The owner of Malay Mail is one of my earliest art collectors. I went to see him when I was in financial trouble over a decade ago and he started to buy my artwork when nobody took me seriously.
He always laughed at me about painting so many cats but there is a wall at his HQ specially dedicated to display his collection of my works – mostly cats – accumulated over the years. According to his PA, I’m the only artist who has such real estate of his walls.
Sometimes you might catch him wearing one of my HarryPutter baseball caps – he owns an orange colour edition. His 2 grandsons also wears my caps, the younger boy has a red cap with pompom details and the older boy has a white cap with rings details.
I’m writing this down so Facebook can remind me someday.
Not too long ago I visited him to let him know that I’m starting a brand of cat FMCG named Malay Miao, a giddy iteration of his newspaper’s name. His response was “GOOD!” and promptly called one of his business partners on the phone to announce my whimsical move. It sounded so ridiculous, coming out of his straight talking face.
Some may find him intimidating, however he is greatly loved by all who works for him and with him, not forgetting that he has the tendency to say the darndest things. I believe that the reason he has many loyal people around him, is because he has been kind to people when they are in trouble. Personally I count myself privileged to be on that list.
More recently I discovered him in the same building as I, and I called him to ambush his long table meeting inside a private dining room.
“Hello boss, I wanna gatecrash your party!”
(That’s what cats do..)
“No you cannot kacau me, but order anything you want, I come out to see you!”
“They don’t serve beluga and white truffles!” I joked. He huffs and hangs up.
Then I chose the house special crab curry and another mutton dish to take home. As the restaurant prepared my order, he emerged from his hiding spot and we had another funny conversation.
My nickname for him after he acquired Malay Mail is “the 7-foot-tall badminton player”. That’s a back story for another time.
Right now this story is about Malay Miao and the origins behind the name. Haha.