By KEVIN TAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my
As A Malaysian, Ling Low, 26, can’t help but share some of the stories she comes across in the country, because they truly make the nation one of a kind.
“There are many things in the city that make the country unique – things like heritage,” said Low, the editor of Poskod.my.
Poskod.my started in 2010, and that is where she and her team shares their stories – about the culture, communities and cities – that the nation has to offer, and her passion drives her to seek untold tales from an ordinary folk’s point of view.
“I have the chance to tell stories that are not told anywhere, and to tell stories that might have been forgotten,” said Low, who is also a filmmaker.
Low aims to explore interesting places, ideas, and find locally produced things – from goods to food – because according to her, that is what Poskod is all about; capturing Malaysia for what she truly is.
One of the cities Poskod often features is Kuala Lumpur.
“I think KL is unique, complex, and has its own charm. It’s hard to see that unless you go down to the streets and see it for yourself.
“The tourists’ image of Malaysia is different from the image (that an average) Malaysian has,” she pointed out.
One of Low’s favourite stories is one her online magazine published about the Hainanese chicken chop dish, which she discovered is actually a local cuisine through and through.
“In (places like) Kuala Lumpur, it’s very easy to live like you’re living in any other city. You can get coffee from same (boutique shops) and visit (high-end) retail stores that are available in so many other places in the world.
“But there are also many things that makes Malaysia, ‘Malaysia’. It makes us who we are,” she explained.
Low often gets story ideas from the daily news and also from the people who write in to Poskod – which has somewhat turned the magazine into a platform for new feature writers to bloom.
Through the stories, she hopes to draw readers closer to their own society and the things that make Malaysia unique as a country.
“It’s easy for us to get caught up with political agendas and for people to stereotype one another. In the city, even neighbours can feel like strangers to us.
“So through the stories, we want to create more empathy and understanding among people.”
In conjunction with Merdeka Day, Poskod.my is sharing stories from people who participated in the Merdeka Day celebration in 1957.
Tell us what you think!