Ex-diplomat explores nation’s overlooked corners
PETALING JAYA: As a Malaysian diplomat in the United States, Datuk Ilango Karuppannan used to take in the sights driving around the vast country in his 4WD.
After his retirement, he turned to discovering Malaysia the same way – traversing the various states by road.
Among his finds are a Chinese kopitiam in Kedah, an Indian restaurant in Kelantan and a Malay roadside stall in Pahang to cherish.
“The soul of Malaysia is not found in its skyscrapers, famous landmarks or in the big cities.
“It is in the remote areas where Malaysians of different backgrounds live, work and communicate with each other.
“That is the true beauty of our country,” he added in an interview.
After diplomatic postings in seven countries and visits to more than 100 countries over a 33-year career, Ilango returned to travel across the peninsula with four of his buddies.
The journey eventually inspired him to pen his experiences in two volumes of The Malaysia We Almost Forgot – Unexpected Encounters on the East Coast and West Coast.
The books chronicle Ilango’s travels to towns, villages, plantations, ports, places of worship and family-run businesses, capturing the stories of ordinary Malaysians and the country’s rich cultural tapestry.
“What surprised me most was how comfortable Malaysia remains with its multiracial character.
“We often discuss diversity as though it is a problem that must constantly be managed. However, when we travelled slowly through the country beyond the major cities, we saw something different.”
Ilango said the title of his books was not merely about forgotten buildings or historical landmarks but also about the country’s diversity and the many communities that make up its national identity.
“We are forgetting that Malaysia is a large and varied country. It is much more than the Klang Valley and it is also more than any individual state, town or community.
“The road trips reminded us that Malaysia contains many different worlds. A fishing town is different from an old railway settlement,” he said.
Ilango, 65, said Malaysians should pay greater attention to preserving places with historical significance, citing Kuala Sepetang, formerly known as Port Weld, as an example.
“It represents an early connection between the Malayan interior and an open international trading system.
“We should preserve places like this not simply out of nostalgia but because they remind us who we are and how long Malaysia has been connected to the wider world.”
Ilango, who has served as the Malaysian Ambassador to Lebanon and High Commissioner to Singapore, said his travels also convinced him that Malaysia’s future lies in embracing the strengths of its diverse communities rather than viewing their differences as obstacles.
He hopes his books will encourage younger Malaysians particularly to travel beyond their own hometowns, appreciate the country’s diversity and cultivate a love of reading.
“I deliberately wrote the books in simple and accessible English because I want them to be read by ordinary Malaysians, including schoolchildren.
“When young readers recognise the places and people in a story, they are more likely to remain interested.”
He plans to complete the trilogy with a third volume covering the southern states of Johor and Melaka before embarking on another journey through Sarawak and Sabah.
