Text and photos by Edmond Leong
“Buah cempedak di luar pagar,
Ambil galah tolong jolokkan;
Kami budak baru belajar,
Kalau salah tolong tunjukkan.”
“Where cempedak grows outside the fence,
With a pole, switch them gently down
I’m young and learning, and so hence
If I am wrong, let me please be shown.”
I was raised by a single mother, whose occupation was as the owner of a café-lounge named One 2 Cups. Most of the time, during my childhood I was left alone at home, which had me contemplating the idea of searching for a fatherly figure, and friendship.
Rasa Sayang Kuala Lumpur explores the concept of emotion, love, friendship and family. Struggling to understand what makes someone happy: what is the true meaning of happiness?
Inspired by a journal quote penned by Christopher McCandless during his ill-fated trip into the Alaskan wilderness “happiness is only real when shared,” I take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, unflinchingly exploring the city’s diverse characters. I search for the most honest and true expression of affection.
Edmond Leong was born in 2003 and grew up in Kuala Lumpur. A young street photographer, he has been spending most of his time photographing people on the streets. He has earned numerous awards and his work has been featured both internationally and locally in Malaysia. In 2023 he published his first Zine, Kilat, designed and edited by Aik Beng Chia.
