In his ‘Prime’
Who: Datuk Seri Najib Razak (yessiree!)
When: Circa early 1970s (The epic fuchsia paisley cravat was ‘on fleek ‘– as millennials would say – for the era)
Where: Nottingham, The United Kingdom (Najib was reading Industrial Economics at the University of Nottingham – where he clearly cut quite the figure, and was probably the subject of envious sartorial study).
Never mind, I’ll find, someone like ‘Yeoh’
Who: Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh
When: 1977 (She was 15)
Where: Ipoh, Perak (Michelle’s casual, near-arabesque pose bespeaks the intense ballet training she had been undergoing since toddlerhood. Not long after this picture was taken, she and her family moved to London, where she enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dance and twerked up a storm).
‘Tun’ back the clock
Who: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (fierce!)
When: Circa late 1940s
Where: Singapore (Tun was in the midst of studying medicine at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore – and simultaneously triggered heart palpitations college-wide with his terminal case of colonial-period debonairness. He caused the greatest ‘heart problems’ for fellow student, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, whom he met there).
‘Banking’ on her future
Who: Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz (yowzah!)
When: 1970 (She was 22)
Where: Kuala Lumpur (Calamitously-beautiful Zeti was at her convocation at University Malaya, shortly prior to her enrollment in the University of Pennsylvania, where she carried out pioneering work as part of her PhD dissertation on Monetary and International Economics).
To everything, Tun, Tun, Tun
Who: Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (yes way!)
When: Circa mid 1960s
Where: Kuala Lumpur (Mild-mannered, but sambal-hot Tun had just earned his degree in Islamic Studies from University Malaya, and was set to kick-start his illustrious career by signing up for the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Corps).
M(V)P for Lembah Pantai
Who: Nurul Izzah Anwar (centre, with two of her siblings)
When: Circa late 1980s
Where: Kuala Lumpur (Nurul – rocking a pink juvenile number with adult aplomb – was receiving her primary education at SK Bukit Damasara, where she kicked scholastic a**, as only she could).
The Yoong and the restless
Who: Alex Yoong (with father, Hanifah)
When: Circa 1980
Where: The United Kingdom (Toddler-on-tyres Alex’s entire family were motor racing devotees who made pilgrimages to rallies worldwide – first as gape-mouthed spectators, then as jaw-dropping participants. His first words were probably ‘step on it!’).
Tiger and Sing(h)a of Jelutong
Who: Karpal Singh (mind blown!)
When: Circa the late 1970s
Where: Jelutong, Penang (Resembling Rajinikanth to a disconcerting degree, the late, great Karpal was meeting with his adoring constituents following his ‘boss’ win of the Jelutong parliamentary and Bukit Gelugor state seats in the 1978 general elections).
In the ‘Nik’ of time
Who: Nik Aziz Nik Mat
When: Circa mid 1950s
Where: Cairo, Egypt (the late ‘Tok Guru’ was obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Studies and Master’s degree in Islamic Jurisprudence at the prestigious, 1,000 year-old Al-Azhar University. Prior to Egypt, Nik Aziz buried his nose in the books of the Darul Uloom Deoband Islamic school in Uttar Pradesh, India).
‘Majid’ carpet ride
Who: Sheila Majid (right, with her sister)
When: Circa early 1970s
Where: Kuala Lumpur (The very, very sensibly-attired and strictly composed young Sheila – Coco Chanel would have been a fangirl – was attending a Christmas party with her 7 elder siblings near her forest-surrounded childhood home at Swettenham Road (now Jalan Mahameru). The petite sweetie was holding a gift which would prove to be intended for the music-loving public – her vocal artistry.