So when US diplomat Manu Bhalla made his inaugural visit to the state recently, he enlisted the help of Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid to show him around.
Bhalla was brought to the grande dame of Penang hawker centres, the Gurney Drive food court. Despite a light shower, they braved the breadth of the complex, craning every now and then under the tiny shelter of pushcarts to listen to an explainer from Syerleena.
From cuttlefish with kangkung to pasembur, Bhalla was given an education on the state’s variety of street offerings. Later, under a parasol, he was served with no less than 10 iconic Penang food items and desserts.
The one that hit home with Bhalla, a self-confessed “unadventurous” foodie, was the Cantonment Road char koay teow. “It’s just so good,” the diplomat enthused.
His other favourites were ambra asam boi juice and Chinese-style apom.
The chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was in George Town on his first visit as the de facto head of mission. During his visit, he called on chief minister Chow Kon Yeow and a plethora of American companies that have set up electronics industries here.
He and Chow also officiated a mural titled “You’re Not Alone”, located near the Pulau Tikus market. This artwork by Constance Luk – aimed at promoting mental-health awareness – came about thanks to the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), a US state department exchange programme.
Saying projects such as YSEALI were cornerstones of American diplomacy, Bhalla noted that next year marks the 60th anniversary of the Fulbright programme, which offers Malaysians and Americans the opportunity to visit each other’s countries to learn, carry out research, and study.
“Next year is also a vital one for the US-Malaysia partnership,” he added. “We are looking for ideas and ways to strengthen our engagement and collaborate with the Malaysian government, business community, civil society, youths, and alumni to operate programmes that will deepen these relationships.”
Bhalla further shared that his path to becoming a diplomat is a story of multicultural experiences, global perspectives, and unwavering dedication.
Born in India, his early years were shaped by his parents’ own roles as Indian diplomats. As such, he grew up travelling the world, often in those countries where his parents had been posted as diplomats.
These formative years exposed him to diverse cultures, languages and ways of life, laying the foundation for his future career.
Having spent some of his formative years in Denmark, he decided to pursue a higher education in the US. This eventually led him to a career in government, following 12 years in the financial and IT industry.
“I was delighted to have joined the US state department about 20 years ago,” Bhalla shared, crediting then secretary of state Colin Powell for having made a concerted effort to add more diversity to the staff.
“Given my background and having grown up in a diplomatic family, the challenges of being a diplomat and the call to serve the government all came together very nicely.
“In many ways, I am the embodiment of the American dream,” he concluded.
