Anak Gen-X

On this day (31 July) in 1963, something quite unusual (and idealistic) happened in Southeast Asia — three nations, with shared cultural roots and post-colonial aspirations, tried to form a regional brotherhood. It was called Maphilindo . The name itself (in case you didn't catch it) was a mash-up of Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The idea was to create a non-political, non-military confederation among the three countries. Leaders at the time — Tunku Abdul Rahman, President Diosdado Macapagal, and President Sukarno — met in Manila and signed off on what was essentially a gentlemen’s agreement. The goal? Regional unity, cultural kinship, and a diplomatic show of independence from Western powers (read: the British). But the timing couldn’t have been worse. Just weeks later, on 16 September 1963, the Federation of Malaysia was officially formed, merging Malaya with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. The Philippines was miffed about Sabah, which it claimed as part of its territory...

Buat yang membesar pada era 80-an, ruang tamu dalam gambar ni pasti rasa macam deja vu . Inilah ruang utama rumah – tempat tengok drama 'Opah', tempat ayah kita lelap sekejap lepas kerja, dan juga dewan rasmi sambutan Hari Raya (dengan kuih semperit dan air F&N oren atas meja). Sofa kayu dengan kusyen petak-petak tu memang wajib ada. Kadang-kadang bila spring dah rosak, kita akan duduk senget sebelah. Kipas meja National di hujung sudut tu pula – bunyi dia lebih kuat dari angin yang keluar, tapi setia menemani kita waktu panas. Set hi-fi yang jadi kebanggaan tu pula pasti berdentum dengan lagu-lagu Elvis atau Black Dog Bone.  Langsir bunga, alas meja dikait sendiri, dan gambar Kaabah di dinding — semua ni bukan sekadar hiasan. Ia adalah identiti rumah Melayu satu ketika dulu. Simple, tapi penuh jiwa! Gambar: Heritage SG Memories --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Buda...

So during Karnival Jom Heboh in JB back in 2008, I was introduced to several of Tunku Tiara’s family members -- an extremely warm and welcoming bunch. Tiara was one of the artists involved in an online drama series I had produced at the time, and her family had come by the GUA booth to show their support. Before long, I was invited to their own gerai, located at one of the Rumah Limas on the other side of Danga Bay. The booth was part of "Promosi Makanan Melayu Johor & Santapan Kerabat Johor" , organised by Persatuan Zuriat Ungku Mohd Khalid, JB. What immediately piqued my curiosity was the appearance of belangkas (horseshoe crab) on the menu. “You should try it. I don’t eat it myself, but you should try it,” said one of Tiara’s aunts, YM Tunku Jacky. Now, this wasn’t my first time encountering belangkas -- I’d had it before. But this was the first time I properly documented the experience, complete with photos and, of course, commentary. When break time rolled around, t...

  Before Christopher Reeve soared across the big screen, my Superman journey started on the small one — watching the black-and-white TV series from the '50s and '60s. George Reeves in those grainy episodes was my first Man of Steel. Then came the Saturday morning cartoons, which added colour, capes, and plenty of “Up, up and away!” to my weekends. So when the new Superman by James Gunn landed, it felt like another chapter in a lifelong fandom — one that’s evolved through decades of tights, types, and tones. And this latest version? It genuinely surprised me. Bold, fresh, and yes, kind of punk rock. I bought into the new Superman from the start. Everything felt seamless and grounded (well, as grounded as a flying alien with superpowers can be). My only gripe? I wish we got more of Clark Kent just being... Clark . You know — awkward, dorky, navigating the office coffee machine. Anyway, here’s how I rank my personal Top 5 Superman films: 5. Superman III (1983) Look, I know thi...

  On 27 July 2009 , the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building was officially opened with much fanfare—complete with fireworks, river floats, and a celebration that cost over a million ringgit. With a total construction cost of RM296.5 million , the building immediately became one of the most iconic landmarks in Kuching. Perched majestically on Petra Jaya’s riverbank, it was designed not just to house the workings of state government but also to represent Sarawak’s unique cultural and political identity. What truly sets the building apart is its distinctive design. The golden "payung negara" (royal umbrella) roof draws inspiration from traditional Sarawakian architecture, particularly the Bidayuh baruk and longhouse motifs. Its nine-pointed star layout symbolises the state’s nine administrative divisions. Designed by Hijjas Kasturi Associates in collaboration with Aki Media, the building strikes a balance between cultural heritage and modern functionality, incorporating...

Brunei looks absolutely beautiful in this clip taken from the 1968 film, 'Gema Dari Menara'. My one and only visit to Brunei Darussalam was way back in 2012, when I joined the Brunei Half Marathon (the 10k run) alongside the ntv7 contingent. We put up at the Radisson, which, I was told, was one of the better hotels in Bandar Seri Begawan — and also the official hotel for the event. Of course, no trip is complete without a food adventure. We were tipped off about a good food court just around the corner from the hotel, so we braved the blazing sun, walked over, and picked a stall to try some local dishes. I was feeling adventurous… until I ordered Roti John. Classic me. 😅 For dinner, we decided to go all in and try ambuyat, the famed Bruneian delicacy. The lauk pauk that came with it were actually pretty good.  And then came the star of the show — ambuyat itself. For the uninitiated, ambuyat is made from the sago palm trunk, with a consistency similar to tapioca starch. Taste-w...

Peminat gusti mana yang tak minat Hulk Hogan ? Dengan bicep extra besar, misai ‘handlebar’, dan bandana merah ikonik, beliau bukan sekadar bintang, tapi simbol zaman kegemilangan gusti dunia. Sejak merampas gelaran dunia WWF daripada Iron Sheik pada 1984, Hogan menjadi ikon budaya pop -- dialah superhero dunia nyata bagi ramai budak lelaki zaman tu, mencetuskan apa yang dipanggil 'Hulkamania'.  Sebagai peminat tegar, aku dah tonton ratusan perlawanan Hulk Hogan, dari era VHS, VCD, DVD, TV percuma, TV berbayar, sehinggalah streaming zaman sekarang. Tapi, yang paling aku ingat -- bukanlah ketika dia menang, tapi waktu dia kalah. Dan bukan di mana-mana tempat eksklusif pun -- tapi di sebuah gerai tomyam berhampiran pasar basah Subang pada tahun 1990. Gerai tu jadi ‘port’ utama aku dan geng untuk mengikuti video gusti terkini. Bayangkan: hanya perlu pesan nasi goreng Cina dan air sirap, dan aku boleh lepak sampai lebih tiga jam dengan muka selamba. Di situlah aku tonton perlawanan ...

Let me take you back to January 2008 — a time when mobile video content was a revolution, and we truly believed 3G was going to change our lives (spoiler: it sort of did… for a bit). That’s when we proudly launched GUA Mobile, bringing the bold idea of watching video on your phone to life. No apps. No Wi-Fi. No buffering bars that knew what they were doing. Just dial *32223 on your Maxis line, make a video call (yes, an actual video call), and choose what you wanted to watch -- from 'Doing It Right' to 'Kerana Karina'. Each call? Just 30 sen a minute. A bargain! 😅 It wasn’t perfect -- but it was ahead of its time. And like most Gen-X tech dreams, it deserves a raucous standing ovation, no?  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

As it is Sarawak Day today, allow me to share this story again.  Back in the mid-90s, I was posted as a magistrate in Miri, Sarawak. It was my very first judicial posting (after a short "training" stint in Kuching), and like many things in life, it came with a mix of nerves, pride, drama... and the occasional unexpected comedy. Yes, there were the days when the courtroom felt more like a sitcom than a solemn hall of justice. The real challenge? Keeping my cool and not cracking up in front of everyone. Case in point: a cockfighting case. Uhuh, an actual sabung ayam trial — and as part of the exhibits, a few of the roosters were brought into the courtroom. At first, they were quiet, just chilling in a corner like feathered thugs. Then, one of them let out a soft kokokok. No big deal. But then another joined in. And another. And before long, the entire courtroom echoed with loud, relentless crowing. You could see everyone trying not to laugh. The gallery was grinning. The lawyer...

Back in 2010, I got an email that made me do a double take. Subject line: “Meeting with Edward James Olmos.” I legit thought someone was messing with me -- like, why is an April Fool’s joke landing in March? See, for those of us who grew up in the '80s, Lieutenant Castillo from 'Miami Vice' wasn’t just a character -- he was the definition of cool. Stoic, sharp, that voice. Never in a million years did I imagine I’d one day be doing a presentation to the man himself. But that’s exactly what went down. Mr. Olmos and his son were in KL exploring opportunities for collaboration in animation and new media. I was part of the team showing them what tonton.com.my was all about -- and watching their reaction? Pure magic. Eyes lit up. Minds buzzing. And here's the best part -- Edward James Olmos? Total gentleman. Warm, focused, zero Hollywood ego. Just real. Still one of the most surreal (and coolest) moments of my career. PS: Sorry about the blurry blackberry-snapped pics! -----...

  Zaman 80-an dulu, sebelum Lebuhraya PLUS siap sepenuhnya, kalau nak ke JB, Muar, atau Batu  Pahat dari KL — Ayer Hitam lah tempat berhenti. Pekan kecil ni hidup dengan kedai pasu, seramik, cenderamata, buah-buahan dan macam-macam jenis kerepek! Kredit video: Michael Rogge 

Pagi ini kami berpeluang melawat Galeri Diraja Sultan Abdul Aziz di Klang. 🏛️ Bangunan kolonial yang indah ini menyimpan sejarah panjang Kesultanan Selangor — dari artifak peribadi Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah hinggalah ke koleksi gambar-gambar lama, pakaian rasmi dan alat kebesaran diraja. Sangat sesuai untuk pencinta sejarah, seni bina klasik dan sesiapa yang ingin mengenali lebih dekat warisan negeri Selangor. Wajib singgah kalau anda ke Klang! 👑 Masuk adalah percuma, tapi fotografi tidak dibenarkan dalam galeri.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

  Ya, sehingga 2011, 'Malaysia Hari Ini' (MHI) di TV3 bermula jam 6.30pg hingga 9.00pg. Jadi bila hari dijadualkan bersiaran, lainlah rutinnya. Bangun seawal 4.45pg dan keluar sekitar jam 5.20pg. Dalam kereta, biasanya akan rehearse sikit talking points yang nak disampaikan nanti berdasarkan running order (RO) untuk hari itu.  RO biasanya penerbit akan siapkan sehari sebelum, jadi malam tu dah kena siap buat homework untuk topik, soalan temubual tetamu, point untuk banter dengan co-host etc. Dan sebab bersiaran awal, kena siap2 ada wudhu sebelum sampai Sri Pentas. Kalau sampai (dlm 5.50pg) dah masuk waktu, solat dulu dalam changing room. Kemudian tukar pakaian & touchup. Untuk lelaki tak lama sangat, rambut pun tak perlu set 😀. Co-host ladies memang biasanya sampai jauh lebih awal. Siap semua pakai microphone & earpiece, kita masuk ke studio. Producer akan brief kalau ada any changes atau new items untuk disampaikan.  Then, a few seconds before 6.30am, producer a...