Every writer has that one person they look up to -- the voice that made them go, “Yes. This. This is how I want to write.” For me, that person is Miami Herald humour columnist and author, Dave Barry.
Not Stephen King. Not Murakami. Not some tortured soul in a Parisian café. Nope -- my hero is the guy who once wrote a serious column about exploding toilets and still walked away with a Pulitzer (no, really!).
If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written (especially from those FHM years) and thought, “This sounds unhinged but oddly relatable” -- that’s Barry’s influence shining through. I copy his style shamelessly because nobody does it better when it comes to turning mundane, everyday events into something absurd, hilarious, and weirdly profound.
But growing up and living in Malaysia, tracking down his books has always been a challenge. As far as I know, only Kinokuniya at KLCC reliably stocks his work. The rest? I had to hunt down online, one shipping fee at a time. And let me tell you -- it was worth every sen.
Dave’s genius lies in making the ridiculous feel completely logical. He exaggerates things to the point of insanity, but somehow it all makes sense. He'll start by talking about Valentine's Day and end up in a rant about guys buying Star Wars Lego instead of gifts -- and you’ll be laughing the whole way through.
That’s the kind of writing I try to emulate:
✔️ Wild comparisons that don’t belong in polite society
✔️ Men being clueless and proud of it
✔️ Situations spiralling out of control, usually involving trolleys or bodily harm
✔️ And a constant sense that the world is way too weird to take seriously
If you’ve never read him before, start with these five. Trust me, they’re worth every ringgit (and international shipping fee):
And here are five of my absolute favourites from the Dave Barry universe:
Whether you're Gen X, Gen Z, or Gen “Still Thinks Email is Cool,” you’ll find yourself laughing -- and learning -- from one of the funniest writers to ever pick up a keyboard.
I recently ordered a second-hand book online and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived -- neatly wrapped in plastic, as if someone had taken the time to care for it.
That simple touch immediately reminded me of my late father. He wasn’t highly educated, but he had magic in his hands. For a time, he worked at the state library in Johor Bahru, where he learned the art of book binding and wrapping like no other. Because of that, all my school books -- even though they were buku pinjaman -- were always perfectly covered in plastic. Needless to say, I became the envy of many classmates.
My late father wasn’t alone in his creative streak. There was a period when he and my late mother were both into macramé, and together they created the most wonderful pieces. They were always busy with projects -- knotting, weaving, perfecting. And I remember so clearly: whenever someone came by and admired one of their creations, they would simply smile and gift it away without hesitation.
Here’s a picture I’ve shared before -- you can spot one of their macramé pieces in it.
Sometimes I wonder what kind of projects my parents would be working on for my own home if they were still around today. I’m sure they’d still be creating -- with love, as always. 😔
This Inti Campus in SS15 Subang was where the UIA Matric Centre used to be in the 80s. So it was rather surreal when I visited it some years ago. I still remember my taaruf week here (in 1989) and the culture shock I experienced going to qiamulail and listening to the rules and regulations (no dating, no shorts and NO going to the Subang Cinema which was right across the road). We stayed at the shophouses which were also across the road. But that lasted only one semester for me.
At the end of the other block was the hostel for PPP students, and it so happened that I had school friends who were there. So I squatted in their room instead. And oh man, those guys were, um, shall I say, so nakal? You know who you are, dudes!
But living in Subang was pretty cool. You had to take the Sri Jaya bus to get to KL. But most of the time we lepaked at the stalls near the pasar or Subang Parade. Ah, the good ol days... (The Matric Centre was then moved to Lembah Pantai in 1990.)
Anyway, I titled this post “A Forgotten History” because when I shared this piece of anecdote on Threads, a few UIA alumni replied saying they never even knew the uni once had a campus here. Like, seriously lah?
It was my 10th birthday, and among the gifts on that table was something truly out of this world…
Any guesses? No?
That year, I received what was arguably the coolest, most futuristic thing I had ever laid my hands on: the Space Chaser electromechanical tabletop game, made by Toy Town.
To anyone born after 1995, it probably looks like a clunky plastic relic from the Stone Age of gaming. But to me, back then? It was nothing short of a NASA-grade space simulator.
Pic: YouTube
The game had a bright, colourful galactic battlefield printed right on its surface, complete with space fighters, laser blasts, and planet Earth looking dangerously vulnerable in the background. There was a big red dial in the middle, which I was convinced was some kind of highly classified navigation system. You twisted it to move your crosshairs, lined it up with the blinking enemy, and then BOOM! -- if you timed it right, you'd hear that glorious “peeeeeet” sound that meant you just saved humanity again.
The graphics? Non-existent by today’s standards -- it was just blinking lights pretending to be spaceships. But back then, with a bit of imagination, it felt like you were dogfighting in deep space, dodging alien lasers, and outsmarting evil empires. George Lucas would've been proud.
I played it until the batteries ran out (which, sadly, was often), and I learned that D-size batteries cost a fortune and always mysteriously disappeared into the back of the family radio.
Eventually, as all childhood toys do, it disappeared into the abyss, maybe forgotten at the bottom of a gerobok, or maybe it just flew off on its final mission to save another galaxy. But the memories stuck.
These days, when I see kids with tablets and VR headsets, I smile and think, “You’ve never known the pure joy of chasing blinking dots across a plastic galaxy with a red dial and your imagination.”
And that, my peeps, was the day I became a space hero. At least in my head.
Holiday Plaza in JB was the scene of many firsts for me -- all back in the glorious 80s.
It was where I had my very first taste of KFC. And yes, a friend had to teach me the “proper” way to eat it. Back then, KFC was quite the dining experience -- they served the chicken on proper plates, with metal forks and spoons! None of this paper box and plastic cutlery business. It felt posh, ok?
Apart from KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut were also popular makan spots at Holiday Plaza. And if I’m not mistaken, White Castle even had a brief stint there.
And who could forget the smell of Chinese herbal eggs wafting through the air? It was distinctive, pungent… and totally unforgettable. You either loved it or held your breath walking past.
It was also where I bowled for the first time -- at Holiday Bowl (see pic above). My schoolmates and I became regulars, showing up almost every weekend. Some of the guys came decked out like Miami Vice characters: white blazers, pastel shirts, the whole vibe (and sockless, of course).
We’d spend hours at the video arcade too, even though we were technically underage!
Then there was Kimisawa -- the department store that had everything under one roof. I bought some of my Raya outfits there over the years. But the bulk of my wardrobe? That came from 2nd Chance. Their “diskang” fashion was the look back then. That said, a few of my more stylish (and loaded) friends swore by getting their (carrot cut) pants tailor-made at Ken Follet, which gave them that extra “custom fitted” swagger.
One semester break during uni, I even worked at Sate Ria -- making drinks, washing dishes, smelling like grilled meat by the end of every shift. Not glamorous, but unforgettable.
Our ritual usually started at KOMTAR. From there, we’d hop on the Alec or T. Hakkim bus to Holiday Plaza. That weekly trip felt like an adventure, every single time.
These days, while the building still stands, Holiday Plaza is more like a ghost mall. I haven’t been back in ages, but I’ve heard it’s a shadow of its former self.
Still, for us 80s kids, Holiday Plaza will always be the spot where friendships were forged, fashion experiments happened, and weekends were never boring.
Want a special discount? You can also buy directly from me – just PM!
Thanks for the support, and happy reading!
Pengenalan
Generasi-X memang unik dan sangat bertuah. Kami hidup di antara era hitam putih dan warna. Analog dan digital. Manual dan automatik. Walaupun kehidupan tidak secanggih sekarang, namun ada saja pengalaman baharu untuk kami rasa dan cuba, dan simpan jadi kenangan.
Kini, kisah indah kehidupan Gen-X banyak diceritakan semula di Internet dan media sosial melalui jutaan klip video, hantaran #throwback dan meme. Generasi ini diiktiraf sebagai kental dan kreatif; ada adab, prinsip hidup dan jati diri. Tidak lembik, dan bukan jenis yang mudah mengeluh tentang itu dan ini. Rasa 'entitled', jauh sekali.
Buku ini merupakan koleksi cerita-cerita peribadi saya sebagai seorang anak Gen-X; dari zaman persekolahan dan seterusnya ke universiti, hingga ke alam pekerjaan dan berkeluarga. Saya juga mengupas tentang pelbagai trend dan budaya popular ikonik yang mewarnai hari-hari generasi ini.
When I was growing up, there was a time when I wanted to become a computer whiz sort of person. And of course (much like everything else that happened during my childhood), I was influenced by popular culture. First, it was the TV show "Automan", then there was the movie "War Games".
But then it became apparent to me that to become a computer whiz, I'd need to be good in maths and science and stuff. But I wasn't. I just wanted to play Star Wars and Matchbox cars, and read comics. Then I started writing stories and reading books.
The "dream" came back briefly when my late father bought for me a ZX Spectrum 48k (above) when I was 15. I HAD AN ACTUAL COMPUTER!
I tried doing some "programming", but I ended up playing "Football Manager" (below) and "Gremlins". So I never became a computer whiz.
Instead, I fell in love with Law and content creation. So I worked in both fields for much of my life.
Years later when I joined media prima, I was lucky enough to be part of the new media pioneering team. I still can't program nuts, but I know what kind of content to put online. So I worked with nerds to create and launch stuff online.
So really, do what you love. And there'll always be nerds to help you out with stuff you don't know about...
How long have I been a fan? Here's a pic of my cousin and I decked out in Star Wars gear circa 1980 😀
My most prized Star Wars possession though is this collection of 1st edition figurines by Kenner. I bought them piece by piece, along with the rare Darth Vader case, at the NTUC FairPrice store in Woodlands, Singapore.
After SPM, I came to the city trying to make it in modelling (yes, just like a Tom Cruise movie).
This set of pics were taken by a photographer at an agency somewhere in SEA Park.
A couple of print ads and fashion spread later, I became lost in the glitz and glam of the modelling world; the parties, the rising fame, the late night mini bus rides.
I felt like I wasn't myself anymore then.
So I insaf-ed and studied law instead.
(PS: I still remember losing a BP TVC job once to Azhar Sulaiman and I'm still sore about it)
* some parts of the story have been wildly exaggerated...
Just started watching 'Langkah Nabi 2' hosted by ex-colleague Zainal Ariffin and in one episode, he goes to Kazan in Tatarstan and meet up with a couple of prominent local business personalities who're also alumni of IIUM!
Yes, during our time in the 90s, we had many students from troubled regions/countries including Afghanistan, Tatarstan, Bosnia, Somalia, Albania, Sudan, Chechnya, Palestine etc. Alhamdulillah, good to see these Tatar brothers contributing so much to their home country now.
Tempat kami berkumpul adalah di rumah arwah nenek kami (yang kami panggil ‘atuk’) di Jalan Merdeka, Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor Bahru. Sebuah rumah batu yang agak besar, tetapi kalau dah diserbu 10 atau lebih keluarga pada masa yang sama, penuhlah hampir setiap ruang yang ada. Dan asalkan ada toto dan bantal, ceruk di tepi gerobok perhiasan ruang tamu pun boleh jadi selesa.
Ramai yang akan pulang sehari sebelum Aidilfitri. Selain daripada yang memang menetap di Johor, ada yang akan tiba dari KL, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu dan beberapa tempat lagi. Aku biasanya akan sampai ke rumah Jalan Merdeka pada awal pagi Raya itu sendiri.
Sebelum apa-apa lagi, akan kucari setiap pakcik dan makcik untuk kucium tangan mereka. Tak kiralah kalau ada yang masih blur dan belum sempat mandi (boleh faham sebab queue untuk ke tandas pun biasanya agak panjang). Terserempak dengan sepupu-sepapat ketika ini pun hanya mampu untuk tersenyum atau mengangguk kepala tanda isyarat, the good times are going to come.
So, I only realised recently that I've been wearing suits all of my life. Haha. And guess what? I actually have all the pictures to prove it.
It started in school when being a prefect meant I looked a bit more dashing than my normal classmates, having to wear a blazer on most days.
I then joined the judiciary a few months after graduation at that meant wearing a black suit every work day for most of my 20s.
Joined the media industry in my 30s, and while it was mostly casual every day of the week, I did have to slap on the blazer for board meetings and fancy dos.
But of course at the late age of 39, I landed a talkshow gig with 'Malaysia Hari Ini' on TV3 and so I had to look suitably sharp for the cameras.
Then in my mid 40s, I found myself working in the education industry for a couple of years, so there were no T-shirt and jeans days!
The same during my time at iclif.
And finally now, I only have to crank out the suit and tie for photoshoots at work, but they also come in handy on winter holidays : )
The photo above is from November 2004. During the FHM Editors Conference in Phuket, we went for some snorkelling near Phi Phi Island. The spot was completely wiped out when the tsunami came a month later.
The trailer for James Gunn's Superman dropped a couple of days ago to much fanfare and excitement. Here it is, if you haven't seen it yet:
Superman is the only superhero I care about these days. And I've cared since the 70s; from the time of that live action TV series (from the 50s, but shown on Singapore TV in the 70s) starring George Reeves with primitive special effects (if you can call it that).
Then of course there was the Christopher Reeve era. His portrayal of Superman (and Clark Kent) was absolute perfection. I was completely hooked and I've watched his Superman films over and over and over again these past 40 plus years.
And what about the new one? I choose to reserve judgement; on the director, on the new star, on everything lah. Cos I'm what you call a 'totok' Superman fan. I'll watch everything, but will of course love some more than others.
How many times have I watched all the Superman films over these past five decades, you ask? And which ones do I love the most? Well, here's the list...
Here it is, the first full episode of PODCAST KITA ANAK GEN-X! I had actually prepared a different topic for the premier ep, but in late October, my ex-Media Prima colleagues started sharing their favourite Sri Pentas memories on social media. The thing that has been talked about for so long, was finally going to happen: Media Prima companies were starting to migrate to Balai Berita in Bangsar, leaving Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama for good!
And so I thought hey, why not I share my own wonderful memories working at the iconic building? (Something, in truth, I never expected to happen in my life.)
(Wrote this some years ago, but here's the updated version!)
It’s an argument that could go on and on, but here are my own personal favourite Top 10 sporting moments of all time…
10 My own layup vs Malaysia
It was 1995. International Islamic University vs the Malaysian National Team in a friendly match. I was playing like crap until that moment. Someone in defence grabbed a rebound and I quickly made a run for it to the other side of the court. I caught the ball beautifully and made the 1-2 step before laying up the ball for 2 points. Against Malaysia! You can just call me Awesome. Thank you.
9 Jonny Wilkinson’s drop-goal at the death
Even Hollywood couldn’t write the script any better. England and Australia were tied at 17 all in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final with only seconds to go in extra time. And when England won a penalty, everyone in the world knew what would happen in the next couple of passages, and Jonny was not to be denied. His kick was perfect. And England became world champions.
8Kimi Raikkonen snatches the F1 world title
All season long it looked like the 2007 drivers’ title would go to McLaren’s rookie Lewis Hamilton. When it came down to the final race in Brazil, no one gave Raikkonen any chance of winning the crown, being seven points behind. The Iceman needed to win the race while hoping Hamilton would royally choke and finish 7th or worse. And what do you know, that’s exactly what happened! Raikkonen drove a perfect race and snatched the championship by a single point.
7 Alan Kennedy and the Kings of Europe
I was nine-years-old then but I remember waking up at 3am to watch this European Cup final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in 1981. It was goalless in the first half, but deep into the second, Kennedy crashed a beautiful angled shot into the Roma goal for a wonderful win. Ah, the good old days.
6Mike Tyson brings down Spinks
Tyson was King of the World then, knocking out hapless opponents like they’re nothing. And Mr. Spinks was unfortunately, one of them. I remember sitting down expecting some sort of resistance from Tyson’s undefeated opponent. But the fight lasted a mere 91seconds when Tyson knocked Spinks out with a super right hand. I hadn’t even started on my kerepek when it ended.
5 Michael Johnson’s 200
The conditions were perfect for a world record at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Johnson looked supremely confident. And when the gun was fired, it was evident that there can only be one winner in the 200m sprint. Johnson ran the race of his life and clocked an earth shattering 19.32. Usain Bolt has topped that time, but Johnson’s run is the one that sticks in my mind.
4Tiger Woods wonder shot at the 2005 US Masters
It’s The Shot that’s been recognised as the best of the past decade. It was at the 16th Hole. Woods still had a long way to go to the flag. When the ball got there, it stalled at the cup for a couple of seconds (for a close-up on the Nike logo) before dropping in. The commentator asked: “In you life, have you seen anything like that?” Giler ke apa??? ...
3 The Thomas Cup finally comes home!
I bet most of you reading this were in front of the telly as history unfolded. Malaysia had not won the Thomas Cup for 25 years and we were up against Indonesia in the 1992 final at Stadium Negara. It came down to the pair of Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang, and they defeated the mighty duo of Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja in 3 nerve-wracking sets. When Beng Kiang gloriously killed that final point, 20 million Malaysians screamed and cheered their hearts out. I probably cried a little too :(
2Michael Jordan wins his 6th ring
With 20seconds on the clock in 1998's game 6 of the NBA Finals, Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone and dribbled up the floor. Bryon Russell took up the job of manning Jordan. Futile it was. Jordan calmly dribbled, cross-overed, and sank the winning shot that gave Chicago their 6th title. Simple and expected, yet majestic in its execution. And with that, Jordan sealed his place as the greatest ever.
1 Klopp and co right before my eyes!
I always say that I've been a Liverpool fan since I was a dot on an ultrasound scan. And growing up, I never even imagined stepping foot at Anfield, let alone celebrating the triumph of winning a trophy along with hundreds of thousands of other Scousers. Which was what happened on 2nd June, 2019. It's a long story how we actually got there, but the fam and I were in fact a part of Liverpool history, welcoming home the team, along with the prestigious Champions League trophy (won the night before vs Spurs) in the heart of the city. YNWA!
There are quite a number of makan places that I started going regularly after I got a transfer back from Miri to Kuala Lumpur back in 1997. Some are no longer there, while some are still standing strong. For example, the Seng Nam coffee shop near Bangunan Abdul Samad closed its doors some 10 years ago after serving KLites their signature roti bakar and coffee for 85 years!
Meanwhile, Nasi Lemak Tanglin in Lake Gardens, first opened in 1948, is still standing (although not exactly at the original location), and is still my favourite nasi lemak in the Klang Valley.
The other place I have not stopped frequenting till this very day is Ikan Bakar Istana Negara, Jalan Bellamy. People can say this or that place have better ikan bakar, but I come back here again and again cos it's familiar and is still so damn good. (Specifically, the Sri Melaka stall.)
But, how come there's a row of ikan bakar stalls just outside of one of the gates of the old Royal Palace? Watch this video below!
October 2000 it was when I first experienced autumn. How did I end up in Albany? And how did I get lost in New York City? Watch the video below for the full story!
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