Translator: Mervin Lee Reviewer: Ivana Korom
Thank you, everyone! How is everybody?
Audience: Good.
I'm happy to be here at TED Connecting Dots.
I am Ser Shaw Hong.
I'd like to talk to you about our culture.
Our culture,
in Malaysia's 56 years of independence.
Our culture, that we created. Not cultural industrialization.
If you're living abroad or in Malaysia.
You know, we come from a diverse, multi-ethnic society.
Why?
If people asked you, "You're Malaysian.
What's so special about being Malaysian?"
I come from a diverse, multi-ethnic and multicultural society.
What is this, "multicultural?"
Why do we have this sense of identity?
Why do we acknowledge that we are "multicultural?"
Now, let's look at it in a deeper level.
Today, on my way here, I took a bus, from Subang.
It stopped at Kota Raya, and I walked here.
In the bus, I saw two Malaysians.
One of them, an auntie. I asked her:
"Auntie, where to?" [Cantonese]
Auntie: "Kota Raya." [Malay]
It looks like it's just two of us Malaysian. [Cantonese]
(Laughter) (Applause)
I can hear four different languages
being spoken. (Laughter)
I see four different ethnic races. (Laughter)
As I look out of the window,
I see a Moslem Mosque, a Church.
A Buddhist Temple. Wow!
This is Malaysia! I see Malay culture,
Chinese culture, and other cultures.
It's very diverse!
Our country, you can say.
Before we were an independent nation,
what culture did we experience?
We were exposed to foreign culture.
In Malacca, you still hear Portuguese being spoken.
That's 16th-century Portuguese culture.
You see the Red Building,
the Dutch culture of the 17th Century.
We were colonized by the British
in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
The Colonial days.
So, I see you, I say: "Hello."
(Laughter)
Right?
Later, the Japanese occupied our country.
And much later, we gained our independence.
Let's say: let's look at modern popular culture.
Our popular culture was
heavily influenced by China,
Hong Kong and Taiwan.
You just sing: "Long Pan."
A Malay man sing back to you: "Long Lau."
(Laughter) (Applause)
Right? And, if you go to the cinema,
you and your friend,
you will see a big Bollywood movie: Kuch Kuch Hota Hei.
(Laughter)
You see the latest Chinese block busters,
Hong Kong and Japanese movies too,
and some Thai films screening.
You go: "Wow, Malaysia, so fantastic!
We accept and embrace many cultures." Right? (Laughter)
You can see language integration.
"Auntie, where are you going?"
"Kota Raya." [Malay]
(Laughter)
She replied in Malay. What did I call her?
I called her "Auntie." [English] (Laughter)
So, from our language to our diet.
When it comes to food, for breakfast,
what do we eat? We eat Roti and drink "Teh Tarik."
So Malay.
For lunch, your friend suggest
Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Yeah. We can have that.
Dinner? Let's have "'Baba Nyonya cuisine." [Malay]
One day, we experienced three different types of cultural food.
The fact is, 56 years ago.
You don't need to look outside of Malaysia to experience this.
This is really amazing!
Our lifestyle and Art scene
are so diverse.
Is cultural diversity good?
I think it's good.
A lot of people will say:
"Why aren't we like the Japanese?"
Why do we want to be like Japanese?
Why aren't we like the Koreans? Why do we need to be like Koreans?
We are who we are, we are as diverse as our culture
We are us.
Because of this, there are challenges as well.
Our cultural identity is challenged.
When I was a university student,
in Australia --
what's interesting about that moment?
The year was 2001, 911 incident happened two days ago.
I had a university mate, James who invited me over to his home.
When I arrived at the door, I saw his mother; I greeted her:
"Hi, I'm Hong, I'm from Malaysia."
She asked, "Are you Muslim?". "No!" (Laughter)
Did you know? I was annoyed by this.
Up to a point, I don't bother to explain anymore.
Later, I found out, It was not me alone, feeling this.
I have a Malay friend.
He said: "I'm from Malaysia."
And someone would ask him,
"So, what is the difference, compared to Indonesian?
Or Brunei citizen?"
Another example: My Grandfather's generation.
When he watched Zhao Jin Hua, vying for the Thomas Cup,
he would go: "Yeeeeeaaahhhhh" (Laughter)
We won't cheer like this!
When it's Lee Chung Wei against Lin Dan,
We will all go: "Lim Chung Wei..." (Chanting)
There was a sense of identity amongst us.
When I visit cities of the world, people ask me: "Where are you from?"
I say: "I am Malaysian."
I won't say I am Chinese Malaysian.
If they asked me further:
"Where are your ancestors from?"
I say: "They were from China, but I am Malaysian."
I'm Malaysian, that's my answer.
It's important. Why?
We must have a sense of national identity.
That is why we are Malaysians.
We are One Malaysia, it has always been.
Am I right? (Laughter) (Applause)
Due to our cultural background, it gave us challenges.
First, it is our identity. What's next?
Diversity of language.
You can be from abroad or local, if you ask me,
"Hong, who is Malaysia's famous entertainer?
Liang Jing Ru! Isn't it so?"
Yes. it can be.
Michelle Yang, she is more internationally acclaimed.
(Laughter)
Hey! I'm Malaysian, I can also represent Malaysia.
I will ask my Malay students.
Who's most popular Malaysian artiste?
Siti Nurhaliza, she won many awards! Malaysia record!
I asked my Indian friends:
"Who's our Malaysian Superstar?"
Jaclyn Victor. No question! (Laughter)
Who is she?
Then, who is our most respected artiste?
If you travel to Spain, you see Picasso's works.
He represents Spain.
If you go Holland, Go see Van Gogh's arts.
When you're in Malaysia, who do you see?
I will answer P. Ramlee (Laughter)
Yes. Did you know?
All the answers are correct.
It's a multicultural phenomenon and, at the same time,
it can be individualistic, unique.
So, if it took 56 years for a flower to grow,
each of its petals will be colourful. Isn't it a beautiful flower?
(Applause)
They can be red petals, yellow petals.
They can be colourful petals, like the rainbow.
In our diverse cultural background,
you can see our identity and challenges,
yes!
Here's our answer:
What do you think of our Malaysian culture?
Rojak.
I disagree!
Why?
I love "Air Batu Campur." A.B.C! [Dessert]
(Laughter)
Yes, I agree.
Generally, we believe our culture is like Rojak.
What is Rojak? Rojak is a mixture.
Have you prepared Rojak? I can make Rojak every day.
What ingredients do you use for Rojak?
You can put anything into it. What's the right ingredient?
Is there a correct way to prepare it?
No! (Laughter)
Is there anything you can't mix it with?
If I prepare rojak, my sister says: "No mangoes."
Her son will tell me: "Uncle, I don't want this." I won't put it in.
I put what I like into it and mix it.
Then, I'll eat it like that.
When eating Rojak, what's the most important item?
Rojak dressing.
This Rojak dressing.
If we put Malaysians, each and everyone of us
is an ingredient for Rojak.
Today, our meaning of Rojak's dressing is akin to this sense of identity.
Now, I am the product of this cultural evolution.
When I was at school kid, I returned home after school
and mom would ask me: "What did you learn?"
"Ah Chong, Ali and Muthu, they are best friends."
(Laughter) (Applause)
Ah Chong, Ali and Muthu grew up with us, from young to adults.
Second grade text books were written like this.
Third grade text books,
fourth grade text books, as well.
Then, on 6th grade and UPSR exam,
you stop seeing their names!
(Laughter) (Applause)
Our country's sense of identity
can be compared to the Rojak's dressing,
you can experience it from your friends
I have really good Malay friends,
They don't understand my culture.
For my birthday, one of them gave me a clock.
(Laughter)
No worries, no worries.
I don't mind.
I still keep this clock, till now.
I just didn't use it (Laughter)
Rojak's main ingredients
can be a variety of ingredients.
You can put anything to create the mix.
When you take the first bite, you can taste the cut pineapple.
It's not just the pineapple, you can also taste the dressing, coating it.
Now when we go abroad, you'll see Chinese, Japanese.
Foreigners will also notice us as well.
We also realize and agree.
When we start to speak,
they will say: "You're so Malaysian!" (Laughter)
"Can you wait for a moment?" (Laughter)
Why not: 'Wait for two moments?"
(Laughter) (Applause)
So, we say we are like Rojak.
If we are all considered as Rojak.
The Americans, they will say they are "salad."
We use our Rojak dressing, they will use mayonnaise.
If Rojak is an anology, we explore further on
Malaysia's multicultural diversity; its ability to adapt, blend and mix.
I believe this defines our culture
in Malaysia.
24 hours.
You go out, every neighbourhood has one.
It's called Mamak Stall.
Right?
It doesn't matter if you are an upper-class person.
Or you're just like us here,
this middle-class and happy community.
We all have patronized this establishment, the Mamak stall.
Can Mamak stall represent our Malaysian culture?
I think the Mamak Stall can.
Allow me to elaborate further:
It's Friday night, you see many people go to Mamak Stall.
Ah Niu has sung a song about this place, right?
Welcome to my Mamak Stall. (Song title)
At Mamak stall, you take a seat.
The people around you speak different languages.
Some you can understand, and some you can't.
No worries, the person next to you -- different race and colour --
is eating Cantonese fried noodles! (Laughter)
For me, I am having "Roti Telur."
My friend is eating another type of food.
We discussed many kinds of topics, and you witness: harmony.
It is truly a beautiful sight.
This sight would have shocked foreigners.
If you have foreign friends coming here to Malaysia,
what food would you recommend them to try?
My Chinese friend would recommend,
"Klang's Bak Kut Teh! You must try this!" (Laughter)
If you ask a Malay friend and he introduces you
to Bak Kut Teh, there's something wrong with him!
(Laughter)
He will introduce you to "Nasi Lemak".
If I ask an Indian friend, he may suggest an Indian dish.
Perhaps Tandoori Chicken, I don't know.
I will recommend "Bak Kut Teh." (Laughter)
I'll always introduce this dish to my foreign friends.
(Laughter)
I have lectured in Thailand for 8 years.
I'll recommend anyone visiting Malaysia to try "Bak Kut Teh."
This leads to a problem as I think back.
Our Government came with a good response: "Chic Kut Teh."
(Laughter)
That doesn't sound right
When we're at the Mamak stall,
we realize no matter what language is spoken,
or the level of education,
if you are there to experience something culturally.
When you are at that place, you will feel it.
this miracle, happening.
You don't need to go to Rome to see the Coliseum and the gladiators.
You don't need to say: "The Great wall of China is beautiful!"
These monuments have a long history. We're only 56 years old.
They are over 5,000 years. How do we compare?
(Laughter)
Cultures cannot be compared.
Every culture is unique. It is for us to experience.
And the most interesting experience you encounter at Mamak Stall?
It is this glass of "Teh Tarik."
Teh Tarik ("Pulled Tea") symbolises our culture's unique quality.
Tea drinking is a Chinese culture.
Do Indians drink tea?
Yes. Malays drink tea too. Arabs also love tea.
As far as I know, every ethnic race and culture
has a tea drinking culture.
In Malaysia, in fact the whole world,
Hong Kong has it's famous Milk Tea, amazing stuff!
They have "Panty Hose" Tea, why? I don't know!
(Laughter)
In this world, there is only one place.
That tea is served after it was "pulled." Why?
I've thought long about this.
One: our weather is hot.
You pull the tea, the heat dissipates, cooling the tea.
Two: there are too many conflicting views.
Each time we have a new policy to be tabulated,
we'll say: "No!"
"Why is it so?"
How about this? What can we do then?
Let's take this cup, pour our views, pour them into the other cup.
Let's think about our views and review them, right?
You put your reviews into my cup. We sit on it and digest it.
Later, one more pull, and leave it to rest.
This is the best taste.
(Applause)
That is why I say this:
The true element of our culture
does not need a grand narrative.
It does not need beautiful historical monuments.
You dont have to go, "Wow! That's impressive!".
We just do it daily
I just do this cultural miracle twice a day.
Every morning, one glass and, in the evening, another glass.
(Laughter)
I do this miracle every day.
My friends do this every day too.
We just didn't see it's cultural influence affecting us.
Today,
when I see someone pull their tea for a moment,
don't you think it's a perfect drink for our hot climate here?
Too hot! How to drink it? Pour and pull it.
We all have our own views and opinions,
national sentiments and ethnic superiority.
we can't let go of our views.
How do we resolve it?
Come, let's pull a bit, no worries!
This not only applies to a country's cultural identity,
or cultural industry,
every family, colleagues and friends connection.
I believe our Teh Tarik is very important.
We must consider it's cultural depth and meaning.
I'm so happy to be here at TED Connecting Dots
to see each and everyone of you.
Let's pour Teh Tarik into our cups, "pull" it for a while,
and savour it, connecting us.
Share this drink with everyone in the world.
May all of you be healthy.
(Applause)