARAH
Di dataran sejarah suara kita sesubur rumput, bisik kalbu bergaung garang tanpa resah tanpa takut. Lagu kita rindu demokrasi darjat awan tertinggi mengindah ufuk senja merai kemerdekaan diri. Rumput di kaki, awan di kepala, gah iringi murba, seramainya, sederapnya, setulusnya, kita bersama menjulang panji negara, bangga dicium angin jati di tengah gelora kita sebangsa dan sejiwa murni. Di atas padang sejarah pantang kita mungkiri janji setiap tapak dan langkah mengisi rindu demokrasi. Diri kita padu maruah senandung setulus hati melunturkan wewarna zalim, menyubur kuning berseri. Kita—tenaga jati—gah berjuang demi keadilan; kita terbang sederas sinar julang panji kebenaran. 2—3, Oktober, 2012. A. SAMAD SAID.
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Being Patriotic in a Foreign Land WRITES CHRISTINE YEO
Come August 31, I believe most Malaysians, if not all, will have recollections of the touching Petronas ads, national day parade live telecast, national flags hoisted on government and private buildings, or those miniature ones flown on motor vehicles. For some, the late Dato’ Sudirman donning his Malaysian flag themed costume, singing his patriotic, soul-inspiring song “31 Ogos 1957” will be fondly remembered. This is just some of the metonymy of Malaysian-defined patriotism I presume. Patriotism is defined differently by different individuals. What Does ‘Being Patriotic’ Mean to Me? Admittedly, I have never thought much about patriotism as it is. A hyper-emotional person, I cannot help having tears swell up each time I hear the national anthem being played at functions. I remembered struggling to keep myself composed playing the national anthem on the piano with the ministry’s choir during the monthly assembly. There is always this unexplainable great sense of love, respect and devotion. I guess the best things in life cannot be seen or touched. They are felt with our hearts and souls. Wherever, Whenever Now that I am temporarily based here in Australia, more than any flag waving, the urge to connect with fellow Malaysians prevails. We cherish our rights to interact. To help others, and to participate in ways we can contribute constructively to Malaysia, from wherever we are. All these things are done voluntary. We accept that we are all humbled by many imperfections, but we are as perfect as a nation can be. I feel being able to express pride in my nation, and not succumb to despair in the face of Her challenges, is really what matters most. In remembrance of our forefathers’ struggles and sacrifices. Lest we forget. My father is one typical China-man who never believed in celebrating Valentine’s Day. According to him, it has been commercialised. In fact, every day is Valentine’s Day. Akin to his analogy, we should not be professing our love for Malaysia only during National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations. Someone once made a remark about those who have emigrated being traitors. On the flip side, being physically in the country, but doing more harm than good for society, is not an attestation of one’s love for the country. Anyway, no one has the right to question anyone else’s patriotism. A Conviction George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) wrote “Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.” It may really be as simple as that, but in conjunction with this year’s Merdeka celebration, let’s embrace a renewal of pledge to make Malaysia strong, progressive and prosperous.
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A forgotten metropolis submerged deep under
the waves, filled with hidden treasures and awash with unsolved mysteries. Enter a world undisturbed for centuries, a lost paradise of luxury and decadence awaiting your discovery. Taste the riches of the ocean, lose yourself in the pastimes of the ancients and feast your eyes on a city r aised from the depths.
Grand Malaysian Ball 2013 invites you to share this exceptional experience with us and promises you a night like no other. The night will also have many top performances and extraordinary prizes* to be won! The Grand Malaysian Ball 2013 will be yet one of the biggest event by Malaysian for everyone with students from 8 uni versities collaborate with MASCA.
We cordially invite you and your friends to Date: Friday 27th of September 2012 Time: 6:00pm-10:00pm Venue: LEONDA By The Yarra 2 Wallen Rd,Hawthorn Vic 3122 Tickets will be sold at the booths of the following student university associations : University of Melbourne RMIT University Monash Clayton Monash Caulfiled
Swinburne University Deakin University Victoria University La Trobe University
More Information
Website: http://www.grandmalaysianball.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grand-Malaysian-Ball-2013/263366713807044
Inaugural Malaysia Day Festival in Victoria, Australia
A composition of Kuala Lumpur city skyline made with ‘Nasi Lemak‘, a Malaysian national dish. Artwork inspired by artist Red Hong Yi. View her work at redhongyi.com.
Coming soon in September at Queensbridge Square, next to Crown along the beautiful Yarra River! Check out www.jommagazine.com.au or www.facebook.com/ jommagazineaus for updates!
'He's the quintessential Anthony Bourdain, only younger ' - The Guardian
A
CHAN CHARLIE CHAN opening soon ! RMIT Building 80 (corner of A’beckett & Swanston) Facebook https://www.facebook. com/pages/Chan-CharlieChan/189807267860008 Twitter https://twitter.com/CCharlieChan
n advocate for off the beaten track adventure and exploring cultures and lifestyles that challenge our understanding of the human existence, Chan Charlie Chan is part adventurer, local food champion, travel and photography blogger. With him as your guide, come into his home and experience authentic Asian dishes, snacks and beverages he has tried, tasted and given the ‘thumbs up’. Combined with his journey and friends met along the way, we get his top recommendations of places to go, things to see and most importantly, get to try for yourself the dishes he has on the top of his list – straight from his own kitchen!
The Twist Not just your ordinary foodie, Chan Charlie Chan uses his kitchen as part lab, part store house. He collects exotic herbs, spices, marinades and ingredients whilst on travels to north and south East Asia. Uncovering family secret recipes, forgotten cook books and old family classics, the kitchen is used to recreate these favourites, with an honest and fresh approach, giving respect to the dish.
Only the Best... Eh, want to know where the best Laksa, Fried Mee Goreng, Peking duck or crispy Roast pork is? Don’t worry. Invite yourself over to Chan Charlie Chan’s Melbourne loft & kitchen.
The first 500 likes on Chan Charlie Chan’s Facebook Page will get 50% off during the first week, 30% the second week, 20% the third week of the opening. Start Liking Chan Charlie Chan now!