[VIDEO] Chinese Journalists Reconnect With Malaysia Through Nasi Kandar & Fluent Malay
One of the journalists jokingly mentioned that he had ordered only mineral water with his nasi kandar to stay in shape.
Cover image via @husnaliangliang (TikTok)A group of Chinese journalists covering President Xi Jinping's state visit found themselves reconnecting with Malaysia through its food, all while showcasing their fluent command of Bahasa Melayu (BM)
For some, the dishes brought back nostalgic memories of their student days in Malaysia, and the group seized the opportunity to indulge before heading to cover the events in Putrajaya.
The group's nasi kandar meal was a flavourful mix of dishes drenched in rich curries, including squid, rendang, and fried chicken. To accompany the meal, some opted for refreshing sirap ais.
The meal was especially nostalgic for one journalist, who had studied at Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2006.
Another journalist, Liang Liang, who goes by the Malay name 'Husna', shared in a video posted on her TikTok account that the meal was more than just a culinary experience.
"We are media from China. We will be covering events in Putrajaya and chose to eat nasi kandar here, to take a piece of the memory back home to China," Husna is heard speaking in fluent BM.
Image via @husnaliangliang (TikTok)
The fluency in Malay displayed by the journalists from China impressed the netizens, with some pointing out how they sounded nearly indistinguishable from local Malaysian Chinese speakers
The journalists also used Malay names, a practice common among Chinese students who studied in Malaysia.
Fadil, one of the journalists, jokingly shared that he had ordered only mineral water with his nasi kandar to stay in shape, while another colleague, Satria, had ordered a substantial spread to fuel his energy for the day.
Husna's meal consisted of rendang, an egg, and chicken with rice.
"Everyone here, us Chinese journalists, speaks Malay and orders Malaysian food. We are in Putrajaya now, getting ready to interview the prime minister. Be careful while eating, don't stain your suit," Husna joked.
