A Malaysian Christmas Spread: Green Apple Chutney

By: Erna Dyanty

Every year in December, the streets will be covered with shades of red, green and white. Everything seems warmer even when you’re in the cold. Kids come up with a wish list, dad’s figuring out the wiring for the lights and mom is listing out her shopping list for the kitchen. Christmas is that time of the year where everyone comes together under the tree for presents and at the dining table for a major end of the year feast.

While some of you may sit at home, dreaming of a white Christmas and a huge Turkey, we Malaysians wait for a sunny holiday and a feast with a spread of local goodness. Christmas in Malaysia, like any other festive season is celebrated by everyone! Whether you’re a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Atheist, we come together and just celebrate the year with thanks, a feast and of course the presents.

Malaysian Activists Walk 300 KM to Demand Environmental Justice

A group of Malaysian activists has embarked on a 300 km walk from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur to demand for an end to various environment grievances afflicting their communities. The walk, which began on 13th of November, will take them across 14 towns over 14 days and will culminate in a handling over of memorandum at Dataran Merdeka, or Independence Square, on the 26th of November.

The starting point of Kuantan is of particular significance because it is where the recent surge in environmental activism began. The community there is fighting the largest rare earth plant in the world owned by Lynas from commencing operation. They are joined by activists opposing the Murum and Baram dams in Sarawak, Raub activists opposing the use of cyanide in gold mining, Pengerang activists opposing the RAPID petrochemical complex as well as Teluk Rubiah activists opposing the Vale iron ore distribution hub.

In the Mix: Meet Malay/Pakistani Muhammad

By: Emma Kwee

In this series we talk to people with a mixed background. Have these colorful roots entangled them? Confused them? In what way has their heritage formed their identity, how they look at the world and the world looks at them?

Are you mixed Asian and do you want to share your story? Then just e-mail info@latitudes.nu!

This time around, we meet Muhammad, a Malaysian with Pakistani roots and a deep love for Teh Tarik.

Village of a thousand homes, Kampung Cempaka near Kuala Lumpur

By: Diana van Oort

It’s not easy for my taxi driver to find Kampung Cempaka, even with my map and the directions of numerous people. Driving through spaghetti type highways and many newly build neighborhoods, there is no sign of any planning in the area. After we follow another taxi driver, we finally arrive.

Kampung Cempaka is a Chinese shanty town close to upscale Petaling Jaya in Kuala Lumpur. It’s surrounded by modern development. The original settlers were relocated here soon after the 13 May 1969 race riots. They lost loved ones and were given land to resettle. It was the new home for exactly 1000 families.  The early settlers were mostly from the Sai Vooi clan and formed an association. The roads are narrow and houses are built haphazardly. The town houses many little factories, where the business practices of some are cause for concern regarding safety and the environment. Kampung Cempaka still feels like a small town where people know each other. It has kept it roots and identity, amidst a city with impersonal, huge apartment buildings where most people don’t know their neighbors. It makes the city feel impersonal, distant and cool. Here there is a sense of community with just a single karaoke club and a well visited temple.

Roti Jala (Net-Like Pancakes) Recipe

By: Erna Dyanty

Roti Jala is a favourite snack, especially in Ramadhan. Almost every kuih stall would sell this think pancakes served with chicken curry. Sold in the markets for about RM3.50 for a pack of 5. To achieve the net like effect, you can either use your fingers and in a clock wise motion - you drip the batter onto a hot pan. You can also use a laddle with holes. Roti Jala is a favourite snack, especially in Ramadhan. Almost every kuih stall would sell this think pancakes served with chicken curry. Sold in the markets for about RM3.50 for a pack of 5.To achieve the net like effect, you can either use your fingers and in a clock wise motion - you drip the batter onto a hot pan. You can also use a laddle with holes.

Bernice Chauly: ‘Growing up with Ghosts’

By: Melissa Lin

Bernice Chauly is a writer, photographer, poet, lecturer and film-maker. Having been active in the Kuala Lumpur arts scene for almost two decades, Chauly has contributed in a myriad of ways to the evolution and richness of the local arts and literary scene.

Her memoir ‘Growing up with Ghosts’ is a quintessential Malaysian story that seamlessly weaves the diverse threads of ancestry, history, politics and personal narrative. Released just last year, it has now gone into its third reprint.

Chauly has recently completed a two month long residency program by the Nederlands Letterenfonds in Amsterdam and is currently working on a new novel and a new collection of poems.

Get rich quickly in Malaysia with a Toyol!

By: Diana van Oort

During lunch at work we share stories about our cultures. Ghost stories were the most recent topic. Many ghost stories revolve around the Japanese occupation of Malaysia during WWII and the many, many atrocities the Japanese committed. Some places are ‘off limits’ because the ghost of the victims are still wandering around and could cause harm.

Another Malay story revolves around the so called Toyol (or Tuyul), my colleague Abu enthusiastically explained. It’s a greenish looking toddler with big reddish eyes, a big, bald head, pointy ears and sharp teeth that is kept and raised by its owner to steal money and valuables. If jewellery and money suddenly go missing from your home, a Toyol can be at work.

Sardines in Tomato Sauce: a Cook’s Survival Kit

By: Erna Dyanty

When I first started to cook, one of the recipes my father taught me was how to cook a can of sardines. He says it’s a cooks’ survival kit. If you want to know if a person can cook, you try their sardines cooked in tomato sauce. This fish in a can is great to eat with rice or even taken straight out of the can with a squeeze of lime dunked with bread.

Here's a simple yet very delicious recipe to whip that can of sardine into a family favourite - guaranteed to stay on your menu. Great served with steamy rice or simply dipped with bread and done in 15 minutes!

Rahmat Haron: Malaysian Artist, Professional Drifter, Super Poseur, Fake Quasi Wanderer & Wannabe of Too Many Things

By: Melissa Lin

There are currents of powerful reflection, thought and emotion in the work of Malaysian artist Rahmat Haron. Whether it is through the medium of his poetry, drawings, paintings or performances, his works convey a reflection of his life and experiences - in Malaysia - where he considers the social and the political realities, the limitations inherent to a ‘strong state and societal values’, the need for change, and his own need for self expression.

More than that, his works are thought provoking, inspiring and encouraging to those who are finding or paving their own new and original ways of being and expression, and disturbing to some who would prefer to cling to the status quo.

Malaysian Contemporary Composers: New Voices

By: Patrick Durkan

Contemporary ‘art’ music based on the classical tradition has seen a resurgence in Malaysia since the turn of the century. Although it existed as a discipline before this, the new wave of composers have breathed fresh life into the contemporary music sphere within the country, enabling new festivals and ensembles to flourish. The origin of this change is important as it marks the first effort by the already established Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (based in Kuala Lumpur) to commission local composers in 2002 (Sunetra Fernando, Tazul Izan Tajuddin and Chong Kee Yong). This led to a Forum for Malaysian composers in 2003 which cemented a unified group of composers and encouraged new composers as well as audiences for new music.