MyKV: Zahim Albakri

OUR VALLEY HAS POTHOLES OF GOODIES AND ZAHIM ALBAKRI TELLS US WHERE HE DIGS.

Director and actor Zahim Albakri has been keeping himself busy the past few months, moving straight from directing season two of Puteri Gunung Ledang - The Musical to the third restaging of Gold Rain and Hailstones at KL Performing Arts Centre which ended its run last month. The artistic director of Dramalab takes some time off the speak to KLue about what he likes about the Klang Valley.

Favourite makan spots

I go to a lot of different mamaks, but the nearest to where I live is Lotus in Jalan Ampang. It was also the supper place where the cast and crew of Puteri Gunung Ledang - The Musical who crowd for a meal after the show. It really depends on where I am, and mamak stalls seem to be the most convenient. Even though, it can a dangerous thing that I frequent them so often, because it's not very healthy!

Favourite places to shop

For convenience, its Suria KLCC cause it's near where I live. If I'm in my office in Taman Tun, it will be 1 Utama or Ikano. Having said that, I do actually enjoy going around IKEA. I never buy anything but tea lights, and my house is has a hell of a lot of tea lights and I never use them. I love browsing through bookstores like Kinokuniya too.

Let's go out

No Black Tie for hanging out, and sometimes for its music too. Usually when I go there, there's always someone I know. The new No Black Tie has managed to capture the atmosphere of the previous venue. I've been to Toproom once or twice, and I like it as well.

Favourite performer

Jazz singer Judy Suderio. It's not often that I see her perform, but I caught her at different stages of my life and I somehow associate her with KL. It's so nostalgic. I must be getting old! And also dancer Aida Redza, she's something when she performs-so dangerous and exciting to watch-in some ways, we lack performers who have an edge like her.

Pastime

I started with lots of high maintenance hobbies, but I never got through them. I once kept tropical fish, and they all died. Now it's watching movies on DVD when I have the time.

What do you think is the most attractive neighbourhood to live in?

It used to be where I live now, right in the middle of the city. It's a perfect residential area, smack in the middle of town. It's been my family home since the 1960s, and I enjoy living there for its convenience. But with bad traffic, it's been difficult getting in and out of the area now. I used to stay in Federal Hill for a while, but the house has since been demolished. I enjoyed living there because the place was like one of those secret places in KL where you feel like you're out in the country, even though it's in the city.

What's the strangest thing you've seen in the Valley?

Occasionally, I'd suddenly look up and see I building that I've never noticed before, and I'd go "Eh, when did that appear?" It still freaks me out sometimes. And from where I live, I can see the Twin Towers, and once I saw an airship near the towers, and it felt like I was seeing something out of a black and white, 1920s sci-fi movie.

How would you describe KL-ites?

The real KL-ites, the people who are born and bred here? Sometimes I feel they need to reclaim the city. People come here from all over, and they don't have the same sense of history and respect for KL. Maybe I just have a rose-tinted view of what it was like before.

If you were the mayor of Klang Valley, the first thing you would do is...

I guess the thing that affects me and most of us is the traffic. There must be some solution to the problem. And if there is a plan, stick with it. Right now, with every new mayor, the plan changes. I'd like to be "elected" as mayor rather than be "appointed" as mayor. And whatever I do, I'd like to be held responsible for the decisions I make.

What makes Klang Valley so Klang Valley?

On one level it's bustling, and busy. But there's still a laid back attitude about the people here. People like to hang out and relax. I think Malaysians generally enjoy hanging out and we should embrace it. Let's have more space to hang out and lepak!

Text Jolyn Thong

Photo Shermen Mukhtar

Article taken on KLue Magazine October 2006, Issue 96