As a lad, he grew up speaking three languages – Bahasa Melayu, English and Mandarin – switching depending on who he was with. Later, while studying in France, he noticed how fiercely the locals honoured their language. This inspired him to develop a deep love for his own.
“What I love is how inclusive Bahasa Malaysia is. When people talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, BM has represented that for generations.
“Pronouns like ‘saya’, ‘dia’, ‘kami’, ‘kita’ carry no gender, reminding us, subtly but powerfully, that we’re equal at the table,” he told FMT Lifestyle.
“And then there are the idioms that reveal our values: ‘air tangan’ (the value of someone’s craftsmanship/ cooking), ‘jaga hati’ (to be thoughtful with one another), and ‘sepoi-sepoi bahasa’ (to speak gently).
“These phrases don’t just describe actions – they reflect the kind of society we are. BM isn’t just a language to me; it’s our shared heartbeat.”
Malaysians are likely familiar with Abang Brian, who has made many appearances on local television over the last few years.
The Batu Pahat, Johor-born media personality was a host on cooking shows such as “Chef Adik” and “Menu Kita”, a contestant on shows such as “The Apartment” and “Masterchef Malaysia”, and a promoter on the “CJ Wow Shop” show.
He was also a partner at the Young Chef’s Academy, and an author of seven books.
Radio listeners will probably remember him as a host of Suria FM, where he made waves by announcing in fluent BM. He recalled, with a laugh, how listeners would often call in to the station and request for “DJ Ibrahim”, after mishearing his name as “Brahim”.
“On radio, when we close our eyes and just speak the same language, we don’t see colour, race, gender, economic status, or any of the other labels that divide us. We hear one another.
“That’s the magic I carried from Suria: the mic can be a bridge, and Bahasa Malaysia is one of the strongest planks on that bridge.”
He is currently living in Washington, DC, where he is completing his PhD and serving as a chief instructor at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
His latest project is “The Hungry Immigrant”, a podcast dedicated to celebrating and preserving Asian food culture and heritage, and its spin-off, “Hungry Bites”. They have featured guests such as UK Masterchef winner Ping Coombes, Michelin Bib list culinary director Tim Ma, and Malaysia’s very own Chef Wan.
Chen was inspired to create the podcast after carrying out research for his PhD and discovering that many young people were now drifting from their culture and heritage.
“I created ‘The Hungry Immigrant’ as a living archive, capturing Asian food stories – techniques, memories, identities – from across the globe, in a format younger listeners actually consume. Once a story is in a podcast feed, it can live there forever,” he said.
It is perhaps this love of heritage that keeps him still connected to his homeland, to which he tries to return at least once or twice a year.
(What’s the first thing he eats upon returning to Malaysia? Believe it or not, the sambal ikan bilis bun from Kedai Mesra Petronas, which he considers his “welcome home” bite!)
At Auguste Escoffier, he makes a point to name his country and its people when he introduces himself. If someone isn’t sure where Malaysia is, he’s happy to explain and encourage them to find out more.
“Being Malaysian is, first, about the values we share. I know our system has imperfections and real inequalities. Still, my hope is that one day we’ll simply say, ‘We are Malaysian’, not Chinese-Malaysian, Indian-Malaysian, or Malay-Malaysian.
“It’s beautiful to recognise the diversity that builds us, but not to let it divide or segregate us,” he stressed.
Asked what it would take to rebuild our future, he said the fuller answer belongs to those who are more well-versed in history and politics.
“What I do know is this: continuous, honest conversation, paired with everyday acts of kindness and the sharing of meals, will move us forward.”
Visit Abang Brian’s website, and follow him on Instagram. Also check out ‘The Hungry Immigrant’ on Spotify, YouTube and Instagram.