VERNON Adrian Emuang has been a steady supporter of and practitioner in the Malaysian arts scene since the mid-1980s, notably in television and theatre. Together with former Malaysian Olympic swimmer Jeffrey Ong, Emuang hosted the weekly IT program Cyberwave on TV3 in the late 1990s. Emuang has since balanced careers as a marketing communications consultant, […]
Found in Malaysia
Struggling with identity
By Zedeck SiewRONNIE Khoo, 31-year-old composer and Furniture frontperson, once had his photograph taken with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In the photo, a prepubescent Khoo, smiling broadly, has his hands in his pockets and looks directly at the camera. The former prime minister, also smiling, clutches the young boy’s shoulders paternally. “This picture was taken in Club […]
Seeing no colour
By Jacqueline Ann SurinROZZ, or Feroz Ridzman, is very clear about who he is. The resident singer at Bagan Bar and Restaurant in Penang says even though he grew up in Australia and studied and worked in the US, he came back. Rozz, who is in his thirties, has not only performed in Broadway musicals; he was also […]
We sometimes forget the basics
By Shanon ShahDATUK Shahrir Abdul Samad is a political enigma. On one hand, he was stinging in his criticisms of the Pakatan Rakyat, implicitly justifying the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s takeover of Perak. On the other hand, he has displayed maverick tendencies within Umno. He opposed the 2008 Internal Security Act (ISA) arrests of journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, […]
Remember, we are one
By Jacqueline Ann SurinANWAR Fazal is no stranger to civil society. The multiple award-winning consumer, health, environment, human rights and social activist is recognised both nationally and internationally. Anwar, who turns 68 in 2009, is the founder and one of the movers of numerous citizen movements including the Consumers Association of Penang, International Baby Food Action Network, Health […]
Tiara’s Malaysian dream
By N Shashi KalaPRODUCER and actress Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina Abdullah is best known for Puteri Gunung Ledang, both the movie and stage musical which she produced and starred in. PGL is being restaged from 6 to 21 Feb at Istana Budaya by Tiara’s company, Enfiniti Productions. It will be Tiara’s swan song — she is reprising her […]
Aku hanya pendatang
By N Shashi KalaFRANCISSCA PETER has been a mainstay in the local music scene for more than a quarter of a century, having released more than 20 albums, including compilations. Initially part of the twosome, Roy & Fran, the Ipoh gal went solo in 1984 with Komputer Muzik. But it was 1986’s Sekadar Di Pinggiran, with its Juara […]
I do not have an identity crisis
By Elizabeth LooiAUTHOR, activist, educationist and ex-politician: Dr Kua Kia Soong firmly believes in fighting for social justice. Despite being arrested twice — under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during Operation Lalang in 1987, and the second time for participating in the Second Asia-Pacific Conference on East Timor in 1996 — Kua’s passion for justice has not […]
You Melayu? Betul?
By Shanon ShahIN this new section called Found in Malaysia, The Nut Graph talks to notable Malaysians about their roots in our shared land. By asking notable personalities to tell stories about being Malaysian, we hope to answer these questions: Who is a pendatang? Who is a native? What makes a Malaysian? Why do we call Malaysia […]