AND it’s a wrap! Certainly, 2019 has been a year rife with challenges. But it has also been one of deep satisfaction as we persevered with our mission to bring to our pages — and our readers — the kind of stories that would resonate and more importantly, showcase just how amazing Malaysia — and Malaysians — are. And with the curtains soon to fall on the year that was, we at Team Vibes offer our pick of stories that we’re especially proud of!
INTAN MAIZURA AHMAD KAMAL (EDITOR)
WHEN THE INK RUNS OUT
February 24, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/02/463106/petition-writer-det...
I aspired to tell the Malaysian story. Not the rah-rah Malaysian story — of celebrities or the usual tabloid fodder — but one that would put ordinary Malaysians into the spotlight. Those who do what they do with little fanfare and yet are an integral part of Malaysia’s colourful tapestry.
I was alerted to the existence of this elderly petition writer or “Uncle Typewriter” as he’s better known by NST’s Ipoh bureau photographer, Effendy Rashid, who’d seen him plying his trade under the canopy of a shady Yellow Flame tree in front of the State Mosque along Jalan Dato Sagor in Ipoh.
Petition writing is an ancient trade that’s headed towards extinction in this era of Information Technology and the 72-year-old Ezekiel Velu, along with his trusty typewriter, numbers among the few still standing. I wanted to capture his story.
It was one of the more challenging interviews I’d ever conducted. Ezekiel had many stories to tell, and they came spilling forth in a heady rush; jumping from his father’s days as a locomotive driver in Malaya to his own stint as a timber manager in Tumpat, Kelantan. And of course, his love affair with his trade.
Crafting the story thereafter was an exercise in great patience but it was worth it. Ezekiel had given me — and our readers — a nostalgic window into a time gone by, and a trade in its twilight years.
OCEAN DRIFTER
March 24, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/03/72382/siren-call-ocean-how...
This had to be one the more fun assignments pursued in 2019. I love the great outdoors and being in nature’s embrace. Somehow, nothing beats the feeling of the sun on my face and the caress of a gentle breeze on my skin. And when your assignment is in the tropical idyll of The Datai, Langkawi, what more can one ask for?
I had the pleasure of meeting dynamic marine biologist, Jonathan Chandrasakaran to find out why he’d made marine conservation his life calling. Our first “date” was a wade into the warm, azure waters of the Andaman Sea, a plankton net gripped between us, in search of… planktons!
Hardly the most romantic of “first date” activities but certainly one of the most fascinating! Chandrasakaran, The Datai’s nature educator was more interested in talking “phytoplankton” and “photosynthesis” and squinting into the shimmering water for life forms than actually staring into my eyes!
No, but seriously, it was a wonderful lesson into the bustling metropolis that is our ocean. I’ve never been much of a biology buff, but the music-loving young man made a convert of me. Suddenly, everything made sense. And I swear I’d never been so enthralled by the idea of spending an afternoon in a lab squinting through a microscope to witness the magical dance of a bunch of planktons!
MALAYSIAN AVENGERS, RISE!
July 07, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/07/502130/malaysian-avengers-...
My love affair with the sport of Mixed Martial Arts was triggered after witnessing a ONE Championship (the largest global sports media property in Asian history) event — ONE: Dynasty of Heroes held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. It was the night when Malaysia’s Agilan Thani entered the ring against former US Olympian, Ben Askren, seeking to become the first Malaysian to win a ONE Championship title. He didn’t win — but my heart was won!
This assignment was memorable as it brought together seven of Malaysia’s top martial artists under one roof. And what made it more interesting was the fact that throughout my 18 years as a journalist, I’d never conducted an interview session with seven interviewees simultaneously before!
As the athletes filed into the freezing NST studio for their photo-shoot, the thoughts running through my mind were how best to manoeuvre this. The challenge was to ensure that things would flow; that each person would get their airtime; and that interesting and sufficient materials could be generated. Then it’d be a case of piecing the disparate strings together.
The article needed to be well crafted as I wanted for it to resonate with our readers so that a greater awareness — and interest — could be raised on the existence of this fast-growing sport. Most importantly, I wanted the inspiring stories of our young athletes to be told — of their passion, dedication, sacrifices and single mindedness to be the best of the best.
TASH TALK
Sept 01, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/09/517668/internationally-acc...
This was a special one. Prior to this assignment, 12 years had passed since my first meeting with author Tash Aw. Back then, he was doing the rounds to promote his first book, The Harmony Silk Factory. The interview turned out to be a lengthy affair over coffee as we discovered, thanks to our respective upbringing in England, plenty of common grounds.
Tash had brought his father along, and I’d brought mine. The two dads got on like a house on fire too. By the time the interview was concluded, I knew that the soft-spoken author would go on to soar to literary-stardom. I wasn’t wrong.
Fast forward 12 years later and I found myself sipping coffee (again) in the company of an internationally-acclaimed novelist and by now, my favourite local author. Despite the passing years, nothing had changed. Tash remained just as soft-spoken and humble as the first time we met. And once again, the interview turned out to be another lengthy affair — this time, between old friends.
ELENA KOSHY (SPECIALIST WRITER)
DANCE OF THE ANCIENTS
February 24, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/02/463091/mystical-dance-anci...
What a day it was! Pesta Puja Pantai — a tribute to ancestors, observed by the Mah Meri tribe of Carey Island was undoubtedly one of my favourite adventures of the year. The simple generosity of this gentle villagers, opening up their lives and practices for people to observe touched me deeply. Unfortunately, the crowd wasn’t very kind that day.
Photographers jostled and shoved cameras right in front of their faces, but the Mah Meri tribe took it in their stride with so much patience and longsuffering. In spite of their agonising history and uncertain future, this wonderful tribe can still find much to celebrate and be thankful for.
The songs, dances, culture and traditions surrounding planting and harvests and the prayers that are sent upward for healing and peace, are all reasons for them to keep moving forward with hope.
ENCHANTED FOREST
March 23, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/pulse/2019/03/472104/enchanted-forest-ulu-muda
This is a little personal to me. After years of being involved in the environmental field, I was told by someone I respected that I wasn’t really “...a nature person.” That was quite a sting and for a while I half-believed it. Granted I wasn’t into nature when I first became involved (being a city girl all my life), but I did grow to love being out there in the forest.
When the Ulu Muda trip came along, it’d been months since I last stepped out into the wild. I was nervous, hoping to God my knee injuries wouldn’t trip me up when we hiked into the forest.
My fears and trepidation were unfounded. Ulu Muda welcomed me with her ancient arms — the whispering trees, wild elephants, wild boars, birds, gibbons and the haunting call of the Helmeted hornbill lent magic to my adventure. I don’t really care what people say now. By God, I AM a nature person!
THE LONELY TRADER
November 10, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/11/537144/remarkable-story-cu...
It’s funny how ordinary people have the most extraordinary tales! I have the softest spot for the elderly, and Uncle Lai Tuck, with his false teeth and hearty laughter, is forever ingrained in my memory.
Hardy, practical and hardworking, the old uncle who plies his trade at Jalan Pasar has plenty of stories to tell. If you need some inspiration to tide you over during hard times, visit Uncle Lai Tuck He’s always ready to talk but you might need to listen carefully, because his false teeth often get in the way of his speech.
I found it hard at the beginning to decipher what he was trying to say. “Can repeat ah, uncle?” I asked desperately for the umpteenth time, but he was patient enough to repeat what he said, slowly. When he laughs hard, his teeth slip off his gums and you can’t help but laugh too. Having one or two of his famous curry puffs is also definitely good for your soul!
THE UNREPENTANT CARTOONIST
December 22, 2019
www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/12/549896/zunar-unrepentant-c...
When I bought the iconoclastic cartoonist Zunar’s books via his website, my mother was the first to read them. One was an autobiography of his journey as a political cartoonist, and the other, his latest book Kartun Anti-Racism. “You got to interview him!” declared my mother, bursting into my room and waving his books at me. I eventually did.
Something funny did take place during my interview. As Zunar sifted through the pages of Kartun Anti-Racism (the one that I brought along for the interview), he found my mother had duly filled up a crossword puzzle he drew on one of the pages. “Who did that?” he asked surprised. “I don’t know,” I replied, genuinely puzzled.
I’d assumed that the words she wrote were part of his cartoon. He laughed heartily when I finally realised it was my mum’s handiwork. Zunar insisted on recording a video message for her where he thanked her for her support and told her that he was touched by how she took his cartoons to heart, to simply write out the missing words he left out by omission.
It was a crossword that listed all the races in Malaysia, with the single (missing) word that connected them all — MALAYSIA. If Zunar had intended a nation-building message to get through to his readers, he certainly succeeded with my mum.