SUNDAY VIBES
THE afternoon was humid; that thick curried air, with people bustling all around looking slightly frayed under the blazing sun. The corner cafe is a welcome contrast; muted music and well shaded from the heat. It’s almost empty ― but for a customer coaching a waitress in the art of making his takeaway latte creamy, “... but not dense”, his voice carrying across the cavernous space. It’s the perfect place for serious conversations over coffee (or wine) and as I encamp to a quiet corner to wait for Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, I find myself a little unsure on what to expect. I’ve never met a psychologist before. That her credentials are impressive is understatement, and I’m inclined to expect an interesting conversation no less.
She is no ordinary psychologist. An activist, academic and an aristocrat, Anjhula is the only international psychology trauma specialist in the country and the youngest chair of Amnesty International Malaysia. Named a super model by Vogue India, She graced the cover of Savvy Magazine under the condition that it would not be air brushed and received its peoples’ choice award for being the role model women most believed in. Her agenda focuses on Malaysia becoming a signatory on a series of UN measures including the convention against torture, death penalty abolition and post abolition plans whilst also destigmatising mental health in order to advance a holistic health model.