Tatler Malaysia November 2023

TATLER HONG KONG Filmmaker Jazzie Silona is creating videos designed to remind Hongkongers of how incredible their hometown is. He spoke to Tatler about how growing up in the Middle East influenced him, his favourite movies, and why sharing his knowledge is so important. TATLER MALAYSIA Lim Yu Lin, an artisan and the owner of Ang Eng boutique, a kebaya store in Kuala Lumpur, gave Tatler the lowdown on the traditional blouse, and what it takes to make an authentic Nyonya kebaya. TATLER PHILIPPINES Composer Anya Lagman spoke about the hurdles she faces as a member of a minority while making a mark in the industry, and the empowerment she gains from using music to celebrate her community. SHANGLIU TATLER Novelist Jin Yucheng, known for the award-winning Blossoms, is also…

Disruption—the popular ethos adopted by the startup world—is ingrained in the very fibre of Patrick Grove’s being. So it is not surprising that Grove, chairman of Catcha Digital Berhad, would—unlike a typical C-suite personality—agree to hop, skip, and hug a wood-panelled block for this photo shoot with Tatler. When we approached him for this month’s cover profile, he was the one who first suggested an AI-inspired photo shoot, even humorously suggesting images of him surrounded by computer cables, “like spaghetti.” He was joking and improvising but the Tatler team further refined on his ideas, drawing inspiration from Grove’s favourite action movies—such as Mission Impossible—to bring his story to life (p.70). It’s not the first time Tatler has executed an AI-inspired shoot, but it’s the first occasion where a chairman so…

MAX MAK Max Mak is a Kuala Lumpur-based fashion stylist with more than a decade of experience. His work has been featured in The Peak, Marie Claire, Female and Harper’s Bazaar. He’s also worked with brands such as Bonia, Samsung and Watsons. For Tatler, Mak styled Patrick Grove for our first AI-inspired cover shoot. HASAN HEJAZI Since his graduation from the London College of Fashion nearly 15 years ago, Hasan Hejazi has worked as a stylist, designer and creative director. He is the founder of his eponymous luxury womenswear brand, which has been worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue, and has also directed high fashion editorial projects, which have been seen in Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire Arabia and The Document Journal. For Tatler’s fashion shoot, he…

For years, Asians on screen were exoticised or reduced to clichés. With monumental achievements, including the seven‑Oscar sweep by the Michelle Yeoh vehicle Everything Everywhere All at Once, it is clear that the entertainment industry is at a turning point. The spotlight on Asian representation in Hollywood is brighter now than ever, yet these victories in visibility are undeniably hard‑won milestones in a long struggle for cultural recognition. They also come at a time of rising anti‑Asian sentiment during the Covid‑19 pandemic. But it is progress, much of which is being driven by changemakers such as Adele Lim. The Malaysian producer, director and screenwriter amplifies Asian soft power—a term used to describe influence through economic and cultural prowess rather than coercion or military might—through authentic storytelling. Lim was in Singapore…

Arguably the most talked-about opening to grace our grounds this year is that of Potager, led by the culinary minds behind Entier French Dining. While the idea behind it may have been discussed before, design, conceptualisation, and building it officially commenced two years prior. Potager is located within a glass structure in the centre of Bamboo Hills; from a bird’s eye view, it appears as an undulating circular spiral. The French word “potager” refers to the garden of a kitchen, where produce is cultivated, and fittingly so—the restaurant team aims to nurture artistic creatives and culinary talents within its spherical enclosure. Adorning the pristine, cream-coloured walls of the space are paintings, sculptures and installations by local artists. In one of the private rooms to my right, there hangs a canvas…

Having grown up in a royal family, Dato’ Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz often observed the dedication that her parents, the late Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Sultanah Bahiyah, had for their home state of Kedah. Being graduates of prestigious institutions like Oxford and Nottingham universities, Tunku Puteri Intan’s parents were firm proponents of education, believing that the education of women in particular was crucial to the advancement of Malaysian society as a whole. “My parents were very open-minded and very forward-thinking people for their age and generation,” muses Tunku Puteri Intan. “They were also very devoted to community work their whole lives. One thing I learnt from my father was how to be present as a leader. My parents gave their complete attention to whatever…