April 20th, 2010
MF: Journey of Hope
I have one amazing news to share. I’m going to Sabah in June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo so freaking excited cause it’s a long-awaited trip and I’ve never been to East Malaysia before. I know right, how un-Malaysian can I be? I’m seriously very ashamed of myself. This trip is not meant to be a touristy kinda trip so I’m excited to see how it’ll turn out!
Also, we’ll be holding a US Application workshop in Kota Kinabalu too this year so make sure you come if you want to know all about American education! Date time venue not set yet but I’m most probably gonna be there..I hope.
Anyway, I attended the Malaysia Forum this year and it was such a good experience so I thought I’d share what it means to me. I’ve been to the past two MFs and always left very hopeful about Malaysia and what being a Malaysian means to me (I wrote a long post about it, waiting to be posted someday..)
So I was really excited to be involved in organizing this year’s MF cause I wanted poor Malaysian-food deprived students in the states to have that same sense of hope and optimism for our country too. It was truly the best decision I’ve ever made.
Truth is, I was crazy intimidated at first. These people who have been running it are extremely intelligent people, very eloquent, very opinionated, Ivy-leaguers. I’m nothing like that seriously. Just from a small women’s liberal arts college, hardly ever have an opinion, can’t speak in public for the life of me, and I just wanted to help but all I can do is make fun of myself wtf. But I guess at the end of the day, the spirit of MF prevails.
The spirit of MF deserves an entire post but in a nutshell, it emphasizes gotong-royong and the no leadership concept. Everyone has something to contribute, there’s no hierarchy (president, secretary etc) and we each do whatever we can do. It’s beautiful in theory but not that easy to put in practice but at least the idea is there.
The forum, in my opinion, was an amazing success. How MF works is this: we encourage civil discussions on any issue related to Malaysia, that’s all. People were confused at first. Wait, you mean all we do is talk and not do something about it? Yes, that is all. But it goes far deeper than that. A weekend is hardly enough time to come up with concrete plans on how to change our country, but it’s definitely enough time to spark discussions to get people going.
Historically, so many people (including myself) have been inspired by all these talks and venture out to do something to change Malaysia on their own. I worked with an NGO last year because of this and some have gone on to start small projects on their own (writing books, encouraging other Malaysians to participate in such discussions etc).
It just proves that it doesn’t have to be all talk and no action if YOU as an individual don’t want it to be. As before, we’re all leaders in our own rights, all responsible for the changes we make. The spirit of MF is truly one of the biggest inspirations in my life.
Anyway, the above picture is of Lali, John, Nick and P’ng who were talking on what being an active citizen is. You don’t have to be in the country to make a change and I truly thought their panel was the best part of MF 
So many inspiring people all around us, you just have to start talking to more people!
Hehe such a cute picture of Dom giving Lali the “sure bo???” look!
Going out for lunch! This is the ‘el cheapo’ group wtf. I yelled out “who wants cheap food come with me!” and we went for some $5 wraps and ate on the grass! El cheapo indeed wtf
We had two pilots there! Haha I think they were a little reluctant to be associated with me and didn’t really wanna be in the picture wtf
Best night out ever! Super spicy chicken wings and lots of alcohol on 5 hours of sleep! We were seriously zombies that night, having been awake for the past 24 hours or so.
WASSUP BRO!!! inside joke wtf
That’s all the pictures I have of MF, was too busy/tired to take more pictures. sadness.
If you’re interested in Malaysia Forum (also, it’s a global thing, we have MF London, Sydney, NYC, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. That’s the other beauty of MF), visit the official website!
Got a package from Giang the other day who is always so thoughtful! She got me some makeup from Korea this time, seriously how to not love this girl!
Random camwhore picture when my hair was still awesome. Now it’s just too long and floppy.
Shanshan holding Justin’s Ipad. Still not convinced how is this so amazing that he bought two for himself wtf.
Random picture of when it was warm outside! My legs look short but that’s just because they are wtf.
Okay that’s all, time to do more work then sleep then wake up then do more work then sleep then wake up then do more work then LO AND BEHOLD BALIK UMAH! PEGI SABAH! MAKAN CHAR KUEY TEOW!
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“The spirit of MF deserves an entire post but in a nutshell, it emphasizes gotong-royong and the no leadership concept. Everyone has something to contribute, there’s no hierarchy (president, secretary etc) and we each do whatever we can do. It’s beautiful in theory but not that easy to put in practice but at least the idea is there.”
= socialism wtf.
I wanna go to the next MF! Ajak me pls.
lol.i cant imagine u speaking malay.mesti comelll
suet li,kuching next time ok?
carol and i bring you around!
lolx. being el cheapo is great. dont u think so? $5 for a wrap. if hungry, get another $5 wrap. instead of a luxurios petite french lunch set at $30 or more? anyways, i seem to read in one of your posts about how you wanted to go on a diet.
the big question is.. where did those 2 pilots come from? you look sexy with the pilot hat.
after reading sabrina comment, i’ve decided i should promote my location too. come sibu lar!! got kampua. lolx. zz… i’ve never even been to kuching. i am such a sad sarawakian.
i see angie’s drawers!
you’re coming to KK? cool
i’m a silent reader but this malaysia forum thingy sounds interesting. where is it going to be held in KK?
harlow suet. i like u a lot
SUET YAY you’re coming to Sabah !!!!! I will do my best to appear just to see u hahahahahahahah yay yay yay omg my day was a crap and u lighten up my remaining hours today hahahahahaha wtf
hi suet lee!!
been reading you for fews year already but didnt comment before. hehe!! since u mentioned sabah so i want to say something! why didnt you come earlier…!! i thought of going to the US and the pulled back coz of long distance and fear..ok,i am just shy and scared also …
and now i am already in Aussie, just came here this year to study, been in KK for 2 years deciding to study where and you didnt come….LALALALA felt wasted!
I loovee the fit of the two blazers you’re wearing! One in the ‘el cheapo’ photo and the other in the last photo. Where’d you get the last blazer from? Come to think of it a post on where to get good cheap clothes would be amazing =)
You know, suddenly I kind of want an iPad! Hmmm, maybe Apple should ask Shanshan to be in their ads…Yeah, I know. Typical guy.
P.S. your legs aren’t short. They look fine.
the foundation is damn good!
ooib, u la socialist wtf. ok i ajak u!
hani, eh takdelah very karat now!
sabrina, ok next time!
joshua, i’m el cheapo number 1! haha. no idea where the pilots were from..isn’t sibu in sarawak too?? how come u never go kuching before!
aud, and i see them too! wtf
kimchee, no not the forum, the us application workshop! not sure where yet!
nicole, hi nicole, i like u too
jaclyn, hahahha!!1 why u so cute! ok u promise must come see me ok?? aww im glad i did!
ladylike, hello! awww i wish i did then! it’s okla australia is good too!
ab, thanks! the last blazer is from sg wang! like rm30 only hoho! i get cheap clothes everywhere!
hk, hahah! u should go get one then =D
tze, it is! very smooth and velvety!
I wanna marry ShanShan!!
wanna marry shanshan
kthxbai
suetli!!wooo im from kk!kk is awesome you’ll love it =)
let me know when u come ok, i can be your parttime foc tourguide!
Sabah is LOVE! I hope you get to go to the nice places plus enjoy the seafood and most importantly enjoy Sabah
whats yr hair colour?name pls.i remember u change yr hair colour with many different colours right.can i have that link pls?:)
well, I was based in brunei previously. complicated and long story. never really get to travel alot too. might post it on my blog when i get there. feels like shanshan has a lot of fans. lol!
Hi Suet,
I know this is a bit random & sudden. I’m a loyal reader of ur blog. And u’re the 1st person i tot of when my boss asked me to do a research about blogging. I need to ask you a simple question but not sure if i should ask this in public. Please email me at cecilia.wongtt@gmail.com when u see this. Basically i’m working at a radio station in Malaysia and i’m doing a research tat’s related to our radio DJs’ blogs. I really hope to hear from u soon. Thanks so so much! =)
cool! you’re going to my hometown! i wish i can meet you but i’m working in kl…anyway, just a random question: is dom from kk as well? cos his face is sooo familiar. if im not mistaken, i used to have a high school classmate who has a big crush on him..but im not sure if it’s him she was talking about.
Hola! been a silent reader for a while now but i am glad ur coming to Sabah! You’ll love it here
Let me know when u are here and i’ll bring you around! 
hi..
jz came across ur blog n ur real pretty..
cn u tel me hw u tk care of ur skin?
me hv terrible skin breakouts, sob2..
thx alot..
Hi I’m from Sabah too! 2 years ago i flew over to attend the US fair in KL, and this september I’m going to US with financial aid! i’m so excited that you guys are coming this year. welcome!
You’re going to Sabah? Me too!!! but at the end of May.. yay! going to Manukan Island while attending my friend’s wedding.
Was that M.I.A. in the photos or just a look alike? Nonetheless, good luck with the Malaysia Form thing. Sounds like Malaysia is a rather modern, united place to live [:
-Coco
God more M.I.A references /kills self.
I am hotter la wtf.
SUET!! why you put embarrassing pics of me… !! :-S
hehe…
I like what you wrote about Harapan. And nice pic of you and the sailors! I like that!!
See you in KK!!!
romeo, ok wtf
n, ok wtf
lilmonstergirl, i know im sure i will! haha thanks!
siah, thankiu so much, i love sabah already haha!
eunice, erm i dont remember cause the hairdresser chose for me! he mixed two colors i think..the different color ones, i used a program called meitu xiu xiu. link for what?
joshua, haha she does!
cc, emailed ya!
viviee, yes he is!! hahaha he might be!
hilda, thanks! im sure i’ll love it =D
yc, ermm i just make sure i wash it twice a day, and i always remove my makeup. that’s it!
eileen, yays!!! congrats!
erlinda, haha im going mid june!
coco, heh she gets that sooo often. yes, msia is awesome!
lali, hahaha of course u are wtf
dom, alamak where got so hensem ok wtf.
viviee who are you?