Sometimes, when “Peninsular People” find out their friend is from Sabah or Sarawak, their eyes open wide with wonder and they ask a whole bunch of questions, both sensible and bizarre. Here’s how fellow Malaysians from the Land Below the Wind and the Land of the Hornbills responded, in jest and/or resignation.
Victoria Ting Bao, 32
Chinese from Kuching
Account director, digital advertising
Q: Why do you say “bah” instead of “lah”?
A: That’s not the end of it. We’re an expressive bunch and we have a variety of terms to suit any occasion. There is always room for “bah”, “lah”, “mah”, “kah”, “hah”, and “nah” in our sentences. And that’s just the “-ahs”!
Q: How come you speak English so well?
A: Most east Malaysians I know speak and think in English. I live in an English-speaking household. Even my grandparents and I converse in English.
Tania Wee, 31
Chinese from Kuching
Freelance writer
Q: Was Sarawak/ Sabah formerly part of Malaysia? Like Singapore?
A: Sarawak and Sabah are still part of Malaysia but are like the younger sisters that everyone forgets, in favour of the popular, well-known sister (Peninsular Malaysia).
But once you spend time there, you will see the different types of culture, history and cuisine they have to offer. Distinctively Malaysian, yet different at the same time.
Q: What is there to eat in Sarawak?
A: Sarawak Laksa, of course! It’s my absolute No 1 “must-eat” in Sarawak. The broth has a more herbal taste, unlike other laksa in Malaysia.
Kolo mee is a must for pork lovers, and you can wash it down with a “Teh C Peng Special”, a.k.a. the original three-layered tea.
Hana Nazsulaeeqa Harun, 29
Brunei-Dusun-Murut-Chinese from Kota Kinabalu
Senior communications executive
Q: Are you Kadazan?
A: No, I’m not Kadazan. On days I don’t feel like giving a long explanation, my answer to that is “I’m a mix of a few things.”
Otherwise, I’d tell people this: My father is Bruneian Malay and my mother is a mix of Dusun, Murut and Chinese.
I also get a lot of people asking me, “Are you Chinese?”
Q: How long is the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu?
A: Getting from KL to KK takes about two hours and 30 minutes. Sometimes when I’m lucky and the pilot is flying really fast, I arrive within two hours and 15 minutes.
Daphne Iking, 40
Kadazandusun from Keningau
Actress and TV personality
Q: You are Iban, right?
A: No, I’m Kadazandusun.
Q: Is it super hot there (in Sabah)?
A: It can be actually.
Q: Do I need to bring my passport (when I travel to Sabah or Sarawak)?
A: You can bring it, but a MyKad would be sufficient.
Elaine Chung, 26
Chinese from Tawau
Sales development executive in a tertiary education institute
Q: Do you have mamak stalls in Sabah?
A: We don’t have mamak stalls per se, but we have stalls that operate for 24 hours, and they serve food like roti canai, nasi goreng (fried rice), and Maggi goreng as well.
Q: Why is your Bahasa Malaysia different from us?
A: Perhaps it is the slang we use that makes it sound weird, but other states have their own slang as well. But we adhere to the same grammar rules.
Janice Francina Gimbad, 32
Sino-Kadazandusun from Sandakan
Lecturer/corporate trainer
Q: Do you have traffic lights in your place?
A: Which century do you think we are living in? Of course we do!
Q: Do you live in a cave?
A: Do you live in a jungle?
Joseph Kaos Jr, 32
Bidayuh from Miri
Journalist with The Star
Q: I know this Sarawakian named (XXX), you do know him?
A: Yes, I know everyone in Sarawak, bro. From Kuching to Miri to Lawas!
Q: Eh, Sarawakians are rich, right? (Based on the number of flights I took between Miri and Kuala Lumpur while I was studying in Kuala Lumpur.)
A: Yes, we are! If we used submarines, it would take a longer time to travel.
Joanne Timbuong, 37
Kadazan from Penampang
Journalist with The Star
Q: Oh, you’re east Malaysian? So you sure can drink!
A: I do enjoy a good time like the next person, but unfortunately, I’m such a featherweight. Where do people get the idea that all east Malaysians can and want to drink?
Q: So, you flew here (to Peninsular Malaysia)?
A: No lah, I swam all the way here!
Tabitha Rani, 29
Chinese-Indian from Kuching
Talent manager
Q: Oh, you’re here (in KL) to study? There are no universities in Sarawak?
A: There are universities in Sarawak but I chose to study here because there are more choices for my course. I studied Advance Diploma in Mass Communications (Journalism) in TAR College.
Q: Do you have Astro?
A: No. We just have those big parabola satellites dishes. (A bit sarcastic, but yes, we actually do have Astro services!)
Andrew Poil, 31
Dusun from Ranau
Video editor
Q: Have you climbed Mount Kinabalu?
A: I stay nearby in Ranau, but haven’t climbed it. (They’re really surprised to hear my answer because they assume all Sabahans have climbed Mount Kinabalu.)
Q: What are you doing here in west Malaysia?
A: Working! (Not sure what answer they were expecting.)
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