Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, fat bidin, heaven, hell, infidel, islam, journalism, kafir, kuala lumpur, liberal, liberalism, malay, malaysia, multicultural, neraka, pluralism, plurality, quran, syurga, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Those condemned to hell
By Zan Azlee
MAY 25 — Many years ago, I was a big fan of Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, because I was a lover of wildlife and animals… just like him. I watched his shows on TV, wore khaki shorts (thankfully, I grew out of this phase!), copied his accent and even thought about dating his daughter once she grows up.
Then came the day he died, killed by a stingray while he was shooting an episode of his show. I was sad and I mourned. I watched his funeral service “live” on TV. He was a good man who fought for the preservation of wildlife and the environment. He was also a man who loved his family dearly and they loved him back.
Around the time of his death, I was having lunch with an “infidel” friend of mine… a Chinese guy from Jinjang (you can’t get more “infidel” than that, eh?).
“The Crocodile Hunter was a good man, wasn’t he?” asked “Infidel.”
“I believe so. Good man!” I answered.
“Was he a Muslim?”
“I don’t think so.”
“So he’s going to hell even though he’s a good man?”
Hmm… “Infidel” had a point there. As far as I can remember, I have always been told that only Muslims will go to heaven and non-Muslims go to hell. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, borneo, documentary, dusun, fat bidin, film, GDF, journalism, kinabatangan, malaysia, media, new media, sabah, solo journalism, SUARA, sukau, sungai, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, web video, workshop, zan azlee
Empowered by video
By Zan Azlee
MAY 18 — One of the main objectives of the existence of the media is to give a voice to normal people, or the rakyat. But sometimes, this objective gets lost when the media themselves get a bit overwhelmed (or big headed?) by all their obligations.
That’s why I always jump at the opportunity to help give a voice to the common folk, or the rakyat. That’s how, last week, I found myself in a small village called Kampung Sukau in Sabah, teaching locals how to tell stories using video. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, ambiga, anwar, bersih, city, conflict, demo, documentary, fat bidin, igp, interview, islam, journalism, keadian, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, media, muhammad, muslim, new media, news, nik aziz, pakatan rakyat, pas, police, police brutality, prophet, rahim noor, rally, riot, solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, violence, web video, zan azlee
Manipulating religion for worldly gains
By Zan Azlee
MAY 11 – One Muslim calling the other a kafir (infidel). Muslims simply declaring anything they feel like as being haram. All this while still in the heat of Bersih. What I am referring to is to the article in the New Straits Times which carried the headline ‘Nik Aziz the father of kafirs’.
And I am also referring to the country’s fatwa council declaring that it is haram for Muslims to be participating in Bersih rallies. The New Straits Times wrote that former IGP, Tan Sri Rahim Noor, says that PAS’ Nik Aziz is the father of kafirs. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, press, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, ambiga, anwar, bersih, city, conflict, demo, documentary, fat bidin, interview, islam, journalism, keadian, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, media, new media, news, pakatan rakyat, police brutality, rally, riot, solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, violence, web video, zan azlee
Violence against Malaysia
By Zan Azlee
MAY 4 — I waited for almost a week before actually writing or posting anything much about the recent Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur. There were so many emotions, I wanted to make sure that I was calm and coherent before actually commenting on it. And now that everything seems ever so slightly clearer to me, the one thing that affected me most that Saturday was the violence that occurred.
The day had started early for me and walking all around the city, I felt the almost party-like atmosphere amongst all the Malaysians that had gathered. Dataran Merdeka, of course, had a heavy police presence. It was cordoned off with metal fencing and even scary-looking barbed wire. But, as I mentioned, the atmosphere was very festive and I guess the intimidation wasn’t working that well.
When the rally was in full force, I was standing alongside the leaders as they were giving their speeches and encouraging the people to sing. Once everyone was as close to Dataran Merdeka as possible, I heard the leaders declaring the rally a success and calling for the crowd to disperse. The crowd didn’t disperse and I made my way behind the barricade and police line with the help of my press tag. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Click on the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay.
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media | Tags: 1malaysia, bersih, demonstration, documentary, fat bidin, interview, journalism, kuala lumpur, malaysia, media, new media, news, protest, rally, riot, solo journalism, video journalism, web video, zan azlee
I will be covering BERSIH 3.0 live (28th April 2012).
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Filed under: directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, bersih, democracy, documentary, fat bidin, interview, journalism, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, media, murakami, new media, news, solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, web video, zan azlee
Democracy. It’s happening!
By Zan Azlee
APRIL 27 — The heat of the general election can be felt. Rumours have been rife about it happening in June, then September, and now back to June again. Squabbles are happening between the political parties. Squabbles are happening among the NGOs and squabbles are also happening among the normal rakyat.
Each political party is claiming itself to be the righteous one. NGOs are pushing their agenda, taking advantage of the heightened social awareness. The rakyat are scattered. Some are just blind faithful to the side they are supporting. Many are on the fence while more just think that there’s really no quality choice.
Then there’s the media. We all know how all these years the mainstream media has always been tightly controlled (or self-controlled) in favour of the party in power.
But it looks like things are changing. Last year, I was a “live” guest on a radio station and I happened to mention Bersih 2.0. I was immediately interrupted and censored. This year, that same radio station, on the same show I was on, actually had a whole episode discussing the upcoming Bersih 3.0 quite openly and honestly. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, demcracy, fat bidin, fatwa, islam, journalism, kedah, malay, malaysia, muslim, shura, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
The state is God?
By Zan Azlee
APRIL 20 – I am actually dumbfounded as to where in the religion of Islam that says the Kedah state government is God? This is because, as far as I know, Muslims are actually only prohibited to ever question the will of God.
We are however, perfectly allowed, and even encouraged, to question what is not clear to us in order to understand it better. So, I am baffled as to why the Kedah state legislative assembly has decided to amend the Mufti and Fatwa Enactment (Kedah Darul Aman) 2008.
It was passed unanimously by the House that:
“Any fatwa decided by the state mufti or Fatwa Committee, whether gazetted or not, cannot be challenged, appealed, reviewed, denied or questioned in any civil or syariah court”.
As I have mentioned previously, I don’t really know they can do this because if I’m not mistaken, members of the Kedah assembly are ordinary people and not God. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, daily me, fat bidin, google, harakah, journalism, malaysia, malaysia today, malaysiakini, media, new media, new straits times, news, nicholas kristof, nicholas negroponte, rtm, self-selected news, The Malaysian Insider, the rocket, the star, tv3, utusan, zan azlee
Self-selected news, anyone?
By Zan Azlee
As a content consumer, I love New Media for everything that it is, which is an endless information source for content consumption. Anyone from anywhere who is interested in anything can find it New Media. It’s really just a limitless, almost infinite, source.
If you like mainstream music or even the weirdest kind of genre, you can definitely find it in New Media. If you like politics (from the local comical kind to the most complicated American kind), you can definitely find it in New Media. If you like alternative sports like BMX, skateboarding or body mutilation, you can definitely find it in New Media.
I can go on and on harping about the wholesome goodness of New Media as compared to traditional and conventional media. But hear me out now. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider.]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider | Tags: babies, baby, drunken master, fat bidin, jackie chan, parenting, parents, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
So what’s the fuss about then?
By Zan Azlee
APRIL 6 – Sometimes, we as adults, tend to overreact at the slightest cause. And usually, these slight causes are actually undeserving of any reaction whatsoever. Take for example a few weeks ago, approximately around the time of my little daughter Athena’s first birthday. She began to get the hang of walking for the first time. Everyone was so shocked and surprised the roof almost blew off the house.
All the handphones, still cameras and video cameras were whipped out in a flash. But of course, Athena’s actual first steps went unrecorded in all the chaos. Her mother started encouraging her to walk further and further. She would walk a few steps like Jackie Chan in “Drunken Master” and everyone would cheer insanely. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, datuk Salleh Mat Rasid, fat bidin, islam, journalism, khilafat, kuala lumpur, liberal, liberalism, malay, malaysia, police, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
I’m a liberal Muslim!
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 30 — As a practising and continuously learning Muslim, I have to take it as my personal responsibility to comment on a recent quote by Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid. The Internal Security and Public Order director of the police said that social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have made Malaysians liberal.
He then continued to say:
“In a borderless world, human thinking will change greatly, particularly towards the liberal. They will say things which cannot be done can be done… This is what we’re afraid of because when the thinking of Malaysians is driven by negative things, specifically those that can threaten security and public order, it can lead to a situation where the country is no longer safe.”
I have to say that in my humble opinion, this has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard or read in all my years of being alive. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: education, fat bidin, glenn dorman, journalism, kumon, malaysia, parenting, shichida, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Does my baby have to be a genius?
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 23 — A couple of days ago, I was having lunch with a friend at our favourite “skip-work-for-a-couple-of-hours” mamak restaurant. Now, we both have kids. I have one-year-old Athena while he has four-year-old Mya and one-year-old Hamka. We’ve known each other since our puberty and our conversations have gone from porn actresses when we were teens to parenting now that we’re in our thirties.
“Just the other day, Mya was telling me that she’ll be working at CERN* in Switzerland when she grows up,” he said.
“Yeah? And where did Hamka say he’ll be working when he grows up?” I asked.
“He’ll be in Paris.”
“Let me guess. He’ll be a famous artist?”
“Damn right! Then, during the holidays, they’ll get together somewhere in central Europe where their mother and I can come visit.”
“Well, Athena told me the other day that she plans to rent a room in Kabul to cover World War 10 as a hotshot freelance war correspondent!”
“Yup! Our kids are going to be geniuses!” [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: al jazeera, arab spring, assad, conflict, documentary, fat bidin, journalism, media, military, new media, news, protest, solo journalism, syria, The Malaysian Insider, uprising, video journalism, war, web video, zan azlee
Inspiring journalism!
iPhone Journalism
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 16 – Solo-journalism has been my passion for many years now and it has been the basis of almost all my journalistic work till today. For the many news reports I do and documentaries that I produce, I would write, shoot, edit and take my own photographs, literally as a one-man-crew.
And I get to do all this thanks to all the technology available today. I have small broadcast quality video cameras, laptops for editing and mobile Internet. Over the years, solo-journalism has started to grow. Big broadcasters such as the BBC, CNN, Channel 4, etc, have been experimenting with the concept.
I, myself, have contributed news stories and documentaries that were produced solo-journalism style to some of these big broadcasters. But there really hasn’t been an entire news network or agency that has actually converted fully to solo-journalism in obtaining their content.
But things might just change seeing that one of the big international news networks, Al Jazeera International, recently aired a documentary shot fully with an iPhone. [Click to read the full article]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, altruism, balance, fat bidin, islam, jakim, journalism, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, moderation, muhammad. prophet, muslim, salaam, salam, The Malaysian Insider, wasatiyyah, zan azlee
Zan flirting in Tehran, Iran.
Being a Muslim in Malaysia
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 9 - I’m sick and tired of people saying that the greeting ‘assalamualaikum’ and ‘waalaikumsalam’ are exclusively for Muslims and haram for anyone else. Apparently, if a non-Muslim greets you that way, you will be damned to hell if you were to reply. And god forbid, if you were to initiate the greeting! To those who aren’t familiar, ‘assalamualaikum’ means ‘peace be upon you’, and ‘waalaikumsalam’ means ‘and upon you be peace’.
I really wonder where is it said in Islam that the ‘salam’ is exclusively for Muslims? I would be really grateful if someone could point this out for me. Please save me from my ignorance because as far as my religious knowledge goes, I have only found evidence that proves that it isn’t a sin.
Over the years, I have traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world (especially the Middle-East) and people in all of these places greet each other, whether Muslim or not, with these greetings. And in all of these countries, this has never been an issue at all. And hence I find it very problematic that it is a big issue in my own country Malaysia. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, altruism, balance, fat bidin, islam, journalism, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, moderation, muslim, The Malaysian Insider, wasatiyyah, zan azlee
The translated Quran my parents bought for me from Mekah has been quite handy!
No such thing as a moderate Muslim
By Zan Azlee
I’ve always wondered why people like to label Muslims as either being moderate and progressive, or extremist and fundamentalist. These terms should actually be redundant because if you are a true practicing Muslim, you are moderate and progressive by default, and never extremist and fundamentalist.
Islam has always been a fluid and organic religion that preaches moderation and the pursuit of knowledge to constantly improve one’s life, society and the religion itself. Moderation in Islam leads to balance, and this is relevant towards every aspect of a Muslim’s life, be it career, finances, diet, entertainment and even worship.
In fact, the term for this in Islam is Wasatiyyah. As stated in Surah An Nisa:
“Oh people of the Book. Commit no excesses in your religion, nor say of Allah except for the truth.”
Funnily enough, the same government in Malaysia that bans concerts due to ‘religious considerations’ without taking into consideration any other explanation, also founded the Institute of Wasatiyyah. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, metropolis, new media, video blog | Tags: al arqam, arqam, documentary, dutch, fat bidin, film, global ikhwan, interview, islam, journalism, kelab taat suami, kuala lumpur, malaysia, metropolis, muslim, netherlands, obedient wives club, polygamy, sex, sex melayu, video journalism, vpro, web video, zan azlee
Being a correspondent for The Netherlands’ VPRO Metropolis TV means I get to cover loads of interesting stories. Recently, I got to spend some time with the members of the infamous Obedient Wives Club based in Kuala Lumpur, with thousands of members all over the world! Maybe I should get my wife to join them! Muahaha!
(Click on the image above to view my video report or just click HERE.)
Filed under: internet, journalism, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, bahasa, fat bidin, fatwa, haram, history, imam, infidel, islam, journalism, kuala lumpur, language, malay, malaysia, media, mufti, muslim, new media, The Malaysian Insider, ulama, unislamic, zan azlee
Speaking Malay is unIslamic
By Zan Azlee
FEB 24 — I would like to call upon all the ulamas, imams. muftis and other Muslim scholars to please come together and issue a fatwa against the use of the Malay language. After a brief Wikipedia search, I have come to the intellectual and theological conclusion that the Malay language is unIslamic.
This is of utmost importance because today there are 180 million Malay speakers and it is even the national language of several (Islamic, nonetheless!) countries. It is our responsibility as Muslims to rescue these people and do everything in our power to help steer them to salvation. [Click here to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: babies, baby, bananas, constipation, fat bidin, parenting, parents, poop, prunes, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Thanks for the advice Wan!
Beautiful, wonderful poop!
By Zan Azlee
FEB 17 — The sight of poop has never been so beautiful as when your 11-month-old baby finally releases a load after a week of uncomfortable constipation. The relieved look on little Athena’s face and her finally soft belly just brought tears of joy to her mother’s eyes and mine.
These constipation bouts appears once in a while and no one knows what the causes are. Not even our paediatrician knows why. Her explanation is always like this: “It’s quite natural for babies to get constipated every once in a while. Just observe that it doesn’t go on for too long.” [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: Afghanistan, directing, documentary, film, GUIDE TO AFGHANISTAN: The Adventures of a KL-ite, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: afghanistan, ANP, askar, bamiyan, bamyan, blood, buddha, buddhas, buddhas of bamiyan, conflict, culture, defence, documentary, fat bidin, film, history, insurgency, interview, isaf, islam, journalism, kabul, kementerian, kuala lumpur, magazine, malaysia, malaysian armed forces, malcon, media, middle east, military, mindef, ministry, mullah, museum, muslim, new media, news, pertahanan, september 11, solo journalism, taliban, tentera malaysia, terrorism, torah, video journalism, war, web video, yadkawlang, zan azlee
This week is part 10 of my multimedia documentary, Guide To Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite, which includes video, still photos an text. As you would know, this is concurrent with the 10-part feature on The Malaysian Insider website, of which you can view part 10 here:
Living by the feet of Buddha
By Zan Azlee
FEB 13 — After the days I spent on patrol with Malaysia’s MALCON ISAF 2 in the rural areas of Bamiyan building water filters, educating health officials and saving lives, I was glad to be back in the safety of Kiwi Base in the city of Bamiyan.
Bamiyan is actually one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan and this is due to its population of predominantly Hazarat people who fiercely reject the Taliban. They are Shiites and were terribly oppressed, hurt and killed during the rule of the Taliban. So walking the streets of Bamiyan city is really like a walk in the park compared to in Kabul.
Now that I was feeling a bit secure and safe, I wanted to do something that I had dreamed of since I was 15 years old. That’s right! I wanted to go and see for myself, with my own two eyes, the great Buddhas of Bamiyan.
I was apparently still under the responsibility of the Malaysian Armed Forces, and the commander, Lt Col Rusman Sanip, did not want to allow me to roam outside of the army base on my own (although I had spent all my time in Kabul alone before meeting up with them in Bamiyan!). He was kind enough to escort me together with a couple of security team members. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 10 of 10
‘Living by the feet of Buddha’
Zan fulfills his 19 year dream of seeing the Buddhas of Bamiyan! And he discovers the ultra poor Hazarats living at his feet… literally.
Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan. This is a multimedia documentary produced by Fat Bidin Media and directed by solo-journalist Zan Azlee.
To view all the episodes, head to FATBIDIN.COM/AFGHANISTAN.
Click the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay (Part 10).
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- A little village girl in Bamiyan.
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- MALCON ISAF 2 Commander, Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip with Mohammad Musa.
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- Mohammad Musa in his cave-house.
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- Mohammad Musa and his family outside his cave-house.
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- The view of Bamiyan city from the cave village.
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- The cave village next to the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
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- Cave drawings discovered at the site of the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
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- UNESCO has started restoration efforts on the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
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- The cavity of one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan that was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
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- The cave village next to the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
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- The cavity of one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan that was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
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- The Buddhas of Bamiyan has been declared a UNESCO heritage site.
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- Visiting the Buddhas of Bamiyan. Right to left: Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip, Rjr Suhaili Saleh, Cop. Muhamad Nahar Yaacob, the writer (me!), fixer/interpreter Ahmad Bilal Raghbat and the site’s caretaker.
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- The writer (me!) at the site of the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
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- The writer (me!) sitting on Buddha’s foot.
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available… just give me a buzz if you are interested and we can talk! If you would like to own original FAT BIDIN MEDIA documentary films and books to enhance your coolness factor, visit the FAT BIDIN e-STORE!
Filed under: internet, journalism, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: baby, fat bidin, journalism, parenting, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Dropping the baby
By Zan Azlee
FEB 10 — Have you ever tried dropping a baby on his or her head? I have. Well, I didn’t exactly try. The baby just dropped on her head on my watch, that’s all. Athena’s mother was leaving her for the first time since she was born. She had to go to Singapore over a weekend for work and I was put in charge.
The first night went well. Athena woke up quite early in the morning and I picked her up from her cot and brought her into bed with me. Before I knew it, I had dozed off and woke up just in time to see Athena tumbling head first down from the bed and onto the floor. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: Afghanistan, directing, documentary, film, GUIDE TO AFGHANISTAN: The Adventures of a KL-ite, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: afghanistan, ANP, askar, bamiyan, bamyan, blood, conflict, culture, defence, documentary, fat bidin, film, history, insurgency, interview, isaf, islam, journalism, kabul, kementerian, kuala lumpur, magazine, malaysia, malaysian armed forces, malcon, media, middle east, military, mindef, ministry, mullah, museum, muslim, new media, news, pertahanan, september 11, solo journalism, taliban, tentera malaysia, terrorism, torah, video journalism, war, web video, yadkawlang, zan azlee
This week is part 9 of my multimedia documentary, Guide To Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite, which includes video, still photos an text. As you would know, this is concurrent with the 10-part feature on The Malaysian Insider website, of which you can view part 9 here:
A Taliban ambush
By Zan Azlee
FEB 6 — The next day, we all had to wake up early because our vehicles were supposed to start rolling right at dawn. We were in for another challenging journey and heading deeper into the heartland of Afghanistan. I decided to forego another shower since the temperature in the mountains of Bamiyan were in the single digit in the early mornings.
Before we headed out, we had a security briefing. This is a must since it is when everyone gets information on the journey and also to talk about any emergency plans should there be an attack by the Taliban. After the briefing, we had the mandatory prayers for a safe journey and then we headed out.
This time, the journey was almost twice as difficult. The mountain area we had to go through was higher and rougher. Security was another concern since we were moving further away from central Bamiyan and heading nearer to the border with Daykhundi province, which had a stronger Taliban presence. This time it was serious and I made sure my bulletproof vest was strapped on tighter than ever. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 9 of 10
‘A Taliban ambush’
While embedded with the Malaysian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Zan and the soldiers encounter a Taliban ambush.
Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan. This is a multimedia documentary produced by Fat Bidin Media and directed by solo-journalist Zan Azlee.
To view all the episodes, head to FATBIDIN.COM/AFGHANISTAN.
Click the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay (Part 9).
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- The men having a meal together in Panjab base.
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- Major Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen & Corp Mohd Saiful Karim helping the injured Afghan National Police (ANP).
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- Major Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen & Corp Mohd Saiful Karim helping the injured Afghan National Police (ANP).
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- The entire Malaysian Contingent ISAF 2 (MALCON 2).
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- Dr Borhan Rahmani, an officer from the Afghan Ministry of Health, along with Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip and Major Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen briefing the local officers.
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- Panjab base.
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- Locals in the small town of Panjab.
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- Students of Panjab High School.
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- Students of Panjab High School listening to the briefing done by MALCON ISAF 2.
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- Students of Panjab High School.
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- The students of Panjab High School playing volleyball with the men of MALCON ISAF 2.
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- The main street in Panjab town.
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- MALCON ISAF 2 assessing the situation of the Afghan National Police (ANP) who were ambushed by the Taliban.
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- A stunned Afghan National Police (ANP) after being ambushed by the Taliban.
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available… just give me a buzz if you are interested and we can talk! If you would like to own original FAT BIDIN MEDIA documentary films and books to enhance your coolness factor, visit the FAT BIDIN e-STORE!
