THE BEST OF YOU

Patricia Lering Daniel

Born in Miri, Sarawak

Ethnicity: Kayan

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

Our ancestors keep long ears.

We tell-tales / celebrate a certain occasion via a poem/sing-song we call the Tekna’

Back in the days, our ancestors are tattooed at young age to mark a certain journey/story happening in their lives. Like where they were born, their daily commute etc.

Only those with “high-class heritage” can be elected as ketua kampung.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

I keep my culture by keeping my language spoken, our cultural dance passed down to my children.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being Malaysian to me means being able to be me, a Kayan, and still feel belonged.

Nicholas Ng Khoon Wu

Born in Kuala Lumpur

Ethnicity: Chinese

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage and in what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

Even though our family were raised Christians, we still uphold the values and traditions of our Chinese heritage and culture of respecting our elders, and also celebration of many key festivals such as the practice of visiting our ancestors tomb during QingMing to celebrating Chinese New Year, along with its long lists of traditions and customs like not sweeping your trash out the house on the first few days of Chinese New Year down to reading the yearly Chinese Horoscope.

And lastly, food! What else! That's the most important part of our culture and it is something I would share with others as an introduction to our culture and heritage, because there’s no other element more unique than the Chinese food in Malaysia. With its mixes of spices and blends only available in the South-East Asian region, it’s truly a melting pot of flavors!

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

So, being Malaysian to me means having the ability to enjoy and appreciate the diverse heritage, culture and cuisine our country has to offer, but more importantly, the privilege to preserve and uphold our individual ethnicity, culture, identity and language and still proud to call ourselves - a Malaysian.

Tabitha Xavier

Born in Selangor

Ethnicity: Indian

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

The food! Definitely :)

Various styles and bright colours of Indian clothing.

Household items brought down from our grandparents, which are still being used now, especially in cooking.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

Introducing people to the best Indian food around, plus teaching them the various condiments and the best way to enjoy Indian food haha!

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Feeling like you belong as a Malaysian race, no segregation. You unite over similar interests, you have similar wavelengths to different issues/situations. And you can always count on another Malaysian no matter which part of the world you are in!

Matt La Brooy

Born in Ipoh, Perak

Ethnicity: Eurasian, French, Dutch, English, Filipino

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

I get the best of both worlds. Both the European and the Asian sides in terms of food, different languages I get to learn and places I get to visit family.

Being a Malaysian, it adds another layer of depth to my identity. It's almost as if I'm a citizen of the world, being surrounded by even more friends from different cultures and backgrounds.

I feel a certain connection with Ipoh in particular, as my family had a hand in contributing to Ipoh's development. Certain buildings and monuments were built by my ancestors. I can even say I have my own grandfather's road!

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

Not particularly my own culture, but I often take the opportunity to help people better understand or experience the multi varied cultures around them. Malaysia is a melting pot of heritage and culture and people should proudly take advantage of being able to experience this just by taking a step out of their doorsteps.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being Malaysian means the world to me. Looking past shortcomings that we may have, looking at the bigger picture, we have so much to experience, so much to be thankful for and so much to live for in this beautiful country!

Anderson Kalang

Born in Miri, Sarawak

Ethnicity: Kelabit

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

Name Changing Ceremony. It is a Feast to celebrate the first born of a family when the parents will be given a "community name" based on their status & contribution to the community by Kelabit elders. It is considered to be the most high profile gatherings & appreciation to the parents of this child. If the child is a Boy, his parents will be addressed "Tamahabuq /Sinahabuq" or "Tamahmuq / Sinahmuq" if the child is a girl at the beginning of their Kelabit name.

The women has long ears & only women has tattoos, to show beauty & how much pain they can go through with their husband.

Guests are always welcomed with food everytime they visit. Guests are invited to eat from the first house all the way to the end house at every meal in a longhouse. The whole longhouse would serve & be hospitable to any visitors.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

Being a spokesperson & performer, I speak & share about our food, music, dance & stories on all mainstream platforms whenever invited. I collaborate with all movements that promotes a Society of Inclusiveness, Unity & Selflessness.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being Malaysian, I'm reminded of a society that appreciates & always in need of one other in good or even in bad times. Malaysia reminds me of Selfless acts towards one another, Togetherness in achieving all goals & the Strength one has by living in a United society.
I hope to continue to see this WAY OF LIFE in our society for generations to come.

Jagjeet Singh Toor

Born in Selangor

Ethnicity: Punjabi

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

The ample amount of various food.

Still practicing the age-old customs and traditions while passing them down to future generations.

Celebrating religious and seasonal festivals.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

I think food is a good introduction into bridging the gap between getting to know one another and bonding over delicious food. Once you start sharing food, you’re also sharing a part of your culture, and that’s a good note to start on.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being a Malaysian means being united despite coming from different cultural backgrounds. To be aware of one another’s traditions and culture while at the same time bonding over the vast amount of food from different heritage. Being a Malaysian is just like getting a bag of kuih, but it’s filled with variations rather than resemblance.

Kell Burhanudin

Born in Kuala Lumpur

Ethnicity: Malay with a side dash of Indian spice, a sprinkle of Arab flare with a Siam spirit lol.

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

Makan dulu, sembang kemudian wherever you go. “Dah makan” is basically our How Are You.

Always giving back to our elders. The Asian culture generally puts elders first and it humbles you. No matter how far you go in life, you come home to the hands that grinded the cili paste you crave in your plain end-of-month nasi kicap.

Nasi + kicap + telur. Period.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

By being myself. I grew up observing and absorbing my culture, without realizing I embody certain traits. Yes, we’ve become modern and progressive where cultural lines are more blurred. But essentially, there are parts of us that are binded to our roots and we shouldn't shy away from embracing that. Wear your sarong for that meeting, eat that budu for your lunch break, excuse yourself at dinner early because your Dad has started calling. No chairs in line? Asian squat it lah. You do you.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being Malaysian is being both confused and certain. Of your culture, heritage, history, language, politics ha-ha. We’re a magical blend of everything. So much more to explore, to learn, to love. We’re collectively still learning what it is to be Malaysian.

Joselyn Chong

Born in Kuantan, Pahang (not to confuse with Kelantan ya)

Ethnicity: Growing up in a Cantonese and Hakka family with some hints of Indonesian, Vietnamese, etc of which can't be traced anymore.

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

With the mix-mix-ethnicities in my blood and growing up with tanned skin unlike Chinese, my family is open to learn about all cultures and their food. Bonus is, my mom is a good cook and she could cook nasi lemak, capatti, roti canai, pizza, hotdog, asam laksa, sushi, kimchi. You name it, and she would perform the magics from her kitchen.
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Besides the food, we growing up watching movies and drama shows of various languages: Malay language, Tamil, Hindu, Japanese, Cantonese, etc, which were available from local cable.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

Be humble and keep learning, be kind and help one another regardless of our differences; perhaps these are what my family would want us to share.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being a Malaysian means, we growing up and living with wide variety of food, cultures, languages; we learn about one another, we learn to accept and embrace our diversities. Treat one another with understanding and kindness.

Philip Golingai

Born in Los Banos, Philippines (that's why my name is Philip)

Ethnicity: I'm Kadazan with a sprinkling of Chinese

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

Hinava which is Kadazan sashimi.

Kerbau (buffalo) for dowry.

Dunsai - gongs beaten during funeral to a sombre rhythm to announce to the spirit world the death and the pending arrival of a new member, and to the living world that death has occurred.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

In my writings for my column in The Star I introduce the Borneo part (many times an unknown territory for those in Peninsular Malaysia) of Malaysia.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

We're a paradox. Our strength is in our diversity and our weakness is in our diversity. We need to embrace our diversity.

Assoc Prof Dr Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin (Rahim Munna je)

Born in Ipoh, Perak (Ipoh Mali)

Ethnicity: Mom is Chinese and Dad was an Indian. So basically I am Chindian Muslim (unique species in Malaysia. Hehe)

Share with us 3 most unique things in your culture/heritage.

I celebrate Hari Raya but at the same time enjoy other celebrations like Deepavali and CNY.

We have muruku and tosai during Hari Raya.

Speak Tamil at home, follow Indian culture.

In what ways do you try and share your culture/heritage with others?

Of course by sharing via social media. Promote your own culture and at the same time, embrace other cultures. I always try to be the middle person between Indians and Malays to promote and deliver messages related to cultures.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

Being Malaysian - is the best thing ever. The diverse cultures and traditions make us as unique people in the world. For me, being Malaysian is all about moderation and tolerance. Tolerate others and respect other cultures and religions. And another best thing is you can celebrate all types of festivals!

The Rojak Projek