Still jamming to Paperplane Pursuit's songs from last week? We definitely don't blame you! Music is truly a universal language, and speaks to everyone no matter which part of the world you're from. If it's one other thing Malaysians love and connect with, though, it's food!

Malaysia has a long-standing reputation of being a true blue foodie's paradise, but we at The Local Scene can tell you that throughout the years, the locals have developed quite the interesting habit: simply eating food has become somewhat boring, so some of us craftier Malaysians have decided on some "special ways" to eat some of our local favourites.

People do say creativity goes beyond boundaries, after all.

The first of these strange but special things Malaysians have done with our food is the combination known as Maggi Kawen. It may sound funny, but it certainly packs the most punch any two tiny packets of Maggi noodles can give you.

Maggi started off as an instant noodle brand in Switzerland, but today, it has become a Malaysian household staple – how many of us can say we don't have Maggi stashed somewhere in our pantry cabinets? Meanwhile, "kawen", which is an alternate spelling of the Malay word, "kahwin", means "to marry".

I can ensure you, though, it has nothing to do with eating Maggi on your wedding day, or getting married over a packet of Maggi noodles – Maggi Kawen is the art of combining two different Maggi flavours into one bowl. We're usually free to mix and match our own, but the most common and well-loved is the combination of its curry and asam laksa flavours. (Not to mention it's been featured on Maggi's official YouTube page too!)

The two most popular flavours used in Maggi Kawen: asam laksa and curry.

Trust me, folks - it looks good, but it tastes even better! Add your own extra "toppings" like sausages for the optimum eating experience.

Sounds odd enough, but trust me – this is a classic case of two is better than one. You get the sour twinge of asam laksa and the spicy delight of curry, all mixed together! This is the ultimate super saver, especially for hungry hostel kids; it's a cheap way to bring some excitement into your food, and feeds two people at that!

Milo, the popular hot chocolate drink, is another Malaysian favourite I'm sure we're all familiar with, but how acquainted are you with the term Milo Iron?

I can tell some of you reading this might be a bit alarmed already, but don't worry, it's not anything like sprinkling Milo powder on an iron, or anything like that! Popular among students staying with friends or at national service, this is a snack that's as easy to prepare as saying your alphabets.

Poke some holes into the standard 3-in-1 Milo packet, wrap it with newspaper or a piece of cloth to prevent it from melting, and – yes, you've probably guessed what comes next – iron it. Once that's done, all that's left is to leave it to chill in the refrigerator until it hardens completely. There you go: your very own homemade Milo chocolate bar!

All you need for this snack is a 3-in-1 Milo packet, an iron, and a sheet of newspaper.

Melted Milo powder chilled to perfection - hot and cold have never done so well together.

For foodies who don't have the strongest sweet tooth like myself, this is the ideal snack because it packs all the flavour and punch of Milo, but is also not overly sweet like its existing products on the market. So the next time you have an extra Milo 3-in-1 packet lying around, why not consider eating it instead of drinking it?

We Malaysians have always been innovative like that, and not only with our food! It's an innate simple pleasure that probably came from living in a country with so many hidden gems.

With this final blog post, your tour around the local scene (yes, pun fully intended) has come to an end. We couldn't be happier to have been your Malaysian tour guide for these past 7 weeks! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sticking with us through this journey, and we're delighted to have shared a little bit about what makes Malaysia home to each of us at The Local Scene.

Bibliography

MAGGI Malaysia. (2014, September 22). MAGGI® KARI Kawen MAGGI® ASAM LAKSA. #BestnyaKawen! [Video file]. Retrieved 20 November, 2015 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEGX2xQ5YLk

Remember last week’s blog post mentioning a certain special guest? 

Here they are now: a local band that is clearly unstoppable. If you haven’t heard of the song "Feel Good" or "Who’s Gonna Stop Me?!" by Paperplane Pursuit, then it’s time to leave that rock you’ve been living under. 

No, seriously. 

The three lads of Paperplane Pursuit! (Paperplane Pursuit, 2014)

Paperplane Pursuit is made up of lead vocalist John O, drummer Dru Yap and guitarist Isaac Ravi, and they’re taking the music industry by storm! "Feel Good" stayed on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream Indicator Charts for 7 weeks! We’re pretty sure the rest of Malaysia is really proud of the homegrown band. (We know we are!) 

So, what’s next? 

The Local Scene got the opportunity to interview Paperplane Pursuit (be very jealous) and they shared their thoughts about the local music industry, and what’s in store for the year 2016. 

First of all, how’s 2015 going so far? 

It's been great! So many good things have happened for us just in this one year. Our song getting on the Billboard indicator charts, releasing a new single "Who's Gonna Stop Me?!" along with what we think is our best music video so far. And now, we're working on a new album that will be completed before the year is over. 

With the band’s songs making waves internationally and locally, surely Paperplane Pursuit is getting recognized everywhere. How is the band adjusting to the new attention? 

We try not to let these things get to our head. At the end of the day we're just ordinary people who get to make a living doing what we love. But of course, so far we're not complaining having to take much more selfies with our fans than before. It's all been good fun. 

What does it mean for the band to be one of the leading musicians in the local industry? 

Honestly, it means that the Malaysian public really lacks exposure to the local scene. We say this because in Malaysia there are many act that is really talented and who make great music. We just have been fortunate to get recognition we have but we're looking forward to seeing more local artist gain exposure.

This past year, the boys charted on the Billboard Top 40 - and they're jumping for joy! (Paperplane Pursuit, 2015)

If the band could change one thing about the local music scene, what would it be? 

Make it less local, more international. Our local scene has so little international exposure and with so many good acts more of it should get out there. We're trying to do our part to change that one step at a time. 

What advice would the band give to aspiring local musicians that want to break into the music industry? 

Don't wait for anyone to come and make you successful, make it happen for yourself. Be prepared to take charge of every area of your music career, the business aspect of it, creative, marketing, production. Don't sit back and wait for something to happen. And this whole journey will be exciting, so enjoy it.  

2016 is just a few months away. What is the band hoping to achieve in the new year?

2015 was just the beginning for us. Next year we hope to get a better foothold in the international market. 

Lastly, will there be a tour happening anytime soon in Malaysia?

No plans at the moment to tour Malaysia. We wish we could do everything, but there's only time for so much. Our heart is for Malaysia so we definitely want to keep performing for our Malaysian fans as much as we are invited to do so. 

Music is food for the soul, and next week, we bring you something equally delicious. The Local Scene would like to thank Paperplane Pursuit for talking to us, and we absolutely cannot wait for their new music!

In the meantime, stay tuned to their social media for more updates. 

Facebook: Paperplane Pursuit

Twitter: @PaperplaneP

Instagram: @paperplanepursuit

Youtube: Paperplane Pursuit 

Bibliography

Paperplane Pursuit. (2014). The three lads of Paperplane Pursuit!. Retrieved 13 November, 2015 from https://scontent-kul1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11885331_10153435472841928_7987987878852808917_n.jpg?oh=beb4b8378ed5bb98095fdb89fc71be5f&oe=56BD5042

Paperplane Pursuit. (2015). This past year, the boys charted on the Billboard Top 40 - and they're jumping for joy!. Retrieved 13 November, 2015 from https://www.youtube.com/user/paperplanepursuit

Cameras were all the talk here last week on, but all that commuting must've taken its toll on you, yes? The Local Scene's travels around our beautiful homeland have come to an end, and this week, the technology spotlight moves from photography – a form of art that comes down to careful planning and a sharp eye – to something that's become a part of all our lives, whether we realise it or not.

Smartphones have become everyone's new companion, from being our study buddies to our trusty GPS systems. All smartphones come with their very own digital store, where mobile applications – usually more simply known as apps – can be downloaded either for free or a fixed price, giving new life to the phrase "a push of a button".

Convenience these days goes far beyond simply having a calculator at hand, or being able to take crystal clear photos. Even regular users like you and I expect to have everything at the tips of our fingers, and Malaysian mobile app developers have answered their callings.

The fashion market is filled to the brim with different clothing brands sprouting like mushrooms, and it's hardly uncommon to be spoilt for choice. With this in mind, local entrepreneur Kendrick Wong built a team and an idea of creating a mobile fashion discovery portal, which ultimately took form as Shoppr.

Instead of physically paying a visit to the mall and sifting through tens of stores, users can upload photos of their daily outfits, as well as their closets, to the app's database for others to view and like, and vice versa. Imagine having one big catalogue of apparel brands from all over the world, mixed and matched with different items of clothing – pretty dandy idea, if you ask me. Who better to show off your OOTDs to, if not fellow fashion enthusiasts?

The Shoppr app features a sleek, clean interface that makes its highlight, user apparel, stand out. (Shoppr, 2015)

Fashion is, of course, important, but if it's one thing Malaysians can't go without, it's – yes, you probably guessed it – food!

Benson Chang helped out in small-time restaurants when he was younger, and the one thing he noticed was that the staff were often too busy to pick up the phone and take down bookings from callers. This was the inspiration behind his latest brainchild, TableApp.

Booking tables at any of the 120 startup restaurants (and counting) that the app has on board, without having to worry about phone calls not getting through or reservations getting lost, was the original purpose of the app. Now, though, more than 50,000 diners are using it as a platform to communicate with fellow foodies.

TableApp currently services 120 restaurants and allows for free bookings at all of them! (TableApp, 2014)

Top-quality restaurant food is one thing, but what about the days where you just don't feel like going anywhere? Or the couch potatoes? The team at Presto has got that covered.

The name Presto might be familiar to some – not the magic spell, but the grocery store chain scattered around the Klang Valley. Its co-founders decided to open physical outlets first to get the brand name some exposure, but their real master plan soon followed – an online supermarket that delivers all ordered products fresh and right up to your doorstep.

Presto is not only available on mobile phones, but also has a web interface for those who prefer using their laptops or personal computers. (Presto Grocer, 2013)

Apps like these take minutes to download, but years (and a ton of courage!) to even begin developing. Bottom line is, it's not easy. To deliver convenience to users and establish the local name in a market largely dominated by foreign players sounds like a huge feat, but we believe that apps like Shoppr, TableApp and Presto are bringing the nation one step closer to achieving that.

Taking the Malaysian name across oceans and continents are undoubtedly the long-term goal of these developers, but it's also heavily got to do with the pursuit (hint, hint) of next week's featurette, when we bring you exclusive content from some very special guests!

Bibliography

eMarketer Inc. (2014). 2 Billion Consumers Worldwide to Get Smart(phones) by 2016. eMarketer. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://www.emarketer.com/Article/2-Billion-Consumers-Worldwide-Smartphones-by-2016/1011694

Presto Grocer. (2013). Presto is not only available on mobile phones, but also has a web interface for those who prefer using their laptops or personal computers [Online image]. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://www.expatgomalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/3.-Presto-720.jpg

Shoppr. (2015). The Shoppr app features a sleek, clean interface that makes its highlight, user apparel, stand out [Online image]. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://www.dealstreetasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Shoppr_raises_400k-seedfund_500startups_eastern_ventures.jpg

TableApp. (2014). TableApp currently services 120 restaurants and allows for free bookings at all of them! [Online image]. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://az598155.vo.msecnd.net/wp-uploads/2014/01/reserve-restaurant-malaysia.png

Tay, Daniel. (2014). Forget food blogging: this startup aims to show that table reservations are the real money-makers. TechInAsia. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from https://www.techinasia.com/forget-food-blogging-startup-aims-show-table-reservations-real-moneymakers/

We brought nature lovers to the outskirts for some quality unwinding in our last feature, but don't worry, we haven't forgotten about those who're more comfortable being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the big city!

This week, The Local Scene is taking you on another joyride – this time a picturesque adventure for avid photographers! Kuala Lumpur might be infamous for mind-numbing traffic jams (and more recently, haze), but looking past that, our bustling capital city is home to several beautiful sights that are simply stunning in pictures.

Petaling Street, widely considered the hub of Malaysian culture, is our first pit stop! Home to the city's central market, its main attraction is Lorong Melayu, which specialises in local arts and crafts. Meanwhile, a short 20-minute walk away is Little India, which is bursting at the seams with strong colours and even stronger scents! 

These two areas are most exciting during the day, as traders will be milling around with goods like traditional clothing, pottery and craft. Steeped in culture, the streets here are wonderful to photograph as you'll get a glimpse of the heritage that truly makes Malaysia special.

Located at Batu Caves, the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a holy shrine that consists of five small temples. Set against a background of age-old mountains, its beautiful, golden architecture and perfect lighting casts a peaceful veil over the area. The ambience is truly calming, not only to temple-goers, but also tourists! Trust me; that climb of 272 steps? Completely worth it for the breathtaking pictures you'll end up taking.

The temple is best photographed in the evenings, when the dusky pastel skies bring out its structure and warm lighting.

Closer to the heart of the city is the recently-built Nu Sentral shopping mall, a true feat of engineering and architecture. Located a stone's throw away from KL Sentral station, this brilliantly-built metallic structure glistens like diamonds when sunlight beams down on it. Even local pedestrians stop to photograph it sometimes, not just regular tourists! I know I do, that's for sure.

Fine metallic sheets beautifully arranged into an elegant structure outside Nu Sentral.

Meanwhile, Bukit Bintang is an area true to its name because it truly comes to life when the stars are out to play. At night, the streets transform into Malaysia's very own version of Times Square – brightly-lit restaurants and shops are woven perfectly between posh buildings, and the roads are jam-packed with all walks of life.

The contrast between the colourful streets and night skies are truly a treat for photographers, especially those who enjoy snapping city nightlife and posh buildings. Do keep safety in mind, though, as the traffic here is heavy no matter what time of the day it is!

Nestled in the middle of two beautiful skyscrapers in Bukit Bintang is a quiet alley lined with trees and bathed in warm light.

Iconic Malaysian landmarks that we definitely can't go without mentioning is the scenic KL Tower and its equally mesmerising companion, the Petronas Twin Towers – two of the tallest buildings in the nation. Flanked by towering skyscrapers and stunning nature courtesy of the nearby park, these two beacons of light look best at night, set against the glistening Kuala Lumpur cityscape. 

KL Tower playing peek-a-boo with the greenery surrounding the very heart of Kuala Lumpur's city centre.

Scattered all around Kuala Lumpur, these Malaysian landmarks are easily accessible via public transportation like train lines, so don't worry! Commuting would be the least of your hassles, though, believe me; as an avid photographer myself, I can tell you that once you start adjusting your camera settings and immersing yourself into taking pictures of these breathtaking places, you'll appreciate these Malaysian landmarks as more than just national icons.

They truly are a window to the city life in Kuala Lumpur – bustling and jam-packed, but 100% Malaysian and always, always feels like home.

The Local Scene has done our fair share of travelling this past month, and this marks the end of our adventures around Malaysia! Next week, our resident tech geek will be taking the stand and shedding some light on a different kind of Malaysian pride, so keep your eyes peeled!

Bibliography

About (Centre for Malaysian, Culture, Heritage, Art and Craft). 2015. Retrieved 29 October, 2010 from http://centralmarket.com.my/about.php

Before the break, we featured pieces on uncommon sports in Malaysia; isn't a little rest and relaxation called for after all that physical exertion? The Local Scene is back and recharged after our little getaway last week, and we hope you are too!

Speaking of getaways, what with the year-end holidays right up our alley, we've decided to shine some light on some hidden places that you can retreat to for a well-deserved vacation, tucked away in the folds of nature and well away from the rat race of the big ol' city.

Located in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, The Shorea is a beautiful, secluded resort built within the Berembun forest reserve.

Now people might think, "Huh? Built in a jungle? Are there even proper working facilities there?" Rest assured, they do; fully-functional and equipped bathrooms and kitchens are available for guest use, so there won't be any panic for food or having to sneak off into the forest for any business, don't worry!

Quality rest and relaxation is of high priority at The Shorea, whose villas are built on natural terrain. Not only is there a sun deck, the resort also offers two different pools – an infinity pool and a plunge pool – for visitors to soak in the stunning views of the rainforest (no pun intended, I promise). Fun fact: both are salt water pools with zero chloramines, just like the actual sea!

The infinity pool overlooking the beautiful rainforest. (The Shorea, 2015)

For guests who prefer something a bit more thrilling, the nature walk is a popular attraction, especially around dawn and dusk. At these times, lucky visitors might catch a glimpse of the rare birds who call the forest reserve home, such as the magnificent hornbills when they feed at sunset.

Moreover, for a small fee, an indigenous tribesman from a nearby village will bring adventurers through the rainforest's jungle track, which runs along the Batang Benar River and past a series of gorgeous waterfalls.

A wide-angle view of the scenic nature walk. (The Shorea, 2015)

North of Negeri Sembilan, nestled between the limestone hills, greenery and a lake, is the Tadom Hill Resort in Banting, Selangor. It boasts beautifully-structured chalets built entirely out of bamboo, and a wide selection of recreational activities for thrill-seekers at heart.

Tadom Groove, which offers a picturesque view of a sparkling clear lake, is the hub of the resort's main activities; there are diving platforms, floating lounge chairs, and even Tarzan swings for the brave! Scattered in the vicinity of the area are places for bamboo rafting, zip lining, stand-up paddling, and a myriad of other recreational activities, sure to leave guests spoilt for choice.

Tadom Groove, the resort's main recreational area, also doubles as a live performance venue. (Tadom Hill Resort, 2015)

Real daredevils, however, also have something to look forward here – its monstrous obstacle course called Tadom Base. Certified Malaysia's toughest obstacle course, it is comprised of a series of gruelling activities that are definitely not for the faint-hearted!

A promotional poster for Tadom Base that showcases the entirety of the challenging obstacle course. (Tadom Base, 2015)

If some quiet time away from the rat race of the concrete jungle just to unwind and be one with nature is what you're after, these two gems hidden in the little pockets of West Malaysia should certainly be in your list of bookmarked places! And the best part? No 10-hour flights necessary to make you feel like you're relaxing in the Maldives; both these natural beauties are entirely local and won't burn a hole in your pocket.

Next week, we whisk you off on another travelling adventure – we don't want to give too much away, so all we can say is, brace yourselves for a feast for the eyes!

Bibliography
Tadom Base. (2015). A promotional poster for Tadom Base that showcases the entirety of the challenging obstacle course [Online image]. Retrieved 20 October, 2015 from http://tadombase.com/about-tadom-base/

Tadom Hill Resorts. (2015). About Us. Retrieved 20 October, 2015 from http://www.tadomhillresorts.com/about-us/

Tadom Hill Resorts. (2015). Tadom Groove, the resort's main recreational area, also doubles as a live performance venue [Online image]. Retrieved 20 October, 2015 from http://www.tadomhillresorts.com/gallery/

The Shorea. (2015). A wide-angle view of the scenic nature walk [Online image]. Retrieved 20 October, 2015 from http://www.theshorea.com/recreational-activities/nature-walk/

The Shorea. (2015). About The Shorea. Retrieved 19 October, 2015 from http://www.theshorea.com/the-shorea/about-shorea/

The Shorea. (2015). The infinity pool overlooking the beautiful rainforest [Online image]. Retrieved 19 October, 2015 from https://scontent-kul1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12042991_674973832639262_2509994218741097259_n.jpg?oh=88b252e6f604b5370f6ac0cbaada6fc7&oe=56C5DF4A

Last week, we featured an insightful piece on the Malaysian cheerleading industry to kick off the KDU Sports Carnival with a bang! In light of the event's closing ceremony just yesterday, The Local Scene will be exploring another physical activity, this time softer and more steeped with emotion – dance.

People always say dance is a sport, and it honestly is. As a dancer myself, I can tell you as much, but I can also tell you that isn't all. Dance isn't simple enough to describe in one word. Have you ever heard people say "the art of dance"? Well, that's because dance is a form of art. Dance is a way of life.

Tons of good dancers around the world contribute not only to the entertainment industry, but also generally in the field of art itself. Everyone knows dance; how well, though, do Malaysians know about locally-trained dancers and the hard work they put into their craft?

The history of dance goes way back, and through the decades, hundreds of dance styles have evolved all over the globe. Traditional dance, of course, is still very prominent in culture-based countries like ours, but modern dance like ballet, salsa and hip-hop also have huge local followings.

The local response for hip-hop, in particular, has all but shot through the roof! Every year, huge hip-hop events take place in Malaysia, where its champions would go on to represent the country in following stages internationally. It's very much a competition of passion as it is art, a balance between hard-hitting moves and soft fluidity.

Handstands: one of the most used, staple moves in hip-hop. (Shah Productions Sdn. Bhd., 2011)

Take, for instance, R16 – one of the biggest dance competitions in the world. While the tournament itself was originally organised by the Korea Tourism Organisation, its participants come from all over the world, including but not limited to South East Asia, East Asia and Europe. Hundreds of teams come together in each of these countries to battle it out against each other, and the winner will go on to represent their country at the international finals. This is where Famous Crew, one of the top b-boy crews in Malaysia, made a name for themselves by snagging the title of national champions!

The solo finals of R16 Malaysia, a showdown between b-boys Khenobu and Joe. (R16 Malaysia, 2013)

Fellow street dance crew Elecoldxhot also made waves internationally in 2014 when they represented our country at the Hip-Hop International Championship Finals and World of Dance in the United States.

Elecoldxhot's promotional poster for their showcase at World of Dance (WOD) 2014. (World of Dance, 2014)

Dance is often seen as just another hobby or interest, but it could be a lifelong career for some. Years of training can go into mastering just its foundations! Just like any other form of learning, no one can ever finish mastering dance completely, but that's part of the fun and experience, isn't it?

I'll be the first to admit that there will be a lot of blood, sweat and tears along the way. That's usually the reason why some parents won't allow their kids to take dance professionally; they think it's too dangerous. The toughest part of dance, though, isn't how physical it is, but how much mental strength you need to give when you commit to dance as a career.

Pushing through with your decision, though, opens up endless possibilities to create what I like to call miracles. It's a gamble, but who knows? We Malaysians could be the ones to end up changing the world of performing arts.

Next week, The Local Scene will be taking a short break to recharge after our featurettes on cheer and dance, which were both very demanding activities (whew!). When we come back, we'll bring you on a more relaxing, but no less exciting adventure!

 

Bibliography

R16 Malaysia. (2013). The solo finals of R16 Malaysia, a showdown between b-boys Khenobu and Joe. [Online image]. Retrieved 9 October 2015 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rum-tDRNzc

Shah Production Sdn. Bhd. (2011). Handstands: one of the most used, staple moves in hip-hop. [Online image]. Retrieved 9 October 2015 from http://sp-entertainment.net/dancers.html

World of Dance. (2014). Elecoldxhot's promotional poster for their showcase at World of Dance (WOD) 2014. [Online image]. Retrieved 5 October, 2015 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxI_P6haANw

Seeing as the annual sports carnival is currently underway here at KDU, The Local Scene has decided to kick off our weekly blog with – you guessed it – sports! It might not be a traditional sport known by all, but it’s a sport nonetheless, full with dedication and hard work. It's, drumroll please, cheerleading!

When the word "cheerleading" is mentioned in Malaysia, most either have no idea what it is or think of girls with short skirts prancing around with pompoms. What they don’t know, is the fact that these teams of 16 or more athletes do strength work like any other sport to train their strength and stamina, all for a routine lasting a total of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

In the past decade, cheerleading in Malaysia has vastly improved due to the annual high school national competition, CHEER. It is a fairly popular event amongst high school students, but the public barely knows about the teams who are representing Malaysia for international competitions – All-Stars teams.

Hero All-Stars executing the pyramid in their routine. (Hero All-Stars, 2014)

"Cheer is actually a tough sport but most people don’t see that, which is quite sad," Sandy Tey, an All-Stars cheerleader, responds when asked about what cheer is like. "Because we go through so much blood, sweat and tears just to get the champion title."

In the recent decade, dedicated participants of cheerleading have started building their own companies from scratch to provide coaching services, performances for events and of course, starting up their very own All-Stars teams, which include The Rebels, Cheer Aces All Star, Awesome All-Stars, Hero All-Stars, Mickeymitez All Star, Bullets All Star and more. These companies send their teams to compete in both local and international competitions, the latter of which includes but is not limited to Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Australia.

Awesome All-Stars with their award in Australia. (JC Lam, 2014)

Whilst the thought of going abroad to compete and representing Malaysia sounds cool, these cheerleaders have to fork out their own cash for flight tickets, accommodation and meals for these international competitions. Why, you ask? It’s simply because it's still not a well-known sport within the community. 

Partner stunts: when a flyer balances herself on one arm of the base, the stunt is called a cupie. (Sandy Tey, 2015)

When asked about the hardest part of cheerleading, Sandy replies that it's mostly money issues. "Cheer attire could cost up to MYR300 per person, and usually, if a team wins the competition, the prizes aren't cash, but only medals and trophies."

Cheerleading sounds like a financial burden, doesn't it? MYR300 solely for a uniform; how could this sport possibly be worth it? The answer to that is simple - passion. "The love for performing and showing off the skills that you took ages to perfect," Sandy finishes proudly. "That's what keeps us going back for more even though there are so many drawbacks."

An advanced-level partner stunt. (Evy Tan, 2015)

Malaysia might not be the best in cheerleading, but hey, they are definitely improving and setting standards within the country by going all out. These youngsters are determined to show their homeland that this sport is worth the attention.

The public, on the other hand, should try seeing them as athletes and not stereotype them with "the girls want attention and the boys are feminine, just saying". Honestly speaking, I’d pay to see these judgemental people attempt to lift someone with one arm or toss them up about 30 feet into the air and catch them again.

I mean, I’m just saying.

There are plenty of underrated competitive physical activities in Malaysia, and cheer is just one of them! Stay tuned next week for a glimpse into a form of art much like cheer, and the tough, exhausting effort that goes into pulling off aesthetics that will wow you.

Bibliography

Hero All-Stars Facebook Page. (2014). Hero All-Stars executing the pyramid during their routine [Online image]. 

Retrieved 26 September, 2015 from https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11138561_883872948338929_8238118790206564420_n.jpg?oh=cb36a3681ef7a019ce84863d0b7a8f84&oe=5691F3E1&__gda__=1452958423_71940fa7081c6b4e1d33b889ee895057

Lam, JC. (2014). Awesome All-Stars with their award in Australia [Online image].

Retrieved 26 September, 2015 from http://rage.com.my/flying-high/

Tan, Evy. (2014). An advanced-level stunt for partner stunting [Online image].

Retrieved 26 September, 2015 from

https://scontent-kul1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10885191_1029779003705954_1867873458730592599_n.jpg?oh=438d487b73c352347f998b6138e37b53&oe=569ABB32

Tey, Sandy. (2015). An example of partner stunts: when a flyer balances herself on one arm of the base, the stunt is called a cupie. [Online image].

Retrieved 26 September, 2015 from https://scontent-kul1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1903001_10153234929164038_3645410310386231693_n.jpg?oh=87f406c5a1bb69a371138feb98b7efe1&oe=568A919C