JOURNEYS OF MALAYSIANS
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Ambiga
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READING NEWS IN MALAYSIA BUKU JALANAN SEN LAM PAPA DON’T PREACH ALL YOU CAN EAT
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ISSUE 05 JUN/JUL 2013
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Editor Joyce Ng Editorial Assistants Josh Yu, Sonya Ong, Harry Ward News Editors Trinity Chua, Kok Fai Loke Design & Layout Wiriyak Suvanmani Accounts & Marketing Christina Soh Public Relations Clarice Chan, Pam Vasu Finance & Legal Eddie Lee, Josh Yu, Cheer Ray Ang Circulation Jun Tan Researcher Sophia Leyz Editorial Contributors AK7, Joanna Loh, Clarice Chan, Norlim Ariffin, Christopher Chan, Andy Ellen, Erick Ng, Jonathan Lian, Pam Vasu, Lianne Letitia Zilm, Paul Maric, Adri Praditya, Fern Yi Lim, Julian Lee, Tunku ‘Abidin Muriz, KC Boey Photographic Contributors Jia Shyan Teh, Lance Vun, Eric Chiang, Siok Yee Tan, Josh Yu, Joyce Ng, KC Boey Illustrator Vanessa Law Website Designer Bei Xian Koh Special Thanks Dato’ Dr. Rameez Yahaya, MECCA, Clive Magazine, Dr. Wong Chin Huat, National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia JOM would also love to thank everyone who has helped or supported and given us encouragement over the past months.
ON THE COVER Ambiga Sreenevasan Courtesy of Sreenevasan Advocates & Solicitors Edited by Jia Shyan Teh
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. Submissions JOM welcomes article, story, comic, joke and photo submissions. Please email your submissions to editor@jommagazine.com.au or for more information. 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. Find us online Facebook www.facebook.com/jommagazineaus Twitter Jommagazine Youtube JOMmagTV Channel www.jommagazine.com.au
Federation Square, Melbourne, April 25
Love . Freedom . Courage In late May, a Malaysian born businessman flipped through our magazine, put it on the boardroom table in front of him, and concluded with six words: “This is a labour of love.” I felt a sense of relief, as if we had been understood by this chap in a suit, who seemed to have had a bright career. As JOM is approaching its first anniversary this coming September, I often look back at the journey and the path we have taken for making this magazine – it has taken lots of our time and energy, but most importantly, it has taken a lot of our passion for Malaysia. I remember people asking me why my team and I started this magazine. To only a few of them, I told the truth; a truth that I only truly realised months after the magazine was born. I wanted freedom. I wanted to be free to love what I want to do. But this freedom came at a price; the price being my freedom to live a normal working life. Furthermore, I also came to a realisation that despite striving for “balance“ in our media reports, even when resources were scarce, it is perhaps inevitable that some will perceive our work differently from how we perceive it. Nevertheless, we have taken a rather bold step to feature a controversial individual on our cover this issue. To a certain extent, featuring her is a way to “balance“ our work. It’s hard to please everyone, but we can only do our best.
This issue, we also examine the media itself to give a reflection on what we are doing, as well as to reflect on post-election Malaysia. We also include activism, which seems to be gaining momentum in Malaysia especially because of the elections. I am very grateful to the interviewees in this issue, some of whom are extremely busy people, for having agreed to spend their time with us. I hope you enjoy their stories, and the many other articles in this issue. Yours sincerely, Joyce Ng Editor
Photo: John Ragai
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CONTENTS
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07 JOM Picks 10 Upcoming Events 12 Inside Malaysian and Beyond News Corner Reading News in Malaysia Activism Peaceful Rallies that Changed the World 20 Malaysian Tales Ambiga Sreenevasan Sen Lam Sumisha Naidu Papa Don’t Preach 34 Community, Culture and Art Azmyl Yunor Buku Jalanan 38 Down to Business The AUD/MYR Exchange Rate Migration Matters Real Estate Agents Represent Property Buyers? The Relevance of Print in Digital Age 46 Styling Life Asian Buffet Heaven All You Can Eat Ugly Duckling Camberwell Sunday Market Holden Volt Teh Tarik Easy Cooking for Busy People Hectic Homemakers’ Guide How to: Hat Hair 59 Talk, Think, Laugh Kurang Manis Malaysian born in Melbourne Siding with Sydney New Face of Politics
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JOM’S PICKS
Asian Gourmet Hut 12 Mitchell St Doncaster East VIC 3109 03 9840 7511 Mee Hun Kueh can be found at a restaurant owned by a Malaysian that serves both Malaysian and Chinese food in Doncaster, east of Melbourne. For those of you who do not know, Mee Hoon Kueh is a Hokkien Malaysian dish made with handmade flour dough and often served with anchovies and ‘sayur manis’ that are quite rare these days. Our chief editor was born in Klang, a town famous for this dish. For her, the soup has less substance than those from her hometown, but it is quite an authentic dish and still quite enjoyable.
The Cuckoo restaurant 508 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd Olinda VIC 3788 (03) 9751 1003 People dancing and singing while you eat? Check. Being pulled from your seat to learn to yodel? Check. Lively Bavarian themed performances? Check. And of course, a great selection of as much Bavarian food as you can eat? Check. The Cuckoo offers plenty to make your dining experience a very special one. The rustic Cuckoo is also one of the oldest restaurants in Melbourne, and claims that it has the largest cuckoo clock in the world! A drive up to the Cuckoo in winter will surely leave you with warmth that you will never forget. The place is also popular for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Birthdays and Anniversary celebrations.
Mount Hotham and Bright A local source told JOM that Mount Hotham is their preferred mountain to go to for skiing, for its better quality of snow, slopes and magnificient landscape. On the way to Mt Hotham lies the gorgeous rustic town of Bright. This town, famous for its tree lined streets in autumn, lies at the foot of Mt Beauty and Hotham Heights. Beyond Hotham Heights is Dinner Plain, where snow on the gum trees forms a beautiful wonderland. Even on a foggy winter’s day, the scenery is spectacular. Ovens Valley and King Valleys are home to many of Australia’s most renowned wineries, and are an hour’s drive from Bright on the way back to Melbourne.
Hardware Societe 120 Hardware St, Melbourne VIC 3000 03 9078 5992 Hardware Society, located at the end of Hardware Lane in the heart of Melbourne, is one of the city’s more popular cafes, primarily due to its inspired cuisine and quaint interior setting. The place is a favourite breakfast and lunch spot for the corporate workforce as well as fashionable foodies.
JOM’s Picks |
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JOM Movie Picks In the theme of this issue of JOM, here are a few of or movie picks based on journalism and the media.
ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN A classic film about investigative journalism, All the President’s Men is a thrilling retelling of two journalists from the Washington Post investigating the Watergate scandal who end up uncovering the evidence that eventually forces the resignation of President Nixon.
THE QUIET AMERICAN Based on the bestselling novel by Graham Greene, The Quiet American is a story about an old jaded journalist, a young American idealist and a young Vietnamese woman, set during the lead-up to the Vietnam War. Thomas Fowler, the ever impartial journalist, is finally swayed to one act that affects all of their lives irrevocably.
FROST/NIXON Another film surrounding the Watergate scandal, Frost/Nixon covers the infamous interviews after the conclusion of the scandal, between David Frost, a British television host hoping to build his reputation, and former US President Richard Nixon, who is keen to repair his own. Knowing that Frost has little experience as a political journalist, Nixon had hoped to take charge of the interviews, but Frost was not going to make it easy for him.
THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY A story about an Australian journalist in Indonesia during the attempted Communist coup in 1965. The film explores the dangers of being a foreign correspondent in an unstable country and the lengths journalists will go to for a story.
ANCHORMAN Unlike the rest of our list, Anchorman is a little less serious! The film is about Ron Burgundy, a top news anchor with lots of attitude but little brain. Considered by many to be a comedy classic, Anchorman makes fun of media stereotypes and the male-dominated attitudes prevalent in some media institutions.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK A dramatized retelling of the birth of Facebook, the name and brand ubiquitous with social media. The film follows the journey of Mark Zuckerberg and his fellow Harvard students who develop the idea of a social network in college and the power plays for control once they realise just how big the social network could be.
Like writing lists? Write to us at editor@jommagazine.com.au 08 |
JOM’s Picks
Winter Bucket List! Fly to Europe for summer and go to the seafood festival in Algavre in Portugal Stay up late, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and drink wine while watching the Tour de France on TV Drive to the Dandenongs and enjoy English scones and Devonshire tea at Miss Marple Compliment somebody on his or her scarf Hug your favourite uncle Curl in your bed and read a book While away your Sunday afternoon looking at your favourite art in the National Gallery of Victoria Make a soup you have never made before Have dinner at a ridiculously expensive restaurant such as Attica, Vue de Monde or Jacques Reymond Make a snowman Roast chestnuts, or make your own bread and roast it at an open fire Tell someone important to you that you love them
Got an idea for our Spring bucket list? Send it to the JOM editor at editor@jommagazine.com.au
JOM’s Picks |
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UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE
5th – 10th Melbourne International Singers Festival Various times and locations http://www.jonathonwelch.com/whats_on/ melb_international_singers_festival_ 2013.html Ever dreamt of becoming of becoming the next Mariah Carey or Sister Act? Hone your singing prowess with internationally acclaimed stars like Idea of North, Dr. Kathleen McGuire and more when you join their workshops and masterclasses. 16th 20th - 30th
Air Force Band at Iwaki 2 – Pines of Rome 3.00-4.00 pm Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre, www.airforce.gov.au/band Feeling antsy on a leisurely Sunday afternoon? Head over to the Iwaki Auditorium for a free afternoon Air Force Band concert headed by their Squadron Leader Mathew Shelley. No bookings needed.
30th
Sunflower Club Speedo Dash 11.00am – 1.30pm, Queensbridge Square sunflowerclub.org.au/where/speedo-dash Ever wanted to run around town in nothing but your Speedos? Here’s your chance, and for a good cause too! Money raised will go towards the Leukemia Foundation.
Melbourne International Animation Festival Various times ACMI Cinemas http://www.miaf.net/2013 Animation and film enthusiasts will not want to miss this opportunity to explore and learn from the best in the Australian industry. The week promises be chock-full of animated goodness. Visit the website for more details.
18th – 28th
Melbourne Rare Book Week Friday: 6.00 – 9.00pm Sat:10.00am – 5.00 pm Sun: 10.00am – 5.00 pm Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne www.rarebookfair.com Oh, is parting with thine own Facebook account such sweet sorrow? Get your nerd on and head over to Melbourne Rare Book Week, and rediscover that passion for the written word.
21st The Age Run Melbourne 6.00 am – 11.00 am Federation Square http://www.runmelbourne.com.au/ content/event-info/gjg2aw More than just a fun run for the masses, the Age Run Melbourne aims to raise $2.5 million through its participants to various charities of the participant’s choice. What better way to support a local charity of your choice? Get those runners out now and start training! 25th Whisky and Cheese Pairing Masterclass 7.00pm – 8.30 pm The Altar, Level 2, 156 Collins Street , Melbourne thechampagnedame.com/public-events- and-classes/whisky-and-cheese -pairing-masterclass Learn about whisky and cheese from the Champagne Dame as she shares her heritage with you. Indulge your senses as you sniff and taste and tickle your senses at this event. Places are strictly limited, reservations are compulsory.
WINTER’S PICKS
1st – 7th July Christmas in July Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort http://mountbawbaw.com.au/events/ christmas-in-july/ Santa will be spreading some holiday cheer, sledding through the village on Baw Baw’s JULY Howling Huskies. Snowmen building comps, 2nd – 4th People and the Planet Conference toboggan races, a Christmas Dinner at RMIT University, all day Village Restaurant and fireworks on http://global-cities.info/content/ Saturday night! conferences_forums/people-and-the-planet There is so much more to conserving and For more events at Mount Baw Baw: sustaining the planet than just recycling http://mountbawbaw.com.au/whats-on/ your empty cans. Learn more about our events/ beloved planet in this truly global event co-hosted by the UN Global Cities Programme and Research Institute.
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Upcoming Events
20th July Backcountry Film Festival 7pm, Mount Buller http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Detail/Winter/ Events-Activities/Event-Calendar/151 The festival is created since 2005 to help grassroots and professional filmmakers to show audience their love of the winter outdoors. The annual festival has been shown in more than 30 towns and cities and raised thousands of dollars to help efforts to preserve our winter environment. For more events at Mount Buller: http://www.mtbuller.com.au/ Listings/Winter/Events-Activities/Event Calendar/Filter-9-2013_6_1*2013_10_31 10th – 11th Sled Dog Challenge 9am – 1pm both days, Mount Hotham http://sleddogchallenge.com/ Located in the picturesque village of Dinner Plain, 350 sled dogs will race for the top prize in the Advance Sled Dog Challenge. This is Australia’s only snow-based sled dog race. For more events at Mount Hotham: http://www.mthotham.com.au/news/ events/
Photo: Bruce McKay
Upcoming Events
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News Corner
WRITES TRINITY CHUA
News from Bolehland Food heaven aka biggest food dump In a twist of irony, the land that is known for its cuisines is also the land that throws away obscene amounts of food every day. Malaysia generates about 15,000 tonnes of food and kitchen waste daily, enough food to feed 7.5 million people a day. Penang and Kuala Lumpur take the bulk of the waste, generating 355 tonnes and 3,000 tonnes respectively of wasted food daily. The current figure is also a hike from 2011 (9,300 tonnes of food wasted) and double the 2009 figure. Source: The Star We need more skilled workers, not academics The German ambassador to Malaysia says that Malaysia lacks skilled workers at all levels from operators to engineers. This impediment is turning off investors, as it is expensive to bring in skilled workers to their operations in Malaysia. Dr Gunter Gruber points out that Malaysians should not only focus on academic careers, but also try to develop their talents according to their skills. He believes that the new dual education system will make this a reality. Germany is the fourth largest investor in Malaysia and Gruber indicates that more German investors are looking at ASEAN countries and Malaysia as a new business entity due to the pool of 600 million consumers and a vibrant business environment. Source:The Malaysian Insider
Frightened Myanmese in our midst Myanmese Buddhists are living in fear in Malaysia as they believe that Muslim Rohingya are taking revenge on them for sectarian killings in their home country. In Kuala Lumpur, two of them were killed and two other critically injured in seven separate clashes. Anti-Rohingya violence flared in western Myanmar a year ago, leaving 200 people dead. The sentiments slowly sipped into Malaysia, which is home to 28,120 Rohingya. Fortunately, some Muslim Myanmese has been looking out for their non-Muslim countrymen - some by driving them around. Source: South China Morning Post
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Inside Malaysia and Beyond
Dead Japanese in our cell Nobuhiro Matsushita was found dead in his cell at USJ8 police station lock-up. According to the police, the Japanese was arrested for whipping out a knife at a policeman after trespassing into a university earlier this month. He was found hanged in his cell, presumably by his own doing. His death adds on to the already country-tarnishing predicament of custodial deaths. Currently, nine people have died in custody in the last five months. Source: The Malaysian Insider On a side note, the election came and went. Barisan Nasional retained its hold on Parliament while Pakatan Rakyat won the popular vote. Some critics have called the recent GE-13 the ‘mother of all frauds’ for the many allegations stacked against the credibility of the electoral process. Mass protests ensued after the elections, mainly hosted by opposition parties. The Four Corners of the World Syrian war and party on Syrian elite resume a lavish lifestyle. In its cafes, hotels and restaurants, parties go on. Restaurants are full and civilians go to work in suits every morning. Yet, at the same place and time, sounds of heavy fighting can be heard in the background of everyday life. The Syrian uprising started in 2011 to overthrow the ruling government. As the war went on, the regime instead grew stronger, drawing its constituents from the elite and nouveau-riche classes together through a shared fear of what would come next. Many civilians also believe the rebels will offer less freedom than the current regime. Source: The Age Edward Snowden: the face behind the NSA files leak Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA and current employee of the defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, went public as the source behind the daily disclosures about one of the world’s most secretive organisation s- the National Security Agency. He said, “The public needs to decide whether these programs and policies are right or wrong.” The Obama administration faces considerable difficulties in dealing with Snowden. To prosecute a man whom many will see as a hero for provoking a debate that the President himself has said he welcomes, the administration will face considerable criticism. The administration is already under fire for the recent crackdowns on classified information leaks. Sources: New York Times and The Guardian Please be careful with the meat China has finally cracked down on sales of tainted meat products. The country has come under international criticism recently after an unfortunate and consecutive series of food scandals. Its most recent cases involve passing off rat meat as lamb, fox meat as mutton and its latest, pork made from disease-ridden pigs. Meanwhile, around 1,300 dogs crammed into cages, have been seized in less than a week in Thailand’s northeast border region. Activists suspect that
these dogs were otherwise destined for dinner plates. Sources: CNN and The Guardian Deadly strains of viruses resurfacing U.S. researchers have concluded that the H1N1 virus can travel among mammals after detecting the deadly virus among elephant seals. Meanwhile, a mysterious new strain of bird flu, dubbed the H7N9, has killed another four people in China, bringing the death toll to 31 and the number of infected rising to 129. In France, two cases of a new SARS-like virus were recorded recently. The World Health Organisation has called on people in France to stay calm and not overburden hospitals for fear of the deadly virus, to allow for proper treatment of those actually infected. Sources: BFM 89.9 and The Daily Mail
A new age of hotel luxury hits the Maldives Shaped like a series of spaceships hovering above the water and supported only with five spidery legs, this is the face of a new futuristic hotel in the Maldives. The Water Discus Hotel is a luxury multi-million dollar resort featuring 21 moveable rooms situated in the heart of spectacular coral reefs. The bedrooms, which are 30-meters below the water, are connected by a glass tunnel leading upwards to the hotel lounges. With large windows for walls, guests can enjoy the vibrant reefs and tropical fish from the comfort of their bed. The more adventurous can opt for a ride in a deep-sea submarine after breakfast. Source: CNN Make me study again and I’ll kill you! In China, a teenage boy has been arrested for hiring hitmen to kill his father and sister because they put too much stress on him to study. Police have found the bodies of the two victims in the family’s apartment. Preliminary investigation showed the teenager hired two contract killers via the Internet because he resented their strict discipline. A study in China suggested that a third of primary school children were suffering headaches and stomach pains possibly due to the intense focus on their academic achievements. Source: The Guardian
News from Down Under Victoria’s Catholic Church comes under fire Melbourne’s Catholic Archbishop admitted the church practiced a culture of cover-ups over child sex abuse by paedophile priests. To date, the Catholic Church in Victoria revealed it has upheld 618 cases of criminal child abuse by clergy in the last 16 years. Denis Hart said it took churches 18 years to act on ejecting these priests but it was “better late than never.” He now insists that the church has zero tolerance to child abuse. The Victorian police also took a snipe at the church, claiming it had deliberately impeded investigations into child abuse through persuading victims not to press charges at times. Source: The Age Home-grown terrorism a reality Facing public and parliamentary criticism, the Gillard administration bowed down to pressure and ordered a highlevel probe into apparent immigration failures that allowed an Egyptian refugee convicted of terrorism to live in lowsecurity detention for over a year. Opposition has called this a “serious breach of national security” but the government was playing down the risk. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus labelled the Coalition’s response as a “campaign of fear and hysteria designed to score political points”, claiming the refugee did not commit any offense in Australia. Meanwhile, Kevin Rudd unveiled plans for tougher visa checks of people from at least 10 countries believed to pose a major terror or criminal threat to Australia. He said Australia is under permanent threat, with “home grown terrorism” a reality. Sources: The Age and ABC Radio Gender is so yesterday Australian judges ruled that people do not have to be registered as a man or a woman on their birth, death or marriage certificates. The court order overturned an earlier decision that a person’s sex could not be listed as “non-specific” under Australian law. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, a transsexual woman has won a historic court appeal allowing her to marry her boyfriend, forcing the government to re-write the city’s marriage laws. Sources: BFM 89.9 and The Observer Our lives in Rooland 160km south of Perth, local police found six Malaysians working illegally as farm workers. According to the Perth Immigration Detention Centre, five men and one woman who have apparently overstayed their tourist visas were detained and would be sent back to Malaysia. UnderCommonwealth Legislation, people convicted of employing illegal workers face up to $20,400 in fines and two years in prison. Source: News.com.au
Inside Malaysia and Beyond
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Kee runs a coconut business. Every day, from dusk to dawn, he sells the round brown hairy nuts to villagers in Parit Baru, Selangor. He enjoys hour-long showers, and in the lull hours and kopi breaks enjoys a flip through the local edition of Sin Chew Daily. Says the purveyor of fine hard nuts, “I just like to read it, is there anything wrong?”
Reading News in Malaysia WRITES AK7, TRINITY CHUA & KOK FAI LOKE
Having read and enjoyed the paper since young, Kee has never really given thought to reading other publications, nor obtaining news from the Internet. “My parents used to read Sin Chew Daily. There’s plenty of stuff in it. It’s a good read,” says the 57-year-old. Kee is among many others around him who find reading the newspaper a daily comforting experience. His parents did it and he does it too. “The appeal of the mainstream and alternative media is quite different. Readers access the media for different reasons too,” says Malaysian media and political analyst, Khoo Kay Peng. Since the last General Election in May, international media have reported the growing distrust of Malaysia’s mainstream media in the eyes of many Malaysians. Although many urban Malaysians have grown cynical of the mainstream media, certain newspapers, particularly vernacular ones, still resonates with large segments of the Malaysian public. “The Chinese media appear to enjoy a higher scale of acceptance. A segment of the Malay readers still access the Malay language media for their daily staple of news. But the English language media has been at the mercy of critics,” says Khoo. The English-language New Straits Times saw its circulation decline sharply from 180,000 to as low as 80,000 in the last decade, in reports by Singapore’s Straits Times. But the problem dogging the Malaysian mainstream media’s efforts to regain readership is far more complicated than credibility issues or a fancy for a language. The Malaysian Insider Chief Editor says, “Circulation is down for major newspapers related to politics but up for tabloids that cater to sex, ghosts stories and crime.” “Most readers are seeking relevance (of the publication) in what interests them, and it isn’t the country as much as it is escapism from the drudgery of daily life.” Jahabar Shadiq warns that the online media is still vulnerable to the whims and fancies of its audience and their interests.
Photo: Lynne Naranek
“It is the same with online media. Business and political sites have a narrow audience share but for lifestyle, there are plenty to cater to the multitudes. All seem to go for certain demographics, breaking down the market even further.” For some like the Village Chief of Sri Paya in Johor Bahru, not so. Haji Mohd Lazim Bin Abu Bakar has made it a point to read as many newspapers as he can “to get various views”- no matter how busy he gets on his farmland. He also browses the online portal Malaysiakini on a regular basis. “Many of my friends read Utusan Malaysia. We do have our differences, and occasionally we have little arguments. But overall we all understand that everyone have their own opinion,” he says. The chief believes that what one chooses to read does inform their political views. Himunshu Bhutt, ex-news editor of newspaper The Sun and currently a special correspondent for Fz.com, believes that alternative media is the way of the future as it provides openness for political news and activism, and is already gaining increasing momentum in Malaysia as an alternative to the State-controlled mainstream media. “Because of increasing exposure to local political goings-on and rumours over the online media - including web news portals, blogs, Facebook, and so on - the public’s eyes have opened up to realise that these same materials are not being published, to a large extent, in the newspapers.”
censorship by itself. “Balanced reporting or curating a report to ensure all sides are heard or read is the best and only way. No newspaper can cater to all sides but it must try… any other way is just propaganda.” A larger issue plaguing the Malaysian media landscape is the rural-urban divide. Malaysians living in remote areas like Kee have little access to the Internet world. Khoo believes that that the urban and rural Malaysians are different geographically, ethnically and socio-economically. “Their level of engagement is also different. Sadly, most of the mainstream and alternative media are urban centric, if not their journalists are.” Jahabar remains positive about the situation. “Their habits will be the same as urban people, to get entertained, not vexed by issues of the day unless it really affects them,” he says. However, he is cynical about political news. Rather, he believes that political news will give way to a clutter of entertainment and technology stories. “[There will be] politics only when it affects daily life,” he adds.
But Khoo says there is very little balanced reporting in Malaysia’s media- mainstream or alternative. “We are still far off from the possibility of creating a fair and civilized engagement and discourse in the media.,” the political analyst says. “The ruling regime has shunned the alternative media, often calling them not credible and pro-Opposition. Opposition leaders have said the same of the mainstream media,” he says. He explains that the mainstream media is deeply interwoven with the ruling regime. The alternative media, on the other hand, crosses path with civil societies. “The latter has covered most of the activism activities in Malaysia and has been used as a platform to mobilize supporters too,” he says. More often than not, the participants are Opposition supporters. Khoo feels that Malaysia lack centrists to keep media-audience engagement to be fair and objective. When asked about his organisational balance, Jahabar says by catering solely to what the audience want, it is a form of
Inside Malaysia and Beyond
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Photo: Lance Vun
Activism WRITES CLARICE CHAN
Throwing butyric acid, produced from rancid butter, onto a ship to deter its crew from whaling. Pouring blood down the street in front of the Prime Minister’s residence in a political protest.A sit-in rally in the middle of the street, causing the public transport network to come to a standstill for the better part of a day. Activism. At the core of activism is a conviction, more than just mere belief. When that belief manifests itself into a proactive stance, visible to the rest of society, it becomes a statement to the rest of the world. Whether it is right or wrong depends on the personal views taken, and that differs with each individual, based on upbringing and inherent nature. Activism today is more than just holding placards in front of someone’s office, and chanting slogans advocating a cause, be it environmental, political, social, or gender rights. No longer is activism a country’s internal affair, limited by the nation’s geographical borders, in fact, it has evolved to include the global community. No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. ~ Edmund Burke [British orator, philosopher, & politician]
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Inside Malaysia and Beyond
Mention ‘activism’ to any Malaysian in light of the recent general elections and one would realise the level of awareness has reached an all-time high. There is increased involvement by the younger generation compared to the past general elections, both in metropolitan areas and the sleepier country towns. In the virtual world, social media and networking sites have exploded with groups and pages dedicated to advocating a cause, be it pro-government or supporting the opposition. Twitteratis, Facebookers, Instagrammers and many more have ridden the wave of political awareness, further unlocking platforms for many organisations to bring their agenda to an increasingly borderless world. One ‘desktop activist’, as he likes to be considered, looks at virtual activism as his ‘fight for the future generation’, and aims to keep the online momentum for positive change going. His comments and posts in social websites have sparked many a conversation, and he considers it a little victory when netizens engage in thoughtprovoking discussion instead of fearing oppression and open expression. On the flipside, there are also many ‘fair-weather activists’, who are willing to jump on the bandwagon as and when it suits their interest. The wave of hype influences their decision and support. Yet, this civil movement, as one might call it, is still very limited to the middle and upper classes of society. Activism amongst the inner rural and lower income is less prevalent.
This is partially due to the lack of development and self-actualization in the lower income community. Where the major cities are active in advocacy, even more rural areas remain relatively ignorant to the political hue and cry in the country. On the flipside, when activism occurs in the rural/ poorer communities, it is based on more basic and simple beliefs of rights – and they can explode in a manner that the average suburban may possibly term as ‘crazy’, ‘illogical’ or simply ‘mad’. “…it is reasonable to assume in practically every human being, … there is an active will toward health, an impulse towards growth…”~ Abraham Maslow [American psychologist]
The lack of development in the rural areas means that the affected communities do not have direct access to basic amenities and utilities that urbanites take for granted, e.g. proper roads and basic literacy. These people are ignorant to the plight of the suburban commoner, and have little or no care for the debate on lower fuel prices, deaths in custody or freedom of speech. While the needs of the rural people are generally quite different from the urbanite, there is still a gaping need for basic necessities like healthcare and education. With such an elementary lack in development, the communities have the potential to be dependent on handouts provided by the government and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) that visit them, usually either by planes, helicopters or boats. Handouts often include an assortment of books, money, radios, even the occasional alcoholic drink – items that the suburban commoner would have everyday access to. As the handouts become more frequent, particularly when gearing for elections, the rural people become dependent on the handouts, even expectant. Unscrupulous parties often take advantage of this dependency, intentionally depriving the rural folk of development that is so severely needed. As one analyst once bluntly said, ‘ … nobody wants
two million smart, self-actualized people walking around your state, trying to tell you what’s best for the citizens instead of what’s better for you.’ This vicious cycle is not an isolated problem. Unfortunately, several countries across the globe face similar issues, in one form or another. Perhaps it is more blatant in some instances as compared to others, but the problem is an age-old one. Therein lies the beauty of activism. An increasing number of people are taking up the plight of the marginalised and bringing them to the attention of those who have the capability and power to effect major, positive change. It is no longer just a political issue, often used by opposition parties to garner the anger vote of the people against the
government. Rather, it is now a basic need and a communal right of the society, to rely not just on themselves to develop the community, but to expect their fellow countrymen from across the nation to berganding bahu with those less fortunate to improve and develop the country as a whole. Again, there will be different interpretations of the story. Conservatives will still err on the side of caution. There will be a fragment of the community which will reject, even despise certain types of change. But that does not mean one should antagonise the other simply for the worldview he or she holds. Instead, we should look to the reason why such change is advocated. If change is for the better only, e.g. to reduce corruption, then there is hardly a reason why one shouldn’t advocate the cause. However, if ‘change’ is taken as the cause, irrespective of the merits of the cause itself, then it is nothing more than a slogan used by any organization to further their agenda. At the end of the day, one should consider the lengths they are willing to go to for the cause they wish to advocate. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.”
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Peaceful rallies that changed the world WRITES JOANNA LOH
In the past years, hundreds of thousands of Malaysians have thronged major cities in Malaysia to demonstrate dissastifaction, including towards the recently-concluded 13th general election results in the Opposition-led ‘Black 505’ rallies. The most famous being the ‘Bersih’ protests which demanded for clean and fair elections. Over the years, there have been many people who have voiced their dissent by staging mass peaceful rallies, which have seen the power people can have in changing the world without the need for violence. Here are a few notable ones: The Salt Satyagraha (truth-force) Date: 12 March 1930 -5 April 1930 Place: Ahmedabad to Dandi, India Attendance: at least 100 000
PURPOSE: Although initially met with much skepticism, Mohandas Gandhi chose to target the British salt tax as the first move of civil disobedience towards India’s swaraj (self-rule), with the backing of the Congress Party Working Committee. Salt was a symbolic choice as it was used by all, including the poor, and also by both the Hindus and Muslims who were not always on good terms with one another. Gandhi started the march with 78 disciples from his ashram in Ahmedabad, with many others joining in his march as it progressed, eventually growing to a 2-mile long column of people. Other similar marches took place in the east coast of India, and there was even a Muslimled satyagraha in Peshawar. The march culminated with Gandhi dramatically breaking the British salt laws by making his own salt from a lump of mud and seawater on the seashore of Dandi, declaring ‘With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.’ He implored other Indians to join him in making illegal salt, and thus sparked a mass act of civil disobedience throughout India as the people started making their own salt.
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OUTCOME: Over time, Gandhi’s pacifist approach has been widely lauded, inspiring other famous activists including Martin Luther King Jr. The choice to target salt was important because women and the poor were empowered to join the movement as they were capable of making their own salt. Although there were subsequent instalments of the satyagraha campaign, this particular satyagraha was not successful in procuring any concessions from the British colonists at the time. Gandhi, along with another estimated 60 000, were imprisoned for defying the salt laws. The Congress Party terminated the satyagaraha policy in 1934. However, the Salt Satyagraha was important in making the British colonists realise that their rule was only possible by the consent of the Indian people, which was gradually eroding. India finally obtained its independence in 1947. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Date: August 21, 1963 Place: Washington, United States of America Attendance: 200 000 to 300 000
PURPOSE: On June 11, 1963, John F. Kennedy, president of the USA, made a civil rights speech in response to the African-American Civil Rights Movement, asking for a bill to be passed to allow “all Americans the right to be served in facilities which are open to the public” as well as “greater protection for the right to vote”. The Civil Rights Movement also felt that 1963 was a significant year, as this marked the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, when slaves in the Union-controlled Confederate territories were set free instead of returned to their masters in 1863. In response to Kennedy’s statement, various civil right groups who attended this march were not actually in agreement about the march’s purpose. Some used the march to show support for Kennedy’s stance, while some expressed that his adminstration’s plan was not enough. Martin Luther King Jr, the march’s arguably most famous figure, and his peers felt that this march was to raise awareness about civil rights and economic issues beyond Kennedy’s proposed bill. OUTCOME: This march was when Martin Luther King Jr delivered his famous speech, ‘I Have A Dream’. It was actually made off-the-cuff as he diverted from his original
speech about “cashing the check” on “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. Following this march, the Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act 1965 were eventually passed, outlawing major forms of racial discrimination and discriminatory voting practices against the AfricanAmericans.
Sea of Green/Persian Awakening Date: 13 June 2009 – 11 February 2010 Place: Tehran, Iran (and other places around the world) Attendance: Hundreds of thousands to three million on the June 15, 2009 march in Tehran
Cape Town Peace March Date: September 13, 1989 Place: Cape Town, South Africa Attendance: 30 000
PURPOSE: This anti-apartheid march was considered the ‘last of the illegal marches’ that were erupting all over South Africa. This march was held after the last whitesonly general election on 6 September 1989, and when more than 20 people were shot by the police in Guguletu, a township 15km away from Cape Town. Newly-elected Mayor Gordon Oliver openly defied the law to join this march, along with other notable figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu. President F. W. de Clerk decided that the security establishment would not clamp down on this march, fearing negative publicity and also fearing a similar political situation to what was occurring in Czechoslovakia at that time, where the peaceful ‘Velvet Revolution’ overthrew the ruling Communist Party, installing a parliamentary republic in its place. The government also recognized the need to reform apartheid partly to allow South Africa to progress economically, and partly due to foreign pressure. OUTCOME: This march marked South Africa’s transition to democracy. President F. W. de Clerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid organisations. Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were released. Media freedom was also reinstated. Negotiations to end apartheid began, culminating with the 1994 general election which marked the first South African election where all adults over the age of 21 were allowed to vote. The African National Congress won this election.
PURPOSE: Iran has had a tumultuous political history ever since the Shah regime commenced in 1953. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in the 2009 Iranian presidential elections on 12 June 2009, amidst much suspicion that the election results were rigged due to a few notable inaccuracies. For example, there was a 105% voter turnout in two particular regions that were aligned to Ahmadinejad’s party. This triggered the opposition movement’s series of peaceful protests over these two years, in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. These protests were remarkable, given Iran’s previous heavy-handedness against its political opposition, with the Ayatollah regime executing 30 000 prisoners in 1988 and destroying any form or organized opposition, and given that the Iranian authorities had blocked Internet and SMS access for the first week after the election. OUTCOME: Mousavi and Karroubi have been under house arrest since February 2011. About 4000 people were arrested during this wave of protests, amidst allegations that these prisoners were tortured and raped. An estimated 36 to 150 people have also died during this period. The death of Neda Agha-Soltan, who was watching the protests in 20 January 2009, became iconic when it was famously recorded and shown on YouTube. Social media now serves as the main news disseminator given that there is increasing governmental control over the mainstream media. Against the background of the Arab Spring movement which resulted in the overthrowing of the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt, a new spate of Oppositionled protests against President Ahmadinejad began from 14 February 2011 (known as the Day of Rage), and continue until today.
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Ambiga Sreenevasan The Civic Movement Leader Bersih 2.0 Co-Chair A respected lawyer, former President of the Malaysian Bar Council and passionate advocate of religious freedom and women’s rights, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan has been a major driving force for legal reform in Malaysia. Possibly her highest profile and most controversial role, however, has been as figurehead of the Bersih movement for clean and fair elections in Malaysia. As much praise and support as she has received from Malaysia’s educated middle class and from political opposition parties, she has been subjected to numerous attacks and threats from supporters of the ruling Barisan Nasional. Yet to Dato’ Ambiga, the Bersih movement is apolitical and concerned only with the fairness necessary for true democracy. She gives us some time out of her busy schedule to chat about her life and the future of Bersih. INTERVIEWS JOYCE NG WRITES JOSH YU
JOM: Tell us a bit about your personal background? Ambiga: I was born in Seremban. I mean, I grew up in Kuala Lumpur, but my father was posted there, so that’s why I was born there, but we were always from KL and I grew up in KL. My father was a neurologist, and my mother used to help him in his clinic. She was not a working mother as such. They were wonderful. They were very active, and my father actually really did a lot of service to the country because he was involved with the - one of the pioneers of the National Kidney Foundation. So that’s the background that I come from. Did your father inspire you to become a passionate and good Malaysian? Yes, definitely. My parents always felt that service to the country was important. Were they very into current issues and politics in Malaysia? Absolutely. And we used to always around the dinner table, we talked politics, that’s how I grew up.
are concerned, none of our demands were met. But what about postal voting? The postal voting for overseas votes was introduced at the very last minute. But you see, we don’t trust the postal voting system in Malaysia. That’s very complex, but let me just tell you, in short, what I’m saying is the postal voting system still was not reformed.
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We wanted a total reform of the postal voting system so that it would be more transparent, so that is one of the things that we couldn’t do. The only thing now that the prime minister is trying to suggest is that the EC reports to a parliamentary select committee. That, too, we think is wrong, because the EC is appointed under the Federal Constitution and is an independent body. They shouldn’t be reporting to a parliamentary select committee.
What Bersih is interested in is not Pakatan or Barisan or we want is for this EC to be whichever party. We want the What removed … and to be replaced by good people who will… go through system to be good. a process of appointment whereby
We have heard that you will be quitting as the chair of Bersih 2.0. Is that true? The whole steering committee will be stepping down once the peoples’ tribunal is completed to make way for a new committee to take over, because we’ve already been working for more than two years. So it’s not just myself who is stepping down - it will be the whole steering committee. What did you think of the GE13 - do you think it was dirtier than GE12? I think it was. But you know, these are perceptions - we still need to get the evidence. I do think that there were far more instances of fraud, as well as instances of discrepancies, breaches of the law - and don’t forget it was not just on election day. All this was happening even before. For example, the press - I have never seen the mainstream media become so extreme in their reports. How was it extreme? Well, you see, the mainstream media basically just played the government line, and in fact sometimes their reports were false and they did nothing to correct them.
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civil society has an input.
How would the EC be removed? We can’t remove. The Parliamentarians have to remove, actually. What we are asking is the Election Commission should resign of their own accord, because they have really failed the people this time in the General Elections. But what we are going to do is, we are going to ascertain the facts. That’s why we want the Peoples’ Tribunal, because we want the truth to speak for us. What would the peoples’ tribunal do? We will present all the evidence in relation to the allegations of fraud and the fact that the elections were not free or fair. The playing field was unfair, the constituencies were delineated in a manner that was very pro-Barisan, and those are the kinds of things that we want this independent panel to look at. Because right now there is a lot of information out there, but nobody has pulled it all together and come up with a comprehensive report in relation to all these allegations.
Mainstream media is under the control [of the government], either directly or through political parties … so I think there was so much propaganda, and there was also so many smear campaigns carried out this time - much more than the 12th General Election. So given all of that, I believe that people were very, very alarmed in the way that the GE13 was conducted, because of all these events. Do you think Bersih’s demands have helped to clean up the procedure of Malaysian elections at all? Well what Bersih did, I think, eventually, was to raise the awareness of the public, and I think that made a big difference. But as far as reform is concerned … as far as we
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Some have said that BN will be ruling forever because they have all the power and money to control the electoral processes. What do you think? I know people feel that way because that’s how it looks at this point. But there are more and more people who are thinking in a more democratic fashion. I believe there are people even in Barisan Nasional who don’t want to win in this way. They want to win fair and square.
If they come to the conclusion that the EC was responsible for what happened, or for any illegal or unconstitutional methods or unconstitutional action, then we can use those findings to push for them to be removed. Where do you think we are now on the road to true Democracy in Malaysia? Well, you know, the way the government has behaved recently after the elections is very disappointing. It has cracked down against dissidents, or people who criticised the government, they are threatening to take away the passports of overseas Malaysians, they have banned people from Sabah, for example, so all these things don’t look very promising for Democracy in Malaysia. But I think the hope lies with the people, because the people want it and the people are prepared to stand up and demand for it.
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And also we have to educate - I mean, change is not easy. Change takes time, and we need to educate people and explain why it is that the system must be good. You see, what Bersih is interested in is not Pakatan or Barisan or whichever party. We want the system to be good. The system will last forever, so that has to be really good and has to be accountable. And if a system is good, it doesn’t matter who is there, you know? If they are good, the system will work for them. But if they are not good, then there must be a way of removing them. So that is why the system is more important.
I thought it’s a very peaceful job, actually, or rather a job that is not difficult because it is such a simple thing that we are asking for.
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So what’s the plan for Bersih 2.0 apart from the Peoples’ Tribunal? Do you think there will be any Bersih 4.0? We haven’t made a decision on that yet. Let’s see how the reaction is to the Peoples’ Tribunal, and the report by the peoples’ tribunal, and then we take it from there.
You have risked personal danger and received threats, and have lost some of your privacy as a public figure. Has it been worth it? It’s worth it. And let me tell you, no doubt about it in my mind, it’s worth it. And it’s not just me who has received threats - who has had problems. Many members of the steering committee have faced similar situations. Maybe mine is more than the others, but all of us pull together and I have to say that in difficult times, the steering committee members have been a wonderful support. Going back two years ago, what inspired you to chair Bersih 2.0? It was Chin Huat and Maria Chin who came to see me to ask me to head it. And I said fine. I had just finished as the Bar Council chair, and I thought this is an interesting thing, and I’m sure everybody will agree with free and fair elections, right? I thought it’s a very peaceful job, actually, or rather a job that is not difficult because it is such a simple thing that we are asking for. But I was so shocked by the reaction, so it wasn’t so much what inspired me. I felt that I was very interested in learning more about the election law, and I felt that this was something positive that I could contribute for the country.
How long do you think it will take to make such changes to the system? Well, you know, it’s already happening. Change is already happening. I think you can see that the government, such as Najib, realises that they have to change certain things. They know that they have to change because people will not accept the system, so change is already happening. So you think there is a change of attitude even among the Barison Nasional? Well, I mean on one hand they are doing that. On the other, of course they are arresting people, so we have to see what happens. But at the end of the day, civil society has to play its part, and we have to demand on behalf of the people, and as I said, change takes time. It’s about putting pressure and still pushing for things.
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What have been the greatest challenges when heading Bersih 2.0, or what has been the most memorable incident during your time at Bersih 2.0? There’s too many to mention. Before Bersih 2.0 in July 2011, all the incidents that happened - the personal attacks, then of course Bersih 3.0. But the most wonderful thing about Bersih is actually the people of Malaysia who supported it, and Global Bersih. I mean, I don’t know whether I know of any other organisation quite like Bersih, actually. And all our rallies were peaceful. If there was trouble, we didn’t start it - the people didn’t start it. It was by the authorities. So all in all, the most wonderful thing about Bersih was the people of Malaysia and the rise in their awareness of what was going on around them - who have become just so much more aware, and I think that was the wonderful thing about Bersih.
I do not see this as my achievement. It is the achievement of the Rakyat.
Bersih is about free and fair elections for everyone. What do you think about some people who have associated Bersih with opposition parties? That’s normal. When they want to ignore what you say, they will say you are pro-opposition, or you are pro-this or anti-that. But they must look at what we say. Is what we say unreasonable? Asking for clean and fair elections - how can it be pro any party, you see? So they should look at the message that we are sending out. And of course, because the opposition supports us, you know what I mean? Barisan doesn’t support us. So that is why they say we are proopposition. Actually, it’s not that we are pro-opposition, it’s the opposition that support us. Would you call yourself pro-opposition? No, not at all. Why were you present at the Kelana Jaya rally? I was invited to speak about the elections. I will go wherever I am invited, and in fact just before the elections, an MCA member for the first time invited me to talk and I went. So if Barisan invite me, I will go. But they never invite me.
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Are you happy with what you have achieved so far for the Bersih movement? I am actually not happy with the extent of the so called reforms that have taken place. However I am very pleased with the heightened level of awareness amongst the Malaysian public which is what will eventually drive the much needed change in the system. I am also very, very proud of Global Bersih which grew due to the commitment of overseas Malaysians to meaningful reform in this country. In any event, I do not see this as my achievement. It is the achievement of the Rakyat. Without them, there would be nothing. Again, I never worked alone. I have a very committed steering committee.
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Sen Lam Malaysian born ABC Radio Host
Journey of a small town boy made good, through society, economics, policies, politics and globalisation.
WRITES JOYCE NG PHOTOGRAPHS ERIC CHIANG
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It was a Wednesday afternoon when we walked into the ABC building on Southbank and were welcomed by ABC radio presenter Sen Lam. Neatly dressed in a gold vest and tie, Sen Lam suggested having his photographs taken before our interview, as he would look “fresher”. After a few photos we sat down at a table next to a full length glass wall and Sen began sharing his story. Currently a radio host for the Asia Pacific program under the International News Division at ABC, Sen Lam has taken a long journey before settling in Australian mainstream broadcasting media. He has worked and lived in Australia for 25 years now, reporting news and current issues around the Asia Pacific region, including Malaysia, and has interviewed a few notable Malaysians such as Khairy Jamaluddin and Ambiga Sreenevasan. Although we can’t confirm Sen Lam is likely the first Malaysian to become a radio host at the Australia Broadcasting Corporation. Despite having lived for so long in
Australia, Sen strongly believes that “You can take the boy out of the kampung, but you can’t take the kampung out of the boy”, and he describes covering a Malaysian story as a “special treat” for him as a journalist. “It’s almost like going home. It’s something that resonates in me … even though I haven’t lived there for many years,” he says in his clear, newscaster tone. “I learnt a lot more about Malaysia since I became a journalist. More than I ever did staying back home.” Sen Lam was born and raised in Batu Pahat, Johor. Born during the baby boom period in Malaysia with a family of 10 siblings, Sen says that growing up in a large family has shaped who he is today. “While we were comfortable, we were not fabulously rich. We always had to share,” says the Merdeka baby. He considers himself fortunate to have had a ‘normal childhood’ with childhood games like hopscotch and hide and seek, and growing up with an appreciation
for reading and music. “I grew up surrounded with a lot of love.” In 1975, after finishing his sixth form at a Malaysian high school, he was caught at a cross roads. A new education policy had been implemented - his generation was the first to go through the education system immediately after the language of instruction was switched from English to Malay at Malaysian Universities. Having been educated in English at school, the new policy certainly posed difficulties for him, particularly with his interest in the arts. With his forward thinking and supportive parents, he finally decided to further his studies at the University of Lancaster in England and pursue an honours degree in English literature and History. After finishing his studies at the age of 23, he wanted to return home. “I felt a responsibility that I should go back to Malaysia or Singapore. My family had spent so much money on my education, and I wanted to be close to my family,” he says. Another push factor for him to leave England was the conservative policy on migration introduced by Margaret Thatcher, who was the Prime Minister of England at the time. As he agonised over this decision and what his future might hold he received in the mail from his father a cutting of a recruitment advertisement for a newscasting job at TV Singapore. The rest was history. Recalling his first job interview and writing test for the job, he describes it as ‘nerve racking’ but ‘very relaxing’. The innate confidence that was gifted from his parents made him a natural on television, despite his inexperience and nervousness at the time. Another factor working to Sen’s advantage was a phase that the Singaporean government was going through at that time – a campaign called “Speak English” in the early eighties, which emphasised having a good command of spoken English. With his recently completed studies in England Sen was tailor made for the job.
For a small town boy, landing the job as a television news reporter certainly made his family and friends proud. He remembers one of his best childhood friends, Tom, and his family, would tune in to the Singaporean TV channel from Johor, to watch him on screen every day. But he was not really happy and his growing public profile certainly had its drawbacks. “I discovered that I didn’t really enjoy being on television in a small island like Singapore. When I went to supermarkets, sometimes housewives were following me around, you know, they want to ‘kepo’ what’s in my trolley. When it happens a lot, you have no privacy,” he recalls. He also disliked having to self-censor for the government owned TV station, which served as a propaganda arm for the ruling PAP. “Because the parameters are so clearly defined, there’s not much room for error. [If you transgress], you will be summoned by the Ministry of Culture,” he recalls. Sometimes his job involved being the mouthpiece of the PAP. One example was when he served as a correspondent in Hong Kong to examine its MTR system, when Singapore was considering constructing its own underground railway system – MRT. The series of
reports he compiled were intended to convince Singaporeans to embrace the idea of having a similar, advanced, railway system, and to reassure them that the initiative by PAP would be worthwhile despite the need for some demolitions. He is unsure himself if his reports had much impact, but Singaporeans were receptive of the initial S$5 billion construction of the Mass Rapid Transit network in 1983 after his reports were broadcasted. “The bosses were happy (with the reports), so PAP was happy”, he recalls. “There was no such thing as free media,” he laments of the media scene in Singapore during his time, where he served for almost 8 years. Nevertheless, his experience in Singapore nurtured his love for international relations and events, because “it’s less sensitive than domestic stories.” His interest in Melbourne was sparked whilst visiting his brother in 1988. “Australia seemed to be a logical choice,” says the Lancaster grad.” I find that Melbourne is almost like Europe.” He started as a freelance journalist for the ABC, before being offered the job of sub-editor at the international news division, and then becoming radio host for several programs including Connect Asia, Asia Focus, and now, the Asia Pacific
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program which was formed after the fall of Suharto in Indonesia. “Whatever you choose to do, make sure that you have the love for it. Don’t force yourself to do something that you don’t love, because that’s a waste of your life. … I have been very blessed. I have chosen the path that I like,” he says with a broad smile. But what about going back to Malaysia to work? “I can’t stand the humidity”, he says. “You can’t stay smart and dressed [nicely] for long.” Going deeper into the reason why Sen left Malaysia perhaps paints a murkier reality of Malaysian society, one that is deeply social and cultural. “I am gay”, Sen declares. His family has accepted him for who he is which taught him to do the same towards himself as well. “In Australia, I am very lucky to work for an organisation like the ABC. I think you find that in most Australian organisations, people are very accepting. If you are sincere, if you are a good mate, they don’t care if you are gay or whatever.” Furthermore, Sen’s quest for freedom goes beyond his personal life, but also his profession. “Truth” and “Balance” are two elements that he strives for in his journalistic work. Melbourne, he thinks, is a place where he can have freedom, both personally and professionally. Sen frequently follows current issues in Malaysia, and reports through his programs when necessary, and even shares the stories with his Australian colleagues personally. Interestingly, whenever he reports on a Malaysian issue, be it political or not, the report usually gets more hits online than the other stories he files. He and his colleagues speculate that this is probably because “Malaysians are starved for independent journalism.” Sen also noted that it is hard to get voices from the ruling party for his program.
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“The great frustration for me is that I don’t have enough BN’s voices”, he points out. “They just won’t talk to us.” This seems to pose a difficulty for an impartial media practitioner like Sen, who doesn’t want to be seen as supporting the opposition. But he is hopeful that things may be changing. Just before the election, around March and April this year, he found that the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office became more helpful. He is glad that UMNO voices such as Khairy Jamaluddin and Abdul Rahman Dahlan have been prepared to speak to foreign media. When asked about his biggest hope for Malaysia, he says that what he is hoping for is already happening right now. “People becoming vocal, people expecting more of their leaders, people wanting their leaders to be accountable. Young people who value the rule of law. They value democratic freedom.” “What I wish for Malaysia is a strong opposition, whether it’s BN or PR. Even if BN were to be in opposition, I would want BN to be strong, to keep PR honest. Similarly now that BN is in power, PR is strong.” “I am apolitical. I am not pro-BN, I am not pro-PR. I am pro-Malaysian,” says the radio host, clearly emphasising every word.
One can hear in Sen’s words a belief in freedom, democracy and courage. He admires the courage of Fadiah Natwa, a young Malaysian lawyer, the Malaysiakini reporters, who go “where other journalists dare not go”, and the young Malaysians at the Bersih gathering at Federation Square, Melbourne, last year. In these people he sees optimism for Malaysia, as they are “brave, fearless, courageous, and they have strong convictions.” Today, almost all of his family members are in Melbourne, yet he still loves and misses Malaysia, and that little town he grew up in. As a radio host at an Australian institution, Sen has certainly raised more awareness about Malaysia in Australia. He continues to find fulfilment by having more voices from various perspectives, and by seeing the progress of his country through that glass wall, even though far away from home. -----Sen’s program goes on air from Southbank studios from Monday to Friday every night and is heard on shortwave by millions in Asia, the Pacific and online. Listen to his half an hour boutique program, Asia Pacific, on the Radio Australia at http://www.radioaustralia. net.au/international/radio/program/ asia-pacific, and at 10pm for live streaming.
Certificate of Appreciation To
Joshua McDonald (Banner Bearer) For participating in the Malaya & Borneo Veterans Day Service at the Shrine of Remembrance on 31 August 2012 to honour those who made the untimate sacrifice and remember those who served in the Malayian Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation.
Lest We Forget
Did you serve in Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore or East Timor, post WW2, with any Australian or Allied Armed Forces including 2/30 Bn RAR Rifle Company Butterworth? Sign on now with the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia Inc. Contact Vic (03) 5428 3623, NSW/ACT (02) 6258 8988, Qld (07) 3396 6705, Tas (03) 6228 5034, SA/NT (08) 8387 1672, WA (03) 5428 3623.
Sumisha Naidu
The ABC journalist turned KiniTV host Some of you might have seen her on KiniTV if you were following election news online. Sumisha moved to Melbourne to pursue an undergraduate Media degree in 2008, and later a Masters in Journalism. She underwent an internship with The Star in Malaysia prior to becoming the Associate Editor of Meld Magazine (Melbourne’s online international student publication), and a journalist for the ABC. With experience working in ABC Radio and TV, she went home to Kuala Lumpur to join KiniTV in time to cover the much anticipated 13th General Elections. We talk to her about her experiences and what she sees in the future for media in Malaysia.
INTERVIEWS JOYCE NG PHOTOGRAPHS JIA SHYAN TEH
JOM: What have you learnt the most as a journalist in Australia? Sumisha: I learnt so much about what true, quality journalism is and that’s given me something to aspire to. I think the grounding that I got in Australia from journalism ethics to how to write a script will always stay with me. While it’s not perfect, the relative freedom, objectivity and critical nature of the Australian media are qualities I hope will become synonymous with the Malaysian media scene one day. That being said, Malaysia is already on its way to an extent.
What do you think of the differences between working for Australian media and Malaysian media?’ Aside from the differences in the amount of resources you have access to in a start-up as opposed to mainstream media organisation, Australia and Malaysia also have different media environments – one being more open and the other more restricted in some senses. I find that Australian politicians can sometimes be more accessible to journalists as they believe the public have the right to know as opposed to some Malaysian politicians who feel the media should feel privileged if they answer press questions at all. That being said, there are also many politicians who are willing to engage frankly and openly with journalists in Malaysia and hopefully increasingly so.
What made you decide to go back to Malaysia? Multiple reasons ranging from personal to professional. One key factor though was wanting to be back in Malaysia to cover the 13th general elections because I felt I’d be kicking myself if I missed such a historic election in our I think you do your job a lot nation’s history! Plus, the opportunity to work with an internet start-up like KiniTV better when you’re passionate came up and it was an exciting prospect.
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about what you do.
How is your experience at KiniTV so far? Going from a mainstream media outlet to a smaller start-up, there have, understandably, been challenges and adjustments to make. But overall, it’s been great in that I’ve been given the opportunity to do a lot during my time here from talk shows to in-depth pieces. I’ve also enjoyed seeing direct feedback from viewers about what they’re watching – though it’s not always good! But it comes with the territory, I suppose. How was the experience covering the GE13? Is there any interesting anecdote to share? The days leading up to GE13 were probably some of the most tiring of my life but they were also some of the most memorable. I was based in Johor for about 3 weeks leading up to the elections and that was an eye opener – from attending ceramahs where literally tens of thousands of people would show up from across the state to meeting voters who were unwaveringly loyal to the ruling coalition. One particularly memorable occasion was when we attended what we thought would be a low key Hindraf ceramah in a Johor neighbourhood. What ended up happening though was a one hour stand-off with some angry protestors showing up at the event to try and confront P Waythamoorthy. Even the FRU showed up. How was the experience being a TV host for online streaming of GE13 coverage? It was slightly chaotic behind the scenes and I sometimes felt underprepared but we had to keep talking till the election results came out so we did what we had to do and I think it went alright thanks to the help of our team. It was also very humbling to know that I had friends watching from overseas and when I had the time to check my phone during breaks, seeing their messages was very encouraging.
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What’s the most memorable experience working as a journalist? I think the firsts are always exciting. The first time I had a story published in print, the first time I got an online byline, the first time my news story went to air. The first time I had people commenting I was both pro-government and proOpposition on the same story!
What’s the most challenging task/moment you have encountered working as a journalist? I think when you work as a journalist, especially a broadcast journalist, people can be quite critical of you – from how you interview to how you look. I think that can be challenging at first but you’ve also got to accept that as part of the job and learn from the more constructive comments. I don’t know if I’ve have one particularly challenging assignment – but election day, of course, was the biggest thing I’ve had to do so far. What do you see in the future of Malaysian media? I see more growth in the industry overall, particularly online as the demand is clearly there. I also hope for media that’s going to be forced to be more open and neutral by the public (provided the law allows this and doesn’t get more stringent). Case in point – Utusan Melayu. One controversial headline from them got the whole nation talking and criticising them. No media outlet - regardless of whether they’re pro-government, pro-opposition or neutral - can get away with saying anything they want anymore these days because of the way the public has stepped up. What’s your belief that guides you to strive or excel in your career? What do you think makes a good journalist? I think a good journalist is one who sticks to the facts, is guided by ethics and who remembers that what he or she writes can directly impact a person or a situation so making sure you’ve got your story straight is key. I hope I always keep to those principles. As for what motivates me, I think you do your job a lot better when you’re passionate about what you do – and as idealistic as it sounds, I do believe in the power of media to make a difference where it matters.
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Papa Don’t Preach Adapted from CLIVE Magazine, www.cliveworld.com.
They say fathers are closer to their daughters. Could it be or maybe it’s just that fathers put more pressure on themselves and their child when it comes to their firstborns. CLIVE Magazine spent their afternoon speaking to Marina Mahathir and Nurul Izzah Anwar about the relationships they shared with their fathers and their strangely normal upbringing. Interview Rathika Sheila + Ben Liew Photograph Choen Lee @ Bunny+Bear Pictures Venue Wondermama, Bangsar Village
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When was the last time you had dinner with your dad? Marina Just the two of us? I think it was March 2011 in London. He wanted to bring his whole [entourage] but I said, “no, I cannot afford to pay.” We meet here in KL during family occasions. I met a young hairdresser in Singapore once and he told me he hasn’t been home for two years but he calls his mother every day. He said, “You cakap sekali sebulan, dia tak tahu apa nak cakap, tapi tiap-tiap hari you cakap 10 minit, dia happy.” I keep telling myself to do something similar but I don’t. Nurul We don’t have one-to-one lunches because we’re a big family so usually my in-laws will join us. The recent one was along election week
because throughout the campaign my sister in-law who works in the States was here, so that was about three weeks back. I don’t know what he’ll say to me when it’s one-to-one… Marina Sometimes it’s better not to have the one-to-one [laughs]. Do your conversations around the dinner table revolve around worktalk mostly? Marina What is work-talk? Nurul That’s a good point. What is work? After a while, work, politics, daily life, it gets morphed into the personal because it’s engraved in you. Marina Like anybody’s conversation, it goes all over the place. First you’re talking about your kids, then a little bit about politics and work.
(Left) Marina Mahathir, eldest daughter of former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad (Right) Nurul Izzah Anwar, eldest daughter of current leader of opposition and former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
What was the sternest action taken by your dad to discipline you? Nurul My dad gives the evil eye. He just has to say “Izzah...” in his lowered tone of voice and I know I’m in trouble. My mum was more of a disciplinarian. Marina I used to get spanked when I was little because I didn’t want to go to school. While we’re on the subject of enthusiasm, were there any things your dad didn’t allow you to do? N My dad allowed me to do everything I wanted, of course, he forced me to read Mochtar Lubis and all these depressing Indonesian poets but other than that, I could very much do whatever I wanted. My mum had more rules!
see because doctors in government hospitals work so hard, it changed my mind – Engineering it is! What’s the manliest thing your dad has taught you? N [laughs hysterically] I’m not going to say anything. M Yeah, me too. My mum taught me how to pack. That’s not manly. But she’s the best packer in the world. I was so proud because just recently, I taught her a new way of packing. She accepted it and this was a major achievement. We all pack with cubes – modular packing. My mission in life is to get as many packing converts as I can.
Child exploitation but you know our allowance was very small those days. What was the first movie outing you took as a family? N Titanic was the most momentous. He laughed when we cried, “Yalah, of course Jack had to drown, there’s only space for one person!” He said that while our hearts were broken!
I would say he was someone who tried hard to do what he could for his country and not everyone agreed with his methods but that’s what he had to do. – Marina Mahathir Was there anything your dad did on purpose to embarrass you? N When I’m talking to a potential boyfriend, he picks up the other line and goes, “Hi Izzah! So… you’re not sleeping yet? Goodness, gracious, look at the time!” M Even though I was 18, I was given a 12 o’clock curfew, that was a bit embarrassing because I’d have to ask my friends to send me back at 11.30pm – that’s when everyone would start hanging out, right? What was he like when you first started dating?
M When I was in school there was this trend where everyone would have pen-friends, I could have pen-friends from anywhere, except Israel and South Africa – no apartheid countries. I think my parents probably regret a lot because they allowed us do what we wanted and that resulted in none of us becoming doctors. N I did want to be a doctor. One day I followed my mum to University Hospital to prepare myself for what I wanted to get myself into and after one visit I was like, “You expect me to work like this?” It was painstaking to
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When you were younger did you ever have to work for your allowance? N I was always forced to go to Reject Shop and Bata so there was nothing. My mum was so strict. But it was easy to talk to my dad, I could tell him anything. In fact, before I got married we discussed a lot of things which you’d think would be better discussed with your mum. M A little bit. I had to wash the car, do chores… it was for 20 cents.
M I don’t tell him. I just surprised him and say “here!” I’ve always wanted to start an Eldest Daughter’s Club and host a yearly seminar, “How To Manage Dad.” N I should have dated more. What’s the one thing you two have in common? M I suppose being in the spotlight and constantly being talked about in reference to your parents. It is so tiring. I get really annoyed when people throw the “blood is thicker than water” argument at me. I don’t
care what anyone says about my dad, they’re entitled to their own opinions but if it is truly unfair, I will say something. When I get the “blood is thicker than water” routine, it’s like “I got no brains, is it?” N We have zany humor. After sometime, you just stop thinking about what people think because there’s nothing I can do to change that.
What’s the best advice your dad has given you that’s stuck through all these years? M When I was 16, we hosted an American student and our families became very close. My dad really believes in travel as a way to see the world and learn something new. So
Literature and he said, “You must always stay true and appreciate your local culture as well as English lit.” He was really giving me a huge lecture, and, of course, I was dragged to Raja Lawak, but I enjoyed myself.
There was one time my parents went to US for an official visit and I wanted them to buy me a Radiohead CD. I was 17 then and they were like ‘no we can’t buy it for you, it’s an official visit, we’ll be busy’… They came back and had separately gone out and bought me the CD so I had two of the same record! Mum said, ‘don’t tell dad’ and he said, ‘don’t tell mum. – Nurul Izzah Did he say “I love you” frequently or did he have a different way of showing affection? M I think my dad came from a generation who shows more than they say but I grew up feeling secure no matter what. He shows a lot of affection to his grandchildren, that’s for sure! N All the time. He calls us up when he’s overseas and when he was in prison it was our letters which connected us because that was the only way to communicate, so we shared a lot of things through that medium. Now I think just giving him his space is most important and as his family, he expects you to understand a lot – my husband can tell you that [laughs].
after Form 5, he wanted to send me off to the States to stay with them but before I left he had to give me the talk, “You’re going over there, it’s a different culture but we are who we are,” and to understand that just because you come from a different background doesn’t mean you give it all up. Also “to remain true to yourself.” That’s always been something I kept close to me. N One was for public speaking. He’s probably one of the best out there and the first time I was expected to speak, I had no debating background aside from being a researcher in high school. He told me to make sure I never tried to emulate anyone’s style. Not to worry about what people say, how bad I am, or if they compared me to him, just to do my best. The second, was when I didn’t want to go to the staging of Raja Lawak. I think at the time Tiara Jacquelina was in and he was so upset with me. During that period I was very interested in English
If or when you two become grandparents and your grandchildren ask what their great grandfather was like, what would you tell them? M I would try telling them everything. I would say he was someone who tried hard to do what he could for his country and not everyone agreed with his methods but that’s what he had to do. N I would tell them that their great grandfather was a very principled, courageous man despite the worst fears we had. He just decides to do things because he believes in them. -----Read the full interview at http://www. cliveworld.com/daily-bread/papadont-preach/. Keep up with CLIVE Magazine at http://www.facebook. com/clive.magazine or https://twitter. com/CliveMag
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Azmyl Yunor & his 6-stringed Axe
“…a master of offering listeners with nuggets of life in the city with believable intonation and lyrics…Azmyl’s concern for issues beyond ‘Kasih’ and ‘Cinta’ makes him a tenfold better listen than the sensitive John Mayer types you get around this part of the world.” - Juice “Evoking the down-to-earth, working class folk of his musical heroes, Azmyl has managed to plug into a rich musical lineage that can be traced right back to the Delta Blues, taking in the aesthetics and attitude of punk rock as well as the experimental, lo-fi, country rock stylings of US underground prime movers Sebadoh, Pavement, The Palace Brothers/ Bonny ‘Prince’ Billy and Mellow Gold-era Beck along the way.” – “Folk music from Azmyl Yunor”, The Star eCentral WRITES AK7 PHOTOGRAPHS JOSH YU & DAVID HAGERMAN
Recently in Australia for a short personal trip, Azmyl Yunor entertained an appreciative audience at the Buku Jalanan gathering in Melbourne on 25 May, singing and playing through his extensive repertoire for nearly two hours. As a well-admired and award winning singer-songwriter in the Malaysian independent music scene as well as an academic and lecturer in media studies, Azmyl’s music reflects his interesting life and experiences, many of which were formed during his years in Melbourne and Australia.
Entertaining tortured souls since 1997, years of impromptu streetbusking and its unsung learning-curve lectured him about positioning oneself – how and where do we see ourselves on the stage of the society? The lessons from the streets showed what he needed to know; hence engraved in his songs.
No, I’m not going to go on about how remarkable and brilliant his music really is. Let this piece be an exception, exclusively about an ordinary guy who has given so much yet begs for nothing in return. This is an emphasis on that shady and hazy side of the living folkphilosopher’s journey.
Something I Wrote “How has Malaysian and Australian media popped his third-eye wide open?” This is a question that often lingers in his mind. Equipped with a dream of an astronaut and virtue like an honest accountant, he never had a clue about what future may hold for him. In search for an answer, he drew himself out of society’s luxury to where beauties were to be discovered through ugliness.
He has co-authored and published a chapter titled “Facing the music: music subcultures and morality in Malaysia” in the book Media, Culture and Society in Malaysia, edited by Yeoh Seng Guan, published by Taylor & Francis Group, Routledge, London in 2010. Without ignoring his fiercest sidekick ever – his guitar, he mentions that “Every new album produced and released is a highlight for me, so my most recent highlight is the release of my latest album “Wilayah” with my live band The Sigarettes, whose members are my closest musical friends from some of the best local acts whom I respect and admire. This album included some of the earliest songs I had written so it was special to hear them being finally being brought to life.”
A long-time admirer and friend, AK7 offers some personal and deep insights into some of Azmyl’s songs.
Coming Home Raised in Adelaide, schooled in Melbourne and finding himself in Perth, there are many places that have moulded Azmyl to his current state of thinking. As an academic who has been championing the tricks of unspoken mediums of media, he keeps on volleying his words of concern along the walls of his students’ skulls, aspiring by battology to battle the usual, in the context of life. Education beyond classroom, he says, shall grant you a grip of truths in an unpulled-punch, where the harder you take, the stronger you become.
In all modesty, Azmyl has shared the highlights in his life as both academic and musician:
Lena & Low of the Land What’s important is not the law or the system; it’s about the people, in terms of how we make use of what we have, not of what we don’t – to live up to our dreams, consciously. Azmyl always reprimands his audience gently that we should go and seek, and we will find, because what we seek is what we long for. Harassed by rejections and conflicts in Melbourne, and the conceptions of ‘the world is unfair’ versus “the grass is greener on the other side”, this award-winning musician has come to terms with the fact that the world is what we make of it.
-----Learn more about Azmyl Yunor & The Sigarettes at azmylyunor.com and facebook.com/azmylyunor, upcoming gigs at twitter.com/azmyl, youtube.com/user/dimtravels or get in-touch personally via azmylyunor@gmail.com. “Coming Home”, “Something I Wrote”, “Lena” and “Low of the Land” are amongst his coolest tunes, released in his folk-country tinged albums “Tenets EP”, “Warga”, “Wilayah” and “Radio Demokratika” between 2005 and 2012.
“To always question is to live life. Be ‘loud’ at and in what you love; there are always dots and lines to connect at each intersection of living.” This is his interlude to philosophical prowess many have looked at but do not see.
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Buku Jalanan Melbourne The Moving Library WRITES NORLIM ARIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHRS JOYCE NG
When asked to write an article on a community club called, Buku Jalanan Melbourne, I instantly felt connected to the subject. I grew up loving books. Though I have to admit that when I was a child, I wasn’t into sharing the books I read with my peers and siblings. I treated books as priceless possessions. So sharing is a big No. As time passed I realized books are meant to be shared. The passion of reading and sharing books with people is by far more priceless. So when I was given the opportunity to meet up with Nazir Harith Fadzillah, 24, and Afiq Rahmat, 25, the two young men responsible for setting up the group, I was more than delighted. It was a rendezvous not to be missed. Buku Jalanan Melbourne literally means books from the streets, or ‘street library’, according to Nazir Harith Fadzillah, 24, and Afiq Rahmat, 25, who are responsible for setting up the group. The group, based on fully on volunteerism, is to serve as a platform to gather people, through book-sharing, and sharing of thoughts and ideas across various subjects. There are at least 10 branches across Malaysia and Cardiff in United Kingdom being the first Buku Jalanan to be formed overseas. “Buku Jalanan Melbourne is all about people getting together, sharing and reading books from our own personal collections and books which are donated. It is basically a mini library in the streets. We want to share the passion of reading and everyone is welcome to join our group meetings and borrow books of their interest .It is a people’s library without bureaucracy,” says Afiq. The idea to start Buku Jalanan Melbourne sparkled when Nazir met the founder of Buku Jalanan in Malaysia last year. As a member of ASAM or Acara Seni Anak Muda, which is currently inactive in Melbourne, he was very interested in a new platform to express the arts. After getting permission from the initiator of Buku Jalanan in Malaysia, he returned to Melbourne and met up with Afiq in late February this year. Two weeks after that, Buku Jalanan Melbourne had their first group meet up. Mohd Zulhilmi Faiz, 26, who admits he did not read as much before joining Buku Jalanan Melbourne, thinks it has definitely given him a new inspiration in terms of expressing himself and seeing things from a different angle. He also thinks that, in digital age, print books are nostalgic forms of reading, and will gain more popularity in the near future.
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“It is more ‘real’ compared to e-books”, Nazir adds as he agrees with Zulhilmi. Tanti Azman another Buku Jalanan Melbourne member thinks Melbourne has given inspiration to a better reading culture, as she compared the reading habits on the train in Melbourne to Malaysia. “It is so interesting and refreshing to see Malay books here too, it brings back memories,” Tanti says. In the warmer days, Buku Jalanan Melbourne would be held outdoors in places like the Carlton Gardens, where passerbys are welcomed to join. In winter, the activities would be held indoors. Their activities include book dissections, poetry, arts, music, group discussions and sharing of ideas in a laid back environment. On May 25, Azmyl Yunor, Malaysian independent folk singer, song writer and academic, were present at Buku Jalanan Melbourne. The audience was lucky enough to have him sing for them for almost 2 hours! Afiq and Nazir are delighted to see that the number of people joining the group and the volume of books growing. “Hopefully more people will contribute and continue the journey of Buku Jalanan Melbourne”, Afiq concludes the interview with a smile. -----Buku Jalanan Melbourne welcomes donations of any books and other reading materials. To learn more and find out when the next meet up is check out: facebook.com/bukujalananmelbourne Twitter : @bjmelbourne
The AUD/MYR Exchange Rate – through the years.
This July marks the 40th year since the International Foreign Exchange Rate system changed from what was then the Fixed Rate System to the current Floating Rate System. The Fixed Rate (more accurately “Pegged”) system arose from the post-war “Bretton Woods” Conference of 1944 and had served the Global Markets reasonably well until 1973 when the Market crisis of the 1960s-70s brought about the change. To the many Malaysians who had children studying “downunder”, or for those who had gone further to purchase or intended to purchase properties there, the exchange rate had always been a crucial factor. Likewise for Malaysians who had settled in Australia, but had yet to fully convert their assets, the exchange rate must surely have been a constant bug. And for those Malaysian graduates who had secured jobs in Melbourne or Sydney, they must surely have been admired by their counterparts or former classmates in Malaysia, what with the favorable exchange rates boosting their pay packets. So how has the AUD/MYR performed through the years, and what would be some salient points to consider for those still having that need to convert their hard-earned Ringgit (MYR) to the Australian Dollar (AUD)?
WRITES CHRISTOPHER CHAN
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Reuters records (see chart) indicate the AUD as having generally strengthened against the MYR over the past 20 years to its recent high of above MYR3.30 per AUD. At point of writing, the rate had reversed somewhat to 2.93.
Source: Bloomberg
Both Malaysia and Australia have some similarity in that both are traditionally strong export-based economies. The MYR fared considerably well in the 1970s and 1980s with its consistent trade surpluses amid minimal complexities of capital flows.
rate, as Global Financial Markets searched for high yield within a stable economy. Much had been said about the “carry-trade” where funds from low interest-rate regime currencies (such as Yen) flowed into that of the high yield AUD.
The current generation may not be aware that the AUD to MYR exchange rate was in the range of 1.55 – 2.20 then. In 1985 when the USD/MYR was at 2.46, the AUD/MYR was at 1.55, while in 1993, when the USD/MYR was at 2.50, the AUD/MYR was just below 1.65. For Malaysians who had invested in properties down under then, perhaps for reason of convenience arising from their children’s education, it must have given great satisfaction.
Whereas the foreign exchange markets are impacted by a myriad of factors, these 2 factors thus appear fundamental and therefore worth watching.
The 1997/98 Asian Financial crisis saw the MYR weakened considerably, not just against the AUD, but against all other major currencies. Post 2005 following relaxing of the Capital Control measures, it strengthened somewhat, as the country consistently maintained a surplus in its Trade Account. Against a generally weakened USD, the MYR strengthened to 3.00 against the 3.80 pegged-level under the Capital Control regime. The AUD however strengthened further to the MYR 3.00/3.30 range, boosted to a large extent by Australia’s strong resource-based exports flowing to an insatiable China. The sensitivity of resource-based exports was demonstrated in 2008 when the AUD dropped suddenly and drastically, with the AUD/MYR seeing an intraday low of 2.16 albeit momentarily, against what was then perceived as a sharply slowing Chinese import factor. (Re Bloomberg Chart) Another salient factor supporting the AUD was of course its positive interest rate differential against major currencies. Through the years this served to attracted considerable inflow of funds contributing to the strong exchange
On the Malaysian side, the recent General Election (GE13) has been one of those near term factors. Even before GE13, it was generally acknowledged that returning the same Government to power would be positive for the Malaysian stock market and the exchange rate, as a change would invariably imply “uncertainty”. Accordingly both the stock market as well as the MYR strengthened immediately after GE13. The MYR strengthened against the USD, AUD, as well as the closely associated Singapore Dollar. The recently lower Australian Policy rate (Target Cash Rate) which is now lower than the Malaysian equivalent Overnight Policy Rate has of course been contributory to the AUD/ MYR falling to the current 2.93 level. For Malaysians who continue to have an interest on the AUD/MYR, it is therefore imperative to keep watch on the trade performance of both countries, as well as their interest differential, while maintaining cognisance of the recent historical range of 2.16 to 3.30. -----The writer is a career banker with 24 years in the Trading Room and 12 years as Head of Market Risk. He currently audits Trading Rooms of his bank’s Head Office and its Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam units. He holds a BEc and a MBA in Finance.
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Migration Matters BY ANDY ELLEN
On May 27, DIAC’s new Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1) for 2013 was published. The list can be viewed at: http://www.immi.gov.au/ skilled/general-skilled-migration/ skilled-occupation-list.htm. As anyone hoping to stay in Australia on an independent unsponsored visa will likely know, in order to successfully apply for the visa, the applicant must be in an occupation from the list. No new occupations have been added to the list, but 5 occupations will be removed after 1 July 2013: Hospital Pharmacist, Retail Pharmacist, and three Aircraft Maintenance Engineering occupations. Below, we answer some questions on how the Skill Select system works - the system the Department of Immigration uses to evaluate the EOI which have been lodged. An invitation received through Skill Select will enable you to make an application for your visa. What is an Expression of Interest? An Expression of Interest or EOI is an application you make to indicate you would like to be considered for the grant of a visa. The application is free of charge, and is lodged online. You have to give enough information so that the Department of Immigration can work out if you are eligible for the visa - for instance, you need to provide details of your date of birth, qualifications, work experience, English language ability (IELTS) and any skills assessments you have completed. You also indicate which visas you would like to be considered for, and which state of Australia you would like to settle in. Do I get a bridging visa after I lodge my Expression of Interest? No. An expression of interest is not
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a visa application - as a result, you do not receive a bridging visa when you make the EOI. You will only receive a bridging visa once you have lodged the visa application itself - this would require you to pass a skills assessment and receive an invitation beforehand. Many international students apply for a 485 visa – this visa does not require an EOI invitation to lodge. What are the different types of Skill Select Visas? Certain visas require an invitation through Skill Select - these include: Skilled Points Tested Visas such as: Skilled Independent (Subclass 189), Skilled (State) Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Nominated or Sponsored (Subclass 489) Business Skills Visas such as: Business Innovation & Investment (Subclass 188) and Business Talent (Subclass 132) It is not necessary at present for an Employer Sponsored visa to be applied for through Skill Select – including Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 visas, Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 visas and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Subclass 187 visas. However, for these visas, if you can register your details on Skill Select by lodging an EOI, then potential employers can see your details and contact you if they are interested in sponsoring you. Which Skilled Visas Do NOT Require an Expression of Interest (EOI?) Graduate Skilled Subclass 485 visas Extensions to skilled visas - eg Subclass 489 and 188 extensions Permanent stages to provisional skilled visas - eg Skilled Regional Subclass 887
Business Residence Subclass 888 visas How long will it take to get an invitation? For Skilled Migration visas, automated invitation rounds are done twice a month. It is difficult to predict the processing time for invitations, as this depends on the number of EOIs lodged by other people. At the time of writing (June 2013), all independent skilled EOIs lodged with a points score of 60 or more have received invitations - as a result, the longest wait has been 2 weeks to receive an invitation. However, this may well change in the future if a high number of EOIs are lodged. If you have been nominated by a State or Territory Government, you will receive an invitation as soon as the nominator confirms the nomination in Skill Select. How many points do I need to qualify for a Skill Select visa? For skilled points tested visas, you would need a minimum of 60 points to receive an invitation. For business skills points tested visas, you would need a minimum of 65 points to receive an invitation. What if I make a Mistake in my EOI? Where can I get help? If the information you provide in your visa application does not match your EOI, your application may be refused even if you have sufficient points. If you are unsure about your EOI, it is a good idea to consult a migration agent for assistance and to have your figures checked before serious mistakes are made in your EOI. Andy Ellen, RMA, MARA 0962018, is the Senior Immigration Consultant at Kabo Lawyers. If in any doubt, speak to Andy for advice on migration options.
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“Not only you won’t have a view due to overlooking issues, your master bedroom’s window can’t be opened in full as it will hit the timber screen. The balcony space is unusable. The balcony floor is not designed with proper drainage and it can’t be cleaned easily. You should buy something else.” A representative comment that a buyer will not likely to hear from the real estate agent of these townhouses. WRITES ERICK NG
Do real estate agents represent property buyers? TRICKS AND TRAPS OF REAL ESTATE (PART II) “Daniel, you do not need to hire a buyer’s advocate to buy properties,” insisted a real estate agency director when he bumped into my client, Daniel, at a business networking function. “You can just buy directly from us.”
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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Without hesitation Daniel replied, “I want to have a property consultant taking care of my interests. If not, would you work on my behalf? You work on the seller’s behalf, don’t you? Furthermore, would you show me properties from other agencies that you do not get a commission from?” The real estate agency director kept quiet, realising that Daniel was an educated buyer and not to be easily bluffed.
The reason that Daniel decided to hire a consultant to purchase his home is because he runs a business where he listens to clients’ financial situations and through that, he has heard of countless stories of buyers getting ‘ripped off’, misled and most commonly in the migrant community, overpaying for their purchases. Obviously, he did not want to be another victim of this statistic. The thing is, how many buyers out there actually know the workings of real estate sales? Not many. Many property buyers and investors get confused regarding the role a real estate agent plays. For the migrant community, many come from countries where a real estate agent brokers the deal, acting as middleman representing both the seller and the buyer. To them, there is only one person to go to for real estate needs – the real estate agent! One of the most common mistakes buyers make is believing what the real estate agent tells them. No doubt, there are good agents out there who will do the right thing. Understanding who a real estate agent represents will prevent buyers from being manipulated by them, and not being subjected to their tricks and traps. There are six major areas where homebuyers and property investors will find traps in their property buying journey: location, representation, advertisement, ‘staged’ property, contract of sale and finally, price. In the last issue we illustrated how location should affect a buyer’s decisions. In this issue, we will discuss the traps arising from the specific roles of real estate agents. WHO REPRESENTS THE SELLER? When a homeowner or landlord (vendor) wants to sell their property, they will engage the service of a real estate agent, also known as a selling agent. The vendors sign a contract with the agent stipulating the level of service that they want: to sell their property for the highest possible price, among other terms. The real estate agent will implement a sale campaign to sell the new listing based on his or her contractual obligation. Failing to do so within the engagement authority period, he will not get any commission. He has three priorities: 1) Sell the property for as high a price as possible. 2) Sell it as fast as possible before the authority ends. 3) Sell it with the least trouble that will affect the sale. With this agenda in mind, a real estate agent’s role is very clear. He will have to market the property as best as he can, highlighting all the positive attributes while glossing over any shortcomings a property may have. It is highly unlikely that you will hear a real estate agent making the following representative comments to a potential buyer: “Yes these are new carpets and the walls and ceilings are freshly painted, too. The roof was leaking and the owner wants to move out as it’s expensive to fix.” “If you buy this property, make sure you subscribe to an
alarm system and security cameras as according to the latest RACV statistics, this area is in the top 10 list for burglaries.” “You want to buy this property as an investment? Not a good idea. There is an oversupply of this property type around this neighbourhood. The rental yields are falling and it’s difficult to get good tenants. In addition, the bank values it lower than our selling price. You should look at something else.” None of the above will encourage you to buy the property. But they could be genuine concerns that you will have to look into seriously if you are buying. Does the real estate agent ensure your interests are looked after, as the buyer? No. They are representing the seller to sell. You do not pay the agent’s commission. The seller does. A real estate agent will only offer you properties they have in their stock list, and it is unlikely they will search for exactly what you are looking for and they certainly will not recommend you to go down the road to see another agent who may have something more suitable. A good real estate agent will always declare to the buyer that they work for the seller. However, if the buyer is uneducated about this representation, it is possible that an unethical agent will take this opportunity to offer ‘help’ to the buyer, to the buyer’s disadvantage. WHO THEN, REPRESENTS THE BUYER? Years ago when I started investing in properties, I come across a profession called a buyer’s advocate, or buyer’s agent. That is before I took on this role. Buyer’s advocates are licensed professionals who act solely for the buyer by sourcing suitable properties and representing the buyer throughout the buying process. Their service usually includes searching, evaluating and negotiating the purchase of property on behalf of the buyer. They do not sell real estate. The key difference between a buyer’s advocate and a real estate agent is who they represent. A buyer’s advocate works exclusively for the buyer, whereas the selling agent works for the seller. Hot on the news recently is the court case involving two property buyers who are suing the previous owner of a Richmond property they bought for $1.85 million, the real estate agency who sold it, and their conveyancer for not telling them that the converted Richmond warehouse was in a business-only zone. The property buyers were misled by the real estate agent thinking that it is a residential property as it was presented and marketed as such. (http://www.news.com.au/realestate/buying/council-banscouple-banned-from-living-in-185m-converted-richmondwarehouse/story-fndban6l-1226640658915) Therefore, understanding who a real estate agent represents, or does not represent will significantly influence how a buyer should interact with the agent. In summary, buyer’s advocates represent and work for a buyer and real estate agents represent and work for the seller.
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Have you ever gone to get the newspaper on a Saturday morning, fresh off the printing press and slightly damp from morning dew? Then have you spent two hours reading it over coffee and toast? Have you enjoyed reading a book on a rainy day? Or lying on the beach engrossed in the latest best-seller? Books, newspapers, magazines and other types of print have all been an important part of our lifestyles. Yet, with the digital revolution in full swing, there are signs of cultural change. With instant access to news and entertainment, tablets and mobile phones are replacing books and newspapers. In Malaysia today, the media industry is undergoing a digital transformation to suit the needs of an increasingly digital community. An increasing demand for quick and accessible information has led to most print sources migrating to an online database. The Australian print industry is also encountering the same financial problems brought by the digital age. According to a report by research body IBIS World, newspaper printing and publishing will decline 4% in 2013 and will be one of Australia’s poorest performing industries. Numerous factors including the rise of new media, competition from consumer magazines and time constraints have all contributed to this decline.
The Relevance of Print in Digital Age WRITES JONATHAN LIAN
Despite all this, however, print is likely to still stay relevant for the foreseeable future. Despite all the advances of digital media, print possesses one feature a tablet or computer screen can’t offer - touch. This is important because a physical object will generally have a higher perceived value than a digital file, and will be seen as more personal. The latest Australia Post Consumer Survey of 1,000 people revealed that 98% of respondents open their mail and 84% read it on the day it arrives. SEMA’s chief sales and marketing officer, Brian Smith, said personalised mail excites people in a way that emails don’t. The Australia Post survey also revealed that respondents prefer to receive magazines, brochures, vouchers, bills and sensitive information in printed form. Mark Sayle, managing director of mailing house Future Sources, said people were conditioned to prefer hard copies of bills and sensitive information. “I think we’re value-driven animals and as such we like to feel the bill in our hands. People think, ‘Do I trust that electronic thing?’, because I do trust the paper,” said Sayle. Having a physical book or newspaper in your hand also provides a sort of pleasure that a screen cannot match. Dr Antonio Castillo, a Journalist who has worked in both online and print media prefers the sense of having a newspaper in hand as sensory touch is very important when relaxing.
“I spend my time reading the columns, pages and admiring the photography,” Dr Castillo said. “I do check online websites from time to time, but only when I’m in a hurry.” Dr Ana Torres, a clinical psychologist at CPT Australia enjoys reading books and would prefer reading a physical book. She does use digital devices for convenience and storage, with several hundred virtual books saved into her e-reader devices. “When we experience things that involve a lot of processing, we process towards senses,” Dr Torres said. “So when we have things that use more of the senses, then we have a greater understanding or a greater attachment and a greater experience of that. “Print media, for example, when you read a book, you have the sense of touching the book; you have the sense of smell; smelling the paper; and then obviously you have the reading and the word itself. You visually have the effect; and therefore you can embrace the experience in a different way.” “I don’t think print media will phase out,” said Dr Antonio Castillo. “When you look at magazines, print media is thriving; Print media will exist as long as journalism quality is assured.” “However, I do believe online will add value to print and they are destined to coexist.” “I think there’s a place for print media in our world, to continue to exist,” said Dr Anna Torres. “I think it’s very different, in interaction compared with digital media.” “When you read online, it’s quick; you don’t sit there for a long period of time to engage with text for a longer period of time.”
Research by the Eye Health Centre shows that people hold digital devices closer to their eyes than they hold books and newspapers. That forces their eyes to work harder than usual as they strain to focus on tiny font sizes. This can result in dry, tired, itching, and burning eyes. According to an article by Alok Jha in UK paper the Guardian, there may even be a link between use of digital reading devices and sleep deprivation as such devices “emit optical radiation at short wavelengths, close to the peak sensitivity of melatonin suppression.” Melatonin is a hormone used by the body as a biological indicator of how dark it is outside. It can help travellers get over jet lag and works by helping the body to adjust its “internal clock” to match the current time zone. Suppression caused by the radiation from digital devices can therefore disrupt sleep patterns. Arianna Huffington, the president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, urges the public to break the 24/7 cycle of digital devices and switch off. She recently told the INMA World Congress in New York that overwhelming stress caused by being constantly switched on to digital devices was causing an epidemic of ill health. But how do we disconnect from something that dominates our work and leisure time? A good way of getting rest and reducing long-term stress is to take up an enjoyable, non-rushed sport or hobby, such as reading a novel. Reading a book is an effective way to reduce stress before sleeping while providing entertainment and pleasure.
Shawn Brown, vice president of creative services at USbased SBC Advertising, agrees that print and print media, such as books, magazines and catalogues will stay relevant for a long time. “I kind of laugh when I hear people say print is going to be dead in a couple of years. Mr Brown said. “It’s not; not in my lifetime.” There may also be health reasons not to totally give up your morning paper for a tablet. Research has suggested that reading through digital devices instead of conventional print may prove harmful to your health. Exposure to bright light can cause eye fatigue according to an article published by Eye Health Centre at “www.webmd.com”, and one of the most common causes of eye fatigue is staring for long periods at digital devices. This type of eye fatigue or eye strain is sometimes known as “computer vision syndrome”. The article states that the problem is expected to grow as more people use smartphones and other hand-held digital devices.
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China Bar Signature – Asian Buffet Heaven! Where: 380 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East, VIC 3151. Pricing: Lunch - $30 per person, Monday to Friday, $35 per person, Saturday and Sunday Dinner - $59 per person, Monday to Thursday, $63 per person, Friday to Sunday WRITES PAM VASU PHOTOGRAPH SIOK YEE TAN & JOSH YU
Hello there, fellow foodies! I’m not sure about you guys, but I am a raving psychotic fan of Asian food. Sushi, roti canai, Peking duck, tong yuen, you name it! If you happen to be a raving psychotic fan like moi, then this place might just be the jackpot you’re looking for. Do you wish to feast like royalty; indulging in an endless amount of delicious food from different Asian cuisines (Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese, Seafood)? Then head down to China Bar Signature Buffet in Burwood East to try their all-you-can-eat buffet! The Atmosphere Upon arriving at China Bar Signature, the restaurant was already a sea of people, roaming about the restaurant with plates on their hands filled with food. Without wasting more time, my colleagues and I were seated at one of the nicely prepared tables. Then we quickly settled our things down and dashed out to get our food! The Food Remember how I assumed that the food was going to be ‘meh’? AH-HA! I was wrong, and I’m glad I was. I definitely was blown away by the quality of the food served. Everything was made from scratch with fresh ingredients, by professional chefs working their magic in the kitchen. It absolutely exceeded my expectations of a buffet restaurant. I guess it is true how they say ‘Do Not Judge a Book by Its Cover’. In this case, ‘Do Not Judge a Restaurant by Its Type’. There are 6 food corners in China Bar Signature:-
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Seafood Bar Indulge in a fresh array of seafood items including oysters, mussels, crabs, prawns, smoked salmon and more. The Oysters are particularly exquisite. They were so fresh and delicious – with a dash of zesty lemon juice, they definitely make great entrees before a big meal! Chinese Banquet Where you are able to obtain the finest selection of freshly served Asian dishes ranging from chicken curry, roast pork, Peking duck, congee, traditional soups etc. The list is endless. I’ve practically tried a little out of everything in the menu and I can honestly say that I was a very pleased girl. However, I have to admit, my favourite dish from this menu has got to be their roast pork! The tender, juicy pork meat
wrapped in its crispy, perfectly roasted pork skin outer-layer was no doubt the highlight of my night. Japanese Kitchen If you’re looking for perfectly sliced sushi and sashimi right off the shelf, this is where you go. Just let the Sushi chef know what you’re after and the chef will prepare you some raw salmon, yellowtail or raw tuna. I couldn’t stop myself from having too much sushi & sashimi. It was like tasting bite sizes of joy! The sushi were made from fresh ingredients, extremely tender fish and perfect freshly made rice. Cook to Order This is where you can mix and match your personalised ingredients to your liking! All you have to do is just let the chefs know what you’re after and they will whip up some char kuey teow, mee goreng, minced pork noodles, and more. I was only able to get my hands on a plate of char kuey teow because the queue was crazy that night. Nonetheless, it was worth the wait! The flat rice noodles were nicely stir fried in dark soy sauce with crunchy bean sprouts and eggs. Ah, it tasted heavenly delicious! Yum Cha Corner If you love dim sum, you’re going to love this corner! You can get daily prepared dumplings wrapped with fresh ingredients. Impressively, China Bar Signature has a wide selection of dim sum, from siu mai, scallop pies, BBQ pork buns to custard egg tarts! My personal favourite from this corner are the siu mai (Pork Dumpling). The wraps were perfect (not too thick and chewy), and the pork filling was subtle and very tasty. Patisserie Every good meal should finish with desserts. In this corner, you can get heaps of wonderful desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. Chocolate mousse, fruit cake, cheesecake, green tea red bean cake –you name it, they’ve got it! Desserts are my kryptonite and when I saw the beautiful wall of desserts, I couldn’t help myself. I had the chocolate cake with chocolate sauce, crème brulee, and a green tea mousse topped with red beans. Yum! China Bar Signature change their menus regularly with the goal of satisfying the taste buds of their customers by providing different food experiences. This means, fellow foodies, you are not served with the same food all the time! This is a great dining experience. The food is cooked fresh and delicious. There is also a great variety of sushi, seafood, meat dishes, curries and desserts. This buffet will definitely leave you wanting to come back for more. My only complaint though, is that it can get crowded and difficult to get close to the popular food items. But let’s note that this only happens when you’re this popular. For those who may find Burwood East a bit far, there is also a China Bar Signature located at 222 Exhibition Street in the city with two levels of delicious goodness! For more information: www.chinabarsignature.com 03 9887 8011
All-You-Can-Eat!
WRITES PAM VASU & EDDIE LEE PHOTOGRAPHS SIOK YEE TAN & JOYCE NG
If there’s one thing Malaysians all love, it’s food. And with winter in full swing and the biting cold preventing all but the bravest from venturing outside, it’s the perfect time to pig out and put on an extra layer of fat while you can still hide it under your layers of clothes. But where can you eat and eat to your heart’s content? Purely for your benefit, dear reader, our JOM foodies have gone to the trouble and effort of sampling some of the best buffet eateries around Melbourne and present to you our findings!
Cuckoo Restaurant Stepping into the Cuckoo restaurant was getting a little taste of Bavaria. Featuring myriad cuckoo clocks, decorative wood figurines, and a cosy Swiss chalet décor and floor staff dressed in charming Bavarian costumes, this place really brings out the family sense of celebration in everyone. But what about the food? The main meal buffet includes roasts, vegetarian dishes, delightful meat dishes, German sausages, traditional Bavarian dishes, a salad bar, fresh cold meat platters and more. One of my favourites was definitely the German sausages. There were beautifully cooked and fantastic to eat with Sauerkraut! Take my word for it! Not only that, their desserts were sinfully delicious! The huge dessert buffet consists of cold desserts, fresh fruit salad, fruit platters, continental cakes, pastries, and my favourite - their famous Pancakes (made fresh as you make your selection)! I topped these pancakes with tonnes of maple syrup with a side of vanilla ice-cream.
A Few More All-You-Can-Eat Options China Bar Signature - Check out our review of China Bar Signature for more on this amazing destination for all kinds of quality Asian food - and as much as you could ever hope to eat! Now open in both the CBD on Exhibition Street and on Burwood Highway in Burwood East. Om Vegetarian - Who would have thought - all you can eat for $6.50? Right here in Melbourne? Well it’s not too good to be true! Sure, you won’t get an endless selection of meats and seafood - as the name suggests, it’s vegetarian, but filling your tummy on $6.50 is a pretty good deal in our books! Located at two locations on Elizabeth Street and Collins Street, Melbourne. Crazy Wings - There’s nothing like some super spicy chicken wings to keep things hot in Winter! So how about as many crazy wings as you can eat? Be warned though, these wings aren’t for the faint hearted! Luckily there’s also a variety of other (less spicy) skewers to try. Located on Russell Street, Melbourne.
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And as if the food wasn’t enough, there were also eyepopping performances to get you into the Bavarian spirit while enjoying the buffet. There was music and a floor show, cow bell ringing & yodelling! The performances kept everyone laughing for a good hour! I loved the fact that Cuckoo involve as many people as possible in their performances. It definitely made me, and I’m sure everyone else, feel like we were part of the ‘Cuckoo family’. Features Back-on-the-night photographers that will ensure you have a great souvenir of your celebration! The largest free standing cuckoo clock in the world is in the Cuckoo restaurant! Cuckoo loves Malaysia! They are familiar with Malaysian culture and oh, did I mention that they know the Rasa Sayang Song? Every table gets a special mention from the owner of Cuckoo!
Melba Brasserie
Little Lamb Hot Pot
It’s no secret that Melba Brasserie at the Langham Hotel is regarded by many as possibly the finest buffet restaurant in Melbourne, so when I was offered the opportunity to go, I jumped at it.
Little Lamb Hot Pot is a little restaurant located on Russell Street, offering an all-you-can-eat Mongolian style hotpot (steam boat).
The setting was opulent to say the least with its bright lighting and gold finishes. We were led to a table with a view of the Yarra river. Seating was a little tight but adequate for the pigging-out we had planned for the night! The hardest thing about any buffet is deciding where to start. Spoilt for choice, I started off at the sashimi bar and worked my way across the spread. You can imagine how stressful the situation was – an endless array of food with limited tummy space! The variety of cuisines spanned numerous continents, from Europe to Asia, and the seafood selection was superbly fresh. The highlight of my dinner was the Coffin Bay oysters which were sweet and succulent. Accompanying our food were a set of cocktails chosen based on their inspiring descriptions. I went with the Strawberry-Lychee Mojito (I am yet to find a drink combining strawberry and lychee which I dislike). The most memorable part of the buffet though, was the desserts! We were spoilt for choice with the variety provided to us. Desserts worth mentioning were the Chocolate Pot, Strawberry Panna Cotta and Banoffee Slice (combination of coffee with a hint of banana). Overall, we had an amazing night and I’m happy to say that Melba lived up to its reputation. The only drawback, if you could call it that, was that my pants didn’t seem to fit anymore by the time I left.
On taking our seats for dinner, we were presented with a large pot of broth that was divided into ordinary, spicy as well as herb stock, alongside a BBQ grill. A good variety of veggies, meats, mushrooms, and seafood are all placed behind a counter (BBQ meats are placed in a different section), offering customers a range of choices to bring back to their seats and cook in the broth or grill. My colleagues and I took what appeared to be a massive amount of food, and chucked it into the pot; from pork strips, prawns, quail eggs, to foojook (beancurd sheets), enoki mushrooms and vermicelli, all went into the boiling stock. By the time we scooped the ingredients out, the stock has been infused with all the flavours! Very aromatic, warm and delicious, just perfect for this time of year! The meats, which consist of squid, chicken, pork, beef and lamb, were all wonderfully marinated so that when grilled, they tasted amazing, especially the pork belly strips. By the time we finished our meal, we were so stuffed with food, we could barely walk! But what is a meal without dessert? Being curious cats, we ordered fried milk. ‘Fried milk? What on earth!’ But our curious taste buds did not get us into trouble. The crunchy crunch with soft, delicate milk custard in the center was very enjoyable. It was definitely the right treat to end the meal!
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The Ugly Duckling A bizarre delicacy that is bound to make you cringe. WRITES LIANNE LETITIA ZILM
Balut or balot is the most famous street food in the Philippines, though it is also eaten in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and even China. It is said that Chinese traders and migrants introduced the idea of this curious cuisine to the Philippines. What is it, you might ask? Some balut lovers might say it’s warm and juicy, with a hearty flavour and a lovely crunchy bite to it. To the rest of us, it’s basically a fertilised duck embryo. The duck eggs are incubated for 17 days (though in Vietnam, they prefer their eggs a bit more mature) between bags of toasted rice husk to emulate the body temperature of a mother duck. They are then boiled and eaten as a snack food. Apparently, it’s only sold at night so you don’t have to look the little creature in the eye as you gobble him up. A friend told us that her boyfriend, Vietnamese born, makes balut with his friends themselves in Melbourne to enjoy the delicacy, but she can never take it. I spoke to a few Filipino friends who instructed me on how to eat balut
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properly. Firstly, you crack the egg open and drink the liquid, which is yellow, warm and delicious. That I probably could stomach. But then, the next step is to unsheathe the egg from its shell to reveal the duck foetus, and to tuck in! Be warned though; don’t be too surprised if you bite into a vein, blood vessel or even the umbilical cord. You may also encounter some interesting textures that include the duck’s bill, bones, feathers and other bits that you don’t normally find in your hard boiled eggs. This is served with salt, vinegar, a bit of chilli and is said to taste like duck liver. So, why do people put themselves through this ordeal? Apparently balut has high nutritional value and serves as an aphrodisiac as well. And to many, it’s just part of their culture, not to mention it tastes great! However, balut lovers have been warned to keep their habit at bay as the cholesterol level of these babies (literally) goes through the roof! Nowadays, balut has been adapted into other dishes such as adobo balut, which is a broth-based dish, and is also eaten deep fried in batter or even in a puff pastry. In Vietnam, balut is eaten with special spices like Vietnamese mint leaves, or even fried with tamarind. Whether you’re walking along the stalls of a night market or eating it on a long jeepney journey, balut is definitely something worth trying (if only once) on your next trip to the Philippines.
The Camberwell Sunday Market As early as 6am every Sunday, cars and vans fill the car park bays next to Camberwell train station. Vendors selling all kinds of goods open their car boots, and arrange their items on tables and racks in lines of stalls in preparation for that weekly Camberwell Sunday Market. In Summer, keen bargain hunters often start waiting before the stalls even open, shining their torches as the vendors unload their goods, in the hope nabbing a special something before the crowds arrive. We visited on a cool day in May, but luckily it was not raining. One of the joys of markets such as the Camberwell Sunday Market is the possibility of finding an unexpected treasure, and we snapped up a few items that caught our eyes. From antiques, clothing, craft and art, to pot plants, you never know what you may find at a fantastic price. Many of the items are second hand goods, but there are also new items being sold. We also noticed some Malaysian faces at the market. Malaysian Olympic cyclist, Josiah Ng, and his wife were at the market selling off their second hand items. It was their third time there, and they told us they booked a stall each year to sell off some of their old items to clear space while getting some cash. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, Josiah says. By around 12pm, they told JOM that they had made some $500 in cash but last time in summer, their items were all sold out at 8.30am. The Camberwell Sunday Market is run by the Rotary Club of Balwyn and is held every Sunday, from about 7.00 am to 12.30 pm. It is accessible from the city via the Lilydale and Belgrave line and takes about 20 minutes by train. Anyone can book a stall from about $60 to sell their stuff at the market. We were told, however, that you may need to book at least 2 months in advance to secure a spot. In Summer, the waiting periods are even longer.
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Holden Volt WRITES PAUL MARIC
The Holden Volt - just another hybrid, right? Wrong. You see, the Holden Volt isn’t so much a hybrid as it is a portable generator. A traditional hybrid car, such as the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid uses an electric motor to assist a petrol engine that directly drives the wheels. The Holden Volt on the other hand is never directly driven by the petrol engine; the petrol engine merely acts as a generator for the electric motor and battery pack. More on this later. Volt first appeared as a concept during the 2007 North American International Auto Show. Despite an ultra-modern design, the Volt was a hit, with the final design featuring cues from the 2007 concept. Fast forward five years and the Volt is launched to the Australian media with unanimous praise. I grabbed the keys to the Holden Volt following the launch and went straight home. From there, I spent four days doing the shopping, visiting IKEA, crowding the car with friends and visiting the folks. My intention was to test the Volt in the same way your average buyer would. Before I hopped in to start driving, I stopped to inspect the Volt’s design and exterior styling. For such an eco-friendly car, it looks pretty damn good. Inside the cabin, the intended market will immediately fall in love with the gadgets, colour screens and design. A white on black theme is used to contrast the dashboard
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with the centre console. While the touch sensitive console buttons may seem abundant to begin with, they become second nature in no time. Forward alert, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, DVD player, Bluetooth streaming, iPod connectivity, heated seats and satellite navigation are all standard features. A traditional speedometer has been replaced by a seven inch display that crams in all critical vehicle information, along with a driving style indicator. The Volt’s T-shaped battery design limits seating room to four occupants. The benefit of removing the rear centre seat is that it’s realistic seating room for two passengers, instead of hopelessly attempting to cramp three abreast. My first trip was a 100km stint on the highway to see what would happen when the Volt’s 87km electric range ran dry. Surprisingly, because I was busy concentrating on the road, I didn’t even notice when the generator kicked in to supply the batteries with power. Under the bonnet, the Volt uses a 111kW electric motor, 55kW generator and a 60kW 1.4-litre petrol engine, which powers the generator in a series hybrid mode. A planetary gear set then distributes torque to the wheels using a complex configuration of clutches and gears.
sporty car without the immediate carbon consequences. Charging takes less than six hours from empty on a regular household 10A socket and under ten hours from empty on a 6A power socket. Public charging stations are also available and I spot tested one at a hotel in Melbourne’s CBD and another at a car park in Federation Square. These public charging stations can charge the Volt in under four hours and supply current at 15A. At Federation Square there is even a dedicated parking space for electric vehicles – a Godsend on a busy day in the city! At $59,990, the Holden Volt is at the top end of the electric vehicle market, followed closely by the Nissan Leaf at $51,500 and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV at $48,800. If you take into account the level of standard equipment, the Volt’s non-science experiment design and the added bonus of a petrol engine, it’s hard to imagine how you could buy anything else in this price bracket. The Holden Volt is not only a no compromise electric vehicle; it’s a no compromise vehicle.
Despite the drive mode or charge level, the Volt is always driven by the 111kW electric motor, so the petrol engine is never directly driving the wheels, even under fullthrottle conditions. The advantage of this configuration is consistency in power delivery and the ability to drive with zero emissions if the vehicle is charged using a power socket. The Volt’s fuel tank is pressurised to stop fuel from losing its energy content as quickly as it would in a non-pressurised tank. This allows fuel to last up to a year without being used. Unlike some fuel efficient small cars, the Volt isn’t compromised in any way when it comes to zipping in and out of traffic. Even though it’s easy to take off gently and extend driving range, it’s just as easy to slam down the throttle and get ahead of traffic. The communicative steering is speed sensitive and reacts well to both low speed and high speed changes. The same praise is echoed for the brake pedal, which feels nothing like the brake pedal you will find in a Prius. The Prius transitions between regenerative and conventional braking in a rough and touchy manner, whereas the Volt is uniform and smooth throughout the pedal range. Three drive modes are available to match the intended driving style. There’s Normal, Sport and Hold. The Hold mode forces the Volt to keep battery charge at a certain level, which is achieved by running the generator. This mode is handy if you know a stretch of city driving is imminent. Sport mode turns the Volt into a theme park rollercoaster. The staggering torque punch, coupled with a low centre of gravity and sharp steering makes the Volt a nimble and
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Teh Tarik WRITES ADRI PRADITYA / A teh tarik devotee
This Malaysian drink, which in Malay translates as ‘Pulled Tea’ originated from the south of India. The earliest Indian migrants were brought by the British when our country was still under their colony back in the 1900s, to work in the rubber plantations and build the railway tracks. They brought along their recipes from back home hence why the likes of nasi kandar, roti canai and curries have become a part of Malaysian cuisine today. Everybody knows how ‘wonderful’ the weather is here in Melbourne so when you are caught out in the sudden rush of winter madness in the middle of spring or summer then head to the nearest Malaysian restaurant you can find to sip on a hearty glass of teh tarik to warm up your body.
Best places for Teh Tarik NORSIAH’S KITCHEN Going at $2.50 this place serves a not so rich teh tarik.. not too creamy and not too sweet... LAZZAT At $3.00 their teh tarik is also similar in taste to Norsiah’s except that you can taste the special tea leaves they use for brew. ZAM ZAM Priced at $2.50 and served in a small white cup it is not as filling as other restaurants and you will taste more of the tea instead. Their teh tarik is considered light... For those on a diet, this is the place for you. MAMAK At $3.50 it is the most expensive amongst all other places serving but they make up for the price with an excellent brew in a large mug typical as those you find back in Malaysia.
RICH MAHA This mamak restaurant is located all the way in Vermont South (last stop if you take Tram 75 from the city). Priced at $2.50 you won’t be disappointed with the distance as it is a favourite haunt for Malaysians living in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne INDIAN DELIGHT This mamak restaurant is located in Blackburn, opposite Forest Hill Shopping Centre and it also serves teh tarik similar to the one in Rich Maha. (Both owners used to be partners). They serve their teh tarik in a large mug just like back home in Malaysia.
PAPPARICH They serve teh tarik in a kopitiam cup so for the price you pay (about $3 dollar plus) you might as well go for a bigger serve of teh ais instead. MALAYSIA HALL The cheapest going at $2 their teh tarik is top notch. From the colour of the drink you can tell it has the perfect balance of both the tea and condensed milk. Try it, and I assure you won’t be disappointed.
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Photo: Teh Tarik at PappaRich
Teh Tarik competition held during Malaysian Welcoming BBQ at Flagstaff Garden, Melbourne, in March 2013. Photographed by Eric Chiang
Teh tarik is actually easy to make. All you need is to get some of the lowest and cheapest quality tea leaves you can find (no kidding), a can of condensed milk and a can of evaporated milk. Boil the water then mix in the tea leaves. Once the tea is ready just pour it in a mug and put in about 3 tea-spoons of evaporated milk and a tea-spoon of condensed milk then stir slowly. Once the colour has turned milky brown then ‘pull’ the tea using another empty mug (done by pouring the tea from one container to another and repeat a few times) until froth is formed and then the teh tarik is done.
ILLUSTRATES VANESSA LAW
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A variation of this would be to stir-fry for a shorter time, then bake it in the oven for an additional 10 minutes with a layer of cheddar cheese on the top.
My favourite garnish combination is strawberries and blueberries. They taste especially delicious with the Chocolate Ripple cake!
Easy Cooking for Busy People WRITES LIANNE LETITIA ZILM / An Aspiring Professional Housewife
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The ‘Anything Goes’ Stir-Fry
No-bake Cookie Cake
There comes a point in some weeks where I run out of some crucial ingredients and am just left with random ingredients in the fridge – not enough to make a gourmet dish, yet I can’t be bothered to make a trip to the supermarket. Just stir-fry!
I admit I stole this recipe of Taste.com.au, though I often add my own little variations to it. The biscuits soften up and become nice and cake-like!
Ingredients: Cooking oil or butter Garlic / onion / ginger Any ingredients you like (e.g. mushroom, broccoli, celery, artichokes, capsicum, asparagus, corn, chilli, carrots, tomato, tofu, bok choy, tempeh, ikan bilis, etc.) Seasoning such as salt, pepper, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil or even sambal oelek
Ingredients: 500g thickened cream (you can use chocolate cream as well, or add cacao powder into the cream) 1 tsp vanilla essence 250g packet of biscuits (the recipe normally uses Chocolate Ripple but I’ve also used Ginger Nut, Anzac Biscuits, etc.) Fruits or decorations to garnish
Cooking instructions: 1) Heat a pan/wok over high heat and when it’s hot, add 1 tbsp of oil. If you’re out of oil, replace with 1 tbsp butter. 2) If you have meat, cook it first – beef doesn’t have to be fully cooked but just browned. However, cook your chicken or pork until well done. I like to toss in some garlic to make the meat aromatic. Remove the meat and set aside on a plate. 3) Put in a bit more oil/butter and toss in the rest of the ingredients. Put in the ones that will take longer to cook first (e.g. carrots should go in before mushrooms). Add some seasoning and simmer. 4) Put the meat in again to reheat and serve up with steamed rice or noodles.
Cooking instructions: 1) Whip the cream and vanilla until it forms firm peaks (preferably with an electric beater). 2) Now, to assemble the cake! Spread the cream along the length of a serving platter as the base. Stand one biscuit upright in the cream base, then spread one side of another biscuit with cream and stick it on to the first. Repeat til the whole packet is used up. 3) Use the remaining cream to spread over the cake til it’s fully covered. Some people choose to serve as is, but I enjoy decorating it. 4) Chill for 6 hours (or overnight) to set. The Ginger Nut version of the cake takes longer than the others – probably leave for 10 hours minimum.
Styling Life
The Hectic Homemakers’ Guide Some people are natural homemakers – from a young age, they make their beds, fold their clothes and take part in household chores. And then you get people like me, who once, after coming home from a holiday, thought my room had been ransacked, only to realise that I had left it in that state before the trip. I remember back in National Service, I was pulled up time and time again for not ironing my uniform – the irony of it was that I had spent over 15
WRITES LIANNE LETITIA ZILM ILLUSTRATES VANESSA LAW
minutes trying to press that shirt but only seemed to make the creases worse. Trying to juggle household chores (which you feel is not your natural talent) while also living a busy cosmopolitan lifestyle can be quite difficult to manage at times. Here are some tips that might make your cleaning routine a little more tolerable
Kitchens are meant to be filled with delicious smells, but you don’t want the smells to linger forever. I’ve found that baking orange peels in your oven at a high temperature can absorb smells and leave a lovely aromatic scent. When you put food away into the refrigerator, make sure it’s in a securely covered container. You can also put a bit of bi-carb soda in an open container in your fridge to absorb odours.
Laundry needs to be tackled often and systematically. Get a good washing machine and if you don’t have the time to separate your clothing, put the delicates into a mesh laundry bag. Once the laundry is done, hang it out immediately – in winter, you may want to run it through a dryer cycle first but also hang it out to air to remove creases. To reduce ironing, choose clothes made from soft and easy-to-iron fabric.
If you aren’t a fan of vacuuming, buy a good vacuum cleaner. When I say good, I mean a top-of-the-range one with amazing features like cyclonic suction, flexible hoses, HEPA filters and all the extra pieces like brushes and nozzles. Cheap vacuum cleaners can be inefficient and you’ll find you have to vacuum more often.
Invest in effective storage space – the last thing you want in the house is clutter! Get ample storage boxes, shelves and containers – you can get some great ideas from IKEA, Bed Bath N’ Table or even Officeworks. And while many of us are tempted to keep every single piece of memorabilia, we’re eventually going to run out of space – throw things out from time to time and give away good unwanted items to op shops.
To prevent your shower from getting a scum build up, keep a squeegee (handheld window cleaner) in the bathroom and give it a quick wipedown after or during a shower. Drying the shower cabinet out with an old towel or old floor mat can significantly reduce the need for major shower cleanouts. And if you have the issue of a stained toilet, pour some Coke into the bowl – the acid will remove stains. Leave it in for about an hour before flushing. The best way to handle housework is to have a plan and stick to it as much as possible. If you have housemates, draw up a roster together and be accountable. If you are struggling to find the time, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help from other housemates, your partner, friends who have time or even from a commercial cleaning service (should the situation be dire). It’s better to have a clean and happy home than to be constantly stressed out about getting the house in order.
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How to: Hat Hairs. WRITES FERN YI LIM PHOTOGRAPHS JOSH YU
When you’re rushing out the door early in the morning, wearing a hat is probably the last thing on your mind. Still, hats are can be useful to protect against the cold, especially since approximately 20-40% of your body heat is lost through your head. In addition, it can hide greasy or messy hair that you may not have the time deal with. Available in a vast array of shapes and sizes, there is definitely a hat for everyone, for every face shape. Since winter hats isn’t something that you would wear in hotter weather, a good rule to follow is to pick something that you will wear again for the next few winters. Most people may not think about styling their hair when wearing a hat, usually leaving their hair as it is under a hat. So, here are a few quick tips to spice up your look while wearing different types of hats.
1 This hat can change an outfit because it gives off a menswear-inspired or androgynous look. To complement its cool character, try pulling your hair back into a loose bun and tucking it inside the fedora. Let a few wisps of hair peak out for a more laid-back and wind-swept look. If you have shorter hair, use a curling iron to make loose curls that will cascade down your face, giving a feminine contrast to the androgynous fedora.
2 There are two types of berets and beanies: fitted and slouchy. While slouchy ones are easier to find, the right and suitable fitted beanie or beret can do wonders to prettily frame your face. Made out of woollen, knitted material, beanies and berets provide you with a lot of warmth. Try a heavy side part to stand out among others. Simply part your hair further from your usual hairline and hold it down with hairspray. You can create whatever texture you want on the heavier side, whether it is messy waves, straight, or curled. Because you are changing the parting of your hair, it can feel slightly uncomfortable at first. But, with your locks just peaking out of your beanie, this look will give you a retro look.
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3 A newsboy cap can be worn in most seasons, depending on the thickness of the hat. It will stay put on your head during strong winds because it has a brim structure. Complement your newsboy cap by fashioning a simple braid at the side of your head. If you want to try something a little different, you can attempt a more complicated braid like the fishtail braid. Apply a smoothing serum to the braid to tame the flyaways. This hairstyle is suitable for beret as well.
seeming publications that present convincing-looking evidence that supports the notion that human-caused climate change isn’t occurring. This is despite the overwhelming consensus in the scientific community that it is. (A paper published in the research journal Environmental Research Letters in May 2013* found that of 11,994 scientific articles on the subject, only 0.7% disputed the human-made nature of climate change.) Similarly, almost any fanciful medical self-diagnosis can be confirmed on the internet by inserting your symptoms plus the disease in to a search engine.
Kurang Manis BY JULIAN LEE
Don’t follow your interests…interests….interests…interests… A widely noted problem with the internet as a medium for seeking information is that it can act as an ‘echo chamber’. This echo chamber refers to the way in which people can surround themselves with like-minded opinions and find information that confirms their own biases. Take for example an individual who, for whatever reason, is sceptical about climate change. It would be very easy for that person to find copious amounts of authoritative-
Publications certainly also tend to have their biases. However, whereas on the internet one seeks information, the reader of magazines and newspapers is presented with material. By engaging with material that one wouldn’t normally think was of interest, there is scope for crossfertilization of ideas from fields outside of our own usual areas of interest. It is by regularly not following our interests that we can broaden our minds and become better rounded. Although almost any curiosity can be pursued online, there is much to be said for sometimes being presented with and contemplating that which is outside of our interests. * Cook, J. et al. (2013) ‘Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature’, Environmental Research Letters volume 8.
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Visiting Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple
Malaysian born in Melbourne Conservatively speaking freely.
Earlier this week I and five other Malaysian Muslims visited a church, gurdwara and Buddhist temple. I asked my companions if they had previously stepped into a non-Muslim place of worship, and the answer was either “once, a long time ago” or “never”: curious responses given the usual spiel about Malaysians being tolerant in a multicultural and multi-religious society. Then again, some schoolteachers apparently tell their young Muslim students they will go blind if they step into a church. In the Antiochian Orthodox Church we found an Arabic prayer book that contained “Allah” (just as I saw in Jordan last year) and wondered what those teachers would make of that, while at the gurdwara I was surprised to discover that our elderly host grew up in Seremban and Kuala Pilah! This is because we were in Melbourne amidst the first leg of the inaugural Muslim Australia-Malaysia Cultural Exchange Program [sic], initiated after the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs’ visit to Malaysia in November 2012, supported by the Australian Government and Australia-Malaysia Institute. The six participants are from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), the Global Movement of the Moderates Foundation (GMMF), Sisters in Islam (SIS), the Muslimah Interest Zone And Networking Association (MIZAN) and IDEAS. We quickly established another commonality – Sumatran ancestry – all Minangkabau passing through Negeri Sembilan, except one Acehnese.
WRITES TUNKU ‘ABIDIN MUHRIZ
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As soon as we arrived we were treated to an Australian
Visiting Orthodox Church
Football League match – itself a vital (almost religious) part of local culture, according to our Seremban-born host, a lawyer and fanatic of the game. With hardly time to rest, the next three days were packed full of meetings with institutions that gave us an appreciation of how increasing ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is handled by the state of Victoria – for decentralisation has real substance here, with the states possessing significant powers to set up their own institutions to advance their own policies. (And local government jealously guards its own powers too.) A profound manifestation of this was the Victorian Multicultural Commission, whose chairperson was born in Johor, with one commissioner hailing from Ipoh. Established by state law in 2004, its remit includes promoting “full participation by Victoria’s diverse communities in the social, cultural, economic and political life of Victoria” and “interaction between individuals and communities from diverse backgrounds”. I was sceptical of these objectives – particularly since it isn’t clear how a “community” is defined – but I was pacified by the reply that the commission is fully aware of the problems of legitimacy within self-defined “communities” and fully accepted that some individuals may have no desire to be a member of a “community”. Importantly, the state does not pressure any citizen to belong to one. This approach – free from judgments of the comparative value of different cultures – is quite different from some other countries (current and historical) where the state explicitly elevates one culture or race above another, and defines its citizens to be members of an ethnic group from the day they are born. The same approach was encountered in the other institutions and prominent Victorians that we met – from the Governor (a distinguished appointee representing the
Queen of Australia), the Mayor of Greater Dandenong (elected by and amongst elected local councillors), to academic centres in La Trobe and Melbourne Universities, where many Malaysians were spotted. One mind-bending visit was to a Muslim school, originally established by Turks but now teaching Muslims and non-Muslims from diverse backgrounds, whose walls were festooned with pictures of the staunchly secular Ataturk. The young Australian of Turkish descent I quizzed saw no contradiction in this whatsoever; yet it was a massive issue when I was in Istanbul only recently. That irony aside, I contemplated the chances of such a school existing in Malaysia – or a Malaysian-founded Muslim school in another continent that displayed pictures of our founding fathers. That evening I was persuaded to try halal kangaroo, which was conceptually easier to digest. Another dinner was hosted by Malaysia’s Consul General in Melbourne (a chap from Port Dickson), who also welcomed the Australians visiting Malaysia in June under the same programme. I also met remarkable young Malaysians who have set up a Melbourne-based magazine that is owned and run by Malaysians, for Malaysians. It is called JOM: Journal of Malaysians, is published bi-monthly with 3,000 print copies, and the cover story of its fourth issue features Melbourne’s last remaining World War II Malaya and Borneo veteran. It must be the one of the few Malaysian publications in the world that does not require a permit from the Home Ministry, and it’s also where you’ll find my piece on the second leg of my journey in Australia – Sydney. Originally published in ‘The Malay Mail’ -----’Abidin Muhriz is President of IDEAS
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Siding with Sydney A Malaysian’s perspective on Australia’s multiculturalism
I love wombats – at least, the one I met at Taronga Zoo across Sydney Harbour. The fat marsupial was eating a pile of leaves while the zookeeper explained that their bony bottoms could crush the skulls of foxes that might chase them into their burrows: a fantastic defence mechanism. My Australian colleagues were unimpressed, complaining that these creatures barged into their tents while camping, obliterating everything, but I found this blasé attitude to survival quite endearing. We also saw koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, platypuses and echidnas – animals unique to the southern continent, befitting the conclusion of the Australia-Malaysia Cultural Exchange Program. The Sydney itinerary continued in much the same vein as the Melbourne one I described before, with our diverse schedule educating us about how Australian society and institutions are responding to a changing cultural landscape. The institutional highlight was (once again) provided by Australians of Turkish descent. The memory of the World War I Gallipoli Campaign – in which over 8,000 Australian soldiers died in battle against an Ottoman force that included the future Ataturk – is central to the narrative of modern Australia (and New Zealand), and immortalised in Anzac Day. To evoke this shared history, the biggest mosque in Australia was deliberately named after that fateful peninsula.
WRITES TUNKU ‘ABIDIN MUHRIZ
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Malaysians on the cultural exchange program are (from left) Tunku ‘Abidin Muhriz (IDEAS), Hana Shazwin Azizan (Global Movement of Moderates Foundation), Suriani Kempe (Sisters in Islam), Abu Qassim Nor Azmi (ABIM), Wardina Safiyyah (MIZAN), Nur Eliza Jemal (Wisma Putra) Funded by voluntary donations from the community, the Gallipoli Mosque looks like it was teleported directly from Istanbul. As I admired the high dome ceilings adorned with the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad and the Four Righteous Caliphs (as is the norm in Ottoman mosques), I truly respected the reconciliatory but self-confident expression of the community’s culture and religion. (By comparison, in Malaysia, where voluntary donations are aided by contributions from the state, there are few surviving mosques of the classic Malay architectural style, and with some exceptions the Moorish style so favoured by the British and subsequent imitations of Arab or Central Asian architecture continue to dominate.) In terms of individuals on our itinerary, the 37th Governor of New South Wales was the star. Though originally only an hour was scheduled for the meeting, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir spent double that time with us, talking warmly about the story of her Lebanese ancestors who first arrived in Australia in 1900 (just before the White Australia Policy began), her medical career and constitutional role. In close second was Ed Husic MP, the first Muslim federal member of Parliament. Of Bosnian descent, it turned out that he is a frequent visitor to “Kuala Lumpah”, enjoying the roti canai at Devi’s Corner. Our meeting with him was slightly delayed because of a demonstration being held that day: the beheading of a British soldier in London by two madmen supposedly inspired by their religion had triggered a public response from a small group of Australians. It was the only incident during our trip that dented our impression of Australia being a utopia, making it look more like a normal country. We did get a glimpse of some of the past debacles though: at an Aboriginal centre we learnt about the annihilation of some tribes by early European settlers, the policies that led
to the “Stolen Generations”, and the impact of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology on Aboriginal Australians. Perhaps the only weakness of the itinerary was that we did not learn much about the story of initial European settlement of Australia, which is why I visited the Hyde Park Barracks Museum on my free day. Here I discovered the importance of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, a Scottish British army officer who was the 5th Governor of New South Wales. Apparently he was lenient in enforcing the policy that New South Wales should be primarily a penal colony, and instead allowed convicts from Britain (sent to Australia because British prisons were full and transportation to America no longer possible due to their Independence) to have a fair chance at restarting their lives as free people on the new country. His liberal policies were not approved of by London, however, so he was forced to resign – but today he is championed as a father of modern Australia. After my immersive week in two cities (though I definitely preferred Sydney) of this country with which Malaysia is developing ever stronger ties – “recalcitrant” no longer in the vocabulary – I have come to appreciate the country as one combining respect for tradition and institutions with a fastidious yearning for individuality and meritocracy, while enabling citizens to freely adhere to their cultural and religious preferences. Amazingly, on a map of Aboriginal nations I spotted an area southeast of present-day Perth that was home to the “Minang” tribe. Maybe the Australian path of liberal democracy can be traced back to my relatives who migrated to Australia from Sumatra millennia ago. Then again, maybe not - the neighbouring tribe were the “Goreng”.
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Face of new politics in Malaysia The first-time State Assemblywoman (for Pulau Tikus in Penang) who continues to go to work and service her constituents by motor scooter.
THE Facebook posts of the new ADUN speak volumes of the state of representative politics in Malaysia. One day Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Assembly person) Pulau Tikus, Yang Berhormat Yap Soo Huey, is reporting seeing to it that a set of traffic lights in her constituency in Penang is fixed, and how the next morning it’s down again “worse than last night!” “O_o Now waiting for it to be repaired again,” she flavours the post with emoticon, more in good-natured incredulity than with rancour. Another day Yap is driving around flooded areas and posting on FB for feedback from her hand-held device. In another, she updates her constituents on recovery work on a section of the Second Penang Bridge being built that had collapsed, extending condolences to the families of the victims. Yap is the epitome of the new face https://www.facebook. com/soohuey.yap of Malaysian politics. Young, enthusiastic, energetic, new-media-savvy, they are of the generation after the baby boomers, moving the identification of Malaysia and of Malaysians free of race and religion. Ideology of class and distribution is of consequence purely in this light.
WRITES K.C. BOEY PHOTOGRAPHS K.C. BOEY
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If the Reformasi of 2008 was the spontaneous reaction to perceived injustice to one individual in Anwar Ibrahim, the movement for change in GE13 (General Election 2013) was broader in its sweep of the socio-political and economic scape.
Yap was catapulted into this milieu a short two years ago, after she decided on a shift in her life purpose. From a research scientist at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, the science honours graduate from Monash University answered a calling to serve her home state by nurturing scientific talent in Penang. She took up the position of Science, Technology & Innovation Officer in the Office of the Penang Chief Minister. For her, it was a minor shift from service of people in one institution, to those in another. Pulau Tikus born and bred, the one-time SMK Convent Pulau Tikus student was hand-picked to stand for her “home” State Assembly seat on the DAP platform, which she won handsomely. Over a precisely-timed lunch over pasta at a city Italian eatery – Lygon Street has not quite worn off, it seems – the transition from backroom organiser to being front and centre of policy-setting and lawmaking has not quite sunk in, it appears. “It is a steep learning curve,” Yap tells JOM of her rapid move through the Office of the Chief Minister, the adrenalinpumping 15 days on the hustings over the campaign period, and her short three weeks in office from the time of her election to when we met.
“You wouldn’t believe it,” she confides. “The internal deliberation goes even to whether I should keep wearing pants,” says Yap – who with a few party activists shaved themselves bald as symbolic gesture over the campaign period – as she has done for as long as she cares to remember of her sartorial guise. “In the end, I just decided to remain the person the people elected. As long as I remain faithful to be of service.” Being the person Yap is extends to the Vespa parked outside the eatery alongside the other ubiquitous Cubs and motorcycles that buzz the street confines of UNESCO Heritagelisted George Town in Penang. “I’ve had this (Vespa) since I came back from Melbourne,” says Yap, strapping on her helmet. “It gets me to where I want to go quickly.” Which is useful anywhere on Penang Island, not least George Town and Pulau Tikus. Which explains why Yap had ordered her pasta – and was waiting – by the time we arrived, looking ahead to her next appointment. We had to look for a spot to park our car. And as we trudged to our parked car, Yap was scooting off to her next ADUN duty.
She talks of the incredulity of her aides when she tells them to go home at the end of the day to be with family while she – eldest in her family of three siblings and still living at home – goes on by herself to her ADUN engagements.
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