The Pearls of Malaysia

Malaysia celebrated her 63rd Merdeka (Independence Day) this week. One of my friend asked me on social media how I was going to celebrate this event in Melbourne, my response to him was that with all the disappointing political development that is going on there, I wasn't really in the mood to celebrate anything. Then I heard 988 DJ Chan Fong said asking the audience on radio to focus on sharing the good things about Malaysia and I thought what a wonderful idea it was! There are indeed many good things about Malaysia that hold many people back from emigrating to a foreign country. 

 

Everyone I ask about what they miss the most while being away from Malaysia has given me the same consistent answer: food. It doesn’t matter whether you are from Penang, KL or Kuching, food seems to be the popular topic whenever you see a group of Malaysian get together overseas. Malaysian cuisine is so unique that you can’t find it elsewhere. Malaysian food is the father of fusion cuisine. Malaysian Chinese food is so much richer in taste, texture, colour and aroma that we can’t find it anywhere else in China. Chinese has settled here for centuries and we have managed to merge Chinese cuisine with the Indian and local Malay food to come up with a hybrid version. Curry noodle is one such example of fusion between Chinese and Indian cuisine.

In Penang, there are massive choices of cheap street food available everywhere you go in the city. Local cuisine is something that all Penangites are proud of simply because it is so unique that you can’t find it anywhere else in the world. With all the variety of international cuisine available in Melbourne where I live now, I still find Penang food is the best. Nothing beats a well stir fried Char Koay Teow! All the food experience that I have been taken for granted in the past has now become luxurious lifestyle while living in Australia. The good authentic ones are hard to find and the they are pricey. And the silky smooth Penang Koay Teow (rice noodle) is still not available anywhere in Australia today.

 

Then we have our colourful festivities throughout the year. Malaysia probably has the most public holidays in the world as we celebrate major festivals of our multi-racial society. We have three major new years to celebrate, Chinese, Malay and the common 1^st of January New Year. Tourists from all over the world come to Malaysia just to witness some of these festivals such as Chinese New Year and Thaipusam etc. These events are usually carried out with massive public parade, staged performances and concerts. The message that these festivals sent across to foreigners is that we cherish our heritage and we are not shy at all to show them off whenever possible.

 

My personal favourite festival has got to be Chinese New Year. It is a fifteen days long celebration and each day come with its own unique significance. Take the Chinese New Year Eve for example, it is one of the most meaningful event that I can think of where all the family members from all over the world will try to make it home just to have ‘reunion’ dinner together. It is a perfect occasion for everyone to see each other and catch up. Our home would inflate in residents number every time during that period of time. We will gather together in the living room to watch the special TV programmes that were on during this period of holiday. In the evening, people would play fireworks bought from the roadside stalls. There were more fireworks back then when the government was not so strict in enforcement. Nights never sleep during those 15 days period.

It is indeed a blessing to be able to live in Penang. Recently, I have seen many people posted on YouTube about the benefits of retiring in Penang. With its rich heritage, culture, food and beautiful beaches, it is not hard to understand why people are migrating to this idyllic island for good. Although small in size, Penang has one of the most diverse natural environment in the region. It is an island surround by sea with its own hill ranges in the middle of this turtle shaped land mass. I used to hike up Penang Hill regularly. It only took me an hour to reach the peak and experience the cooler climate up there. The beach at Tanjung Bungah is just 10 minutes drive away from home and it is one of the best place to enjoy the golden sunset of the tropics. 

Perhaps the beauty of Penang is best summarized by the comment of one foreigner. I once attended a lecture by a British architect at the majestic E&O Hotel. During the break as we were mingled around at the outdoor forecourt of the conference room, I overheard his conversation with one audience. His gaze fixed on the distant Gunung Jerai in Kedah across the sea and commented: “This is heaven!” I immediately took a look at the majestic mountain myself and thought that it was indeed a beautiful sight to behold.