By: Francis Dass
An advertising man tells FRANCIS DASS what he likes about his neighbourhood.
Herman Mizar Azmi, 29, is fast making a name in the advertising and promotions world of shopping complexes in the Klang Valley. Currently employed as an A&P executive at the Hartamas Shopping Centre, this ebullient and jovial young man has become fast friends with many in the media in a short time thanks to his helpful and efficient nature. He is also on a rapid learning curve (he works alone in the A&P department after the manager in his department left) and he relishes every moment of it. Born and raised in Negri Sembilan, he now lives in Petaling Jaya.
Q: When did you first come to Petaling Jaya?
A: I have been living in PJ since 1997, when I was pursuing my studies as an undergraduate at University of Malaya. I used to visit my aunt and cousins in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, (from Negri Sembilan) as a child. I didn’t know about PJ then. I remember those days when I used to play with my cousins and visit the Times bookstore in City Square (Jalan Tun Razak).
Q: What’s your view of PJ, now that you have spent a decade there?
A: PJ has accessibility to everything that an urbanite needs. You have restaurants and cafes selling food and drinks, watch shops, clothing stores, supermarkets, a Starbucks coffee outlet, a gym — everything that you could think of, you can find it in PJ’s Section 14. I am an avid reader and there are plenty of bookshops here as well. If I am looking for any specific book titles, then I can also hop over to Amcorp Mall (Jalan Persiaran Barat).
Q: Favourite author?
A: Amy Tan. I like the way she portrays the conflict between traditional Chinese families and modern values.
Q: What are your observations of multiculturalism in Malaysia?
A: The thing I have observed is that when you live in a multicultural environment, you tend to take things for granted. I see the multiculturalism in the way people deal with food, for example: You see Chinese people here using their hands when eating banana-leaf-rice, and Malays who use chopsticks when eating noodles.
Q: I understand that you speak Mandarin fluently. Where did you learn it?
A: I studied at Chung Hua school, Kuala Pilah (in Negri Sembilan) for both my primary and secondary education. That’s why I can read and speak Mandarin.
Q: Any other observations of PJ?
A: I am a nature lover and I like the fact that PJ has got a few parks. We have Taman Jaya (at Jalan Persiaran Barat) and the Astaka (near the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital).
Note from arenaKu: Unfortunately, we lost our interview with Herman Mizar Azmi in May 2004 due to the "sabotage" from PpCI.
