“I come every morning, cook food at home and go around KL, sell food. No many people sell like this anymore. I go maybe 20 places (in the morning), finish work at 12. Have to go now, have to rush, many place to go”.
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 10th 2016)
“On my 15th year someone recommended me to an agent and I started doing commercials, and during that time I was in the Science stream, but I wanted to be in the Art stream, and become an actor. I don’t want to do acting as a side income like others, I wanted to do it full time. And then just right before SPM I prayed to God saying if you don’t want me to do acting, then stop giving me acting jobs but if you want me to continue and pursue acting, tell me something. And then just right before my 17th birthday I got a part in a TV program where I am the host – and this is it! There is a reason for me to stay in acting. So I decided to continue acting after SPM. Other kids after SPM they will be looking for part time jobs, somewhere else. But right after new year’s eve, it’s my first time shooting, hosting a programme. And since then alhamdulillah things kept coming, one doors open right after another.
– Humans of Kuala Lumpur — with Aaron Afh.
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 8th 2016)
“Divorce like that don’t want one. After marriage don’t want divorce. Parents arrange marriage all responsibility give parents. If husband die, or fighting, all responsibility parents. If that (is a) love marriage, only boy and girl dependent. If husband change, only depression of girl. No more girl parents. Girl parents only say that your life you choose this way, now you handle. Cause when married parents say when she married they give responsibility, food, as your husband’s responsibility, mean he take care. Arranged marriage is good!”.
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 5th 2016)
(1/2) “I was still ok, but the doctor put me in the ward. I could lie down, go to sleep, and talk. And then, suddenly, that night, I felt deaf. Whatever you said to me I could not hear. And then suddenly my whole body shook. I thought I was about to die. After that I went into a coma. For 9 days.
“Doctor said I was suffering from brain stem stroke, which means the blood vessel to the head is broken and there’s not enough blood going to my brain, and that 95{eb97150a49149dc6c9e8165e90f1c9129bb6172e02a598b4264a1fc329d7d5bc} of patients die. Its not the normal stroke effect where a person cannot use the left side of their body. The first year, both sides of my body cannot be used. I was like a vegetable. It was horrible. Now I still cannot walk, but I can use my right hand to feed me food. I wasn’t diabetic. The doctor said that it was because of stress. I used to do event management because I was in marketing,branding for quite some time. But I might not get the same job again, since I’ve been like this for 8 years already.
“My advice is do regular checkups, for heart disease and high blood pressure so that you will know about your stress level. And maybe it sounds superstitious but be nice to people. And think of God more. Maybe that can help. Because with stroke, you don’t know if it’s gonna get you. It’s not like smoking where you know you might get a lung disease. Take care of your heart and mind. Stroke is a silent killer, and can hit anyone”.
(Throughout the whole time I was speaking to him, only his right side of his face was moving – lips, cheeks and eyes). (I have also promised to him that I will be writing a news article to raise awareness on stroke patients who suffer psychologically, especially with caretakers who are also mentally abusing them without knowing it.)
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 11th 2016)
‘6 years already he gone. Mom and father marry me and him. Last time I 26, he 30, we marry. Now 53. Auntie miss him. Since my husband, he die, I rarely happy. He got 3 heart block. (Bypass surgery). Government can give some money me can ah? Husband work as taxi driver. My daughter and son take care of me. They pay all year (to be taken care of). They come, see and go. 1 week, 2 times. My husband and I happy. Me and me husband, outside going and eat, eat. I very happy. Different different food eat. Different place. Like this, happy. Together 30 years. Cooking for children also, pass time with family. Big home already selling (sold), problem got. I come here want money, my cucu (grandchildren), go to Chinese school, pay for her, and here I pay two thousand, no money. Children all working. Money problem, government give some money very good lah. In India, old women, men, over 60 get pension. Here different.
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 5th 2016)
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 7th 2016)
What a journey it has been! I started Humans of Kuala Lumpur 4 years ago (we were first among the many that you see today), and when I first started I spent what money I got doing part-time jobs to my first camera and portrait lens. I started alone, I didn’t have a team of photographers, and lived far from KL, so I could only take pictures on the weekends. I remember how getting 5 likes was a challenge, 20 likes was an achievement, and still remember the first time HOKL received 200 likes!
Why did I start HOKL? I knew I was passionate about photography when I took photography classes during high school (we used film SLRs, and had to process our own films in the darkroom!) – but more than that, I wanted to know the people who lived in my city, the people who breathe and live and make up what KL is today. I lived abroad the majority of my life, and I wanted to find out about your stories, document it for future generations, and most importantly, find and highlight a social cause and truth that others are not aware of. To shine a light where there is darkness.
Humans of KL, above all, also pushed me to become a real-life photojournalist as my full time job and finally start my own Vintook Photography company.
And one thing I have realized is that no project, even as simple as Humans of KL, is a one man show. It never is.
Down the road, I have encountered numerous individuals that I am personally thankful to have met – the people who are as much a part of HOKL and owns it as much as I do. These are the people:
Aairenee Zarina Yazli – Thank you so much for being HOKL’s first photographer’s assistant. I still remember how passionate you were about photography, how you wanted to learn, and the times we went out on weekends, trying to interview people at random places when others were out having fun. Taking photos and getting stories with you was fun and thank you for asking me one question that, until today, had such a deep impact in how I look for people to take photographs. You mentioned to me: “How do you tell if one person is more unique than the other, when everyone is trying to be different?” Back then I thought people tried to fit in, to be like the rest, and not to be different. Your ideas made me search for the unique inside all of us people.
Tabinda Mumtaz Sultan Shah – There was a long period of time when HOKL was inactive – and a very consistent and determined young photographer always messaged HOKL sending in her stories. HOKL was also the first to show photos from contributors, but Tabinda ended up becoming part of the team! Tabinda put back the belief in me that HOKL was doing something MEANINGFUL, that people had personal and touching stories we had to uncover, that others needed to know. And that we must not give up. No matter how basic our equipment was, how many people were running the page (us two) compared with others who had a team, or how much experience we have. She also handled the admin side of the page, and until today your one photo of the lady growing up with many children is still the most liked and shared photo ever! Sad to see you go to Canada to further your studies – but do know you are always a part of HOKL. And if any of you Malaysians did get to be photographed by a young lady, with frizzled hair and a red Nikon camera… that is most definitely Tabinda right there.
Nazreen Bin Mohamad – Thank you for being our social media strategist/growth hacker. You outlined how we can get more coverage, how we can increase our ‘likes’ – you helped me with finding out the best way to tell the stories of people I encountered – it forced me to look deep, and improve. And we did improve, thanks to your analysis. Always a great storyteller yourself!
Najmie Naharuddin – Thank you Najmie for refreshing my knowledge back in photography, and to see how the pros do go out and take photos. Thank you for HUGELY helping me out how to edit photos, and on your advice on camera equipment and lenses! Also a special thanks to Azman Karib Ibrahim who takes amazing portraits and has advised me on many a photography question.
Jeany Amir – Jeany impressed me with how focused she was taking a video – back when I was taking photos at the Keretapi Sarong event for HOKL. We remained in touch and I realized that Jeany was a pro, also having taken photos for National Geographic back then and now doing her own video commercials! Even though she did not know I was doing HOKL, she showed me what it was like to do professional photo shoots and video shoots with clients when I joined her in some of her projects. Thank you! (PS – You still owe me a story!)
And most of all, I have to thank Ian Chew, the original founder of the amazing project Humans of Sackville – because it was through you back when we were working together that I knew about Humans Of… Your work is purely amazing, your readership is huge – and I’m impressed with the fact that you have even given your own TEDx talk!
I also want to give a special shout out to my best buddy Mustaqim Malek, who has been there for me ever since the beginning.
There’s many more people I have to thank for, and I am. But on the whole these people had the biggest impact thus far.
Thank you all for your strengths, encouragements, and time that has made this page what it is today. We started something great, and lets make it even greater! And thank you to all Malaysians and fans of Humans of KL – it is because of you guys that we have this project.
There are 1.7 million ‘Kuala Lumpurians’ – and Humans of Kuala Lumpur aims to take every, single, 1.7 million photos and AMAZING stories of you all!
Get ready to smile!
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 2nd 2016)
‘It changed my life because I realize I have this patience and confidence in me – and that I can be strong, and can really fight for what I really want.
‘So how did you deal with your bullying situation?’
‘I didn’t take it too personal, I laughed at it. I talked with my family, and my godfather, who influenced my life the most. I was close to my godfather, who passed away already, and told me to never give up and don’t give in. Love ourselves more. And be patient. Never be in the mindset of a victim, because you need get to the level where you are you. Never let others influence your mind. You are better, you are the best, you are really good than you can ever imagine’.
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 3rd 2016)
“How does she welcome you?”
“She’ll bark. And in the morning, she’ll lick me to wake me up.
But she’s growing up too fast.”
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 2nd 2016)
“When I’m speaking to my customers, I wanna know who they are, what they want, where they come from. Locals won’t talk to me as much as expats do, so its harder to break that barrier between salesperson and customer.”
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
Do you have a story? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/ht4HsvbxgSgcKS5h8
(This post was first published on May 3rd 2016)
