FHM, March, 1999. Interview by E.Sibadogil
You're from Penang. So are you kiasu (scared of losing), kiasi (scared of death), and kiam siap (stingy)?
Kiam siap, I certainly agree. In Penang, char kway teow costs around RM1.50. Some people bring their own eggs! It might save 20 or 30 sen, but it obviously counts. I've got a friend who runs his own massage business. People bring their own oil sometimes, and then ask for a discount. They might cut down RM5 from the flat rate.
Do you think it's because of the famous Hokkien penchant for stinginess?
I'm Cantonese, but I think there might be some truth in certain traits.
Like the Hainanese, they might call them 'tau hong', something not quite right in the head. And some Hainanese I've met have been pretty close to the mark.
How did you get a start in cartooning?
When I was studying in Singapore, I used to freelance for a magazine for a bit of extra pocket money. When I came back, I started working in an ad agency in Penang. They paid me RM200 a month, not good even in those days. I managed to buy a house on that!
Sure you're not Hokkien?
Ha ha! They laughed at me at the bank, "How can? You want to borrow RM30,000 when you only make RM200 a month. At that time, Gila Gila magazine advertised for a cartoonist. My BM was very poor, but they hired me anyway. So I ended up making more money at my part-time job, rather than my full time job! That's how I started, but I also did contribute to Malay Mail when I was with advertising agencies. Then The Sunran me in 1994, and I've been with them since. I've quit advertising now, and cartooning is now my bread and butter.
Do you have a favourite character?
This guy by the name of Jimmy Wong. He's a typical Chinaman. You know, talks really loudly, picks his teeth and perms his hair. And always with the most expensive handphones.
Do you think these Malaysian stereotypes have some truth in them?
Oh yes, I was on the plane the other day, and I sat next to an Indian guy. When he talks, It's with an Indian accent, and then he flashed his gold rings and bracelets at me. I thought, "Wahhhh!", so heavy! They don't use their arms to lift things up, they use them to carry gold! Ha ha.
What about the Mat Rock stereotype - any truth to it?
Ya, of course they exist! Mat Rocks are actually very stylish. Their fashion and colour combination - pants, tight black t-shirts. Always cool.
Would you describe yourself as a social or political cartoonist?
I lean very much towards the social aspects of cartooning. I go out a lot. At pubs, I sit down and drink and eavesdrop. I listen to men talk about women, and women talk about men.
So when you listen to women, do you find them truthful and hurtful? Like their opinion that size really matters?
Ever since Godzilla came down, size does matter, right? Ha ha.
What's usually the funniest thing you see at the bar?
It's usually a man at a bar, who's out with some woman. And some of these people, really damn funnylah. There's a call on the handphone, and they pick it up. And suddenly, they're in the office, in a jam, or they're stuck in a meeting with a client! I really should come out with a book for that! Just jot down the best lines I hear. Then, when they run out of lies, they can look it up!
What's the cartoon that's drawn the most response?
I got inspired one day by the haze. It looked like a blank piece of paper, it was so hazy. So I just faxed my editor a blank page. Ha ha ha. And it said "Standing third from the right, in a bush hacket is the Deputy Minster of Emergencies and Natural Disasters." Ha ha ha. I don't think Tok Mat was too pleased with this. Ha ha.
Have you done anything on the Anwar situation?
Ya! I think it's so funny. The fact that they transport the mattress every day to the courts; they have to cover everything every day to court. Can you imagine their transport charges? So I drew a cartoon of those transport people holding the mattress, and one of them saying, "At least Lewinsky's dress was a lot lighter!". Ha ha.
And what do you think about our country's obsession with chickens?
I pity those chickenslah. Every race eats chickens. But I suppose you could feel quite proud as a chicken. You are a controlled item, you have a price on your neck, although your career path is a bit limited.
Strips like Garfiled and Dilbert have become very commercialized, and in some cases, quite annoying. Do you think you will go the same way?
That's the whole problem with these people. I think greed does come in.
But you've got your mugs, t-shirts and books.
But now I need to survive. Ha ha. I'm doing it full time, so I need to supplement my income! But I don't think I'll run out of fresh material. Wit the sort of funny remarks politicians make everyday, how can you? Also, Malaysia has so many characters.
You drink a lot. Are you an alcoholic?
I made a New Year's Resolution, which is to stop drinking. Which I did very well. For two days! Then someone asked me to attend a wine tasting! I actually asked myself, 'Am I an alcoholic?' I had to ask myself, you know. But I don't actually think solah. I do enjoy it. Come onlah, sometimes you go to a pub, and you order a Coke, and it's so expensive, sometimes more expensive than a beer. So might as well drink a beerlah. I'm Penangite ok?! Ha ha.
Do you get a lot of emails?
I get 40 emails at least a day. I should keep track, then I could them as source material. I normally read my email after I go back, and I get so high reading them. And I type with only one finger. Ha ha! I feel sorry for whoever gets my email the next day. I hope they understand.
What's next?
I'll be coming out with a motivational book with called Growing Pains. It's about growing up, and what happens during puberty. Things like 'what causes an erection?'. You'll see public hair and penises. When you grow up, you start to have hair. Don't worry when your penis is shorter than others, you're normal. I was so slow to mature, so I know what it means. I was a late developer, that's why I look so young! I only matured after Form Five!
Must have been difficult if you fancied a girl.
I wondered why I couldn't grow up big and hairy like the other boys. Those days, they had porn movies in Malaysia. That was back in 1968. You could only enter if you were over 18. And in those days, I was this small little punk, with this cigarette burning by the side of my mouth, swaggering into the cinema. But these days, I don't watch porn at all. I don't understand how anyone can actually pay money for porn tapes. They do the same things over and over again, it's so boring. Might as well do it yourself!
How would you describe yourself?
I'm a very positive person. I take life easy. I only want enough money to live and travel. I don't need millions and millions, then you worry about where you go. If Malaysia had a vote for only one person as the Great Lepaker, that's would be me. FHM
Interview by E Sibadogil. His book, Good Morning Malaysia!, is available at all good bookstores and is priced at RM12.90.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment