So much more in common
FOR Major Kalam Pie and Dr Norzalifa Zainal Abidin, both 52, being part of a multicultural family is like having the best of both worlds.
Kalam, who served in the Royal Malaysian Air Force, is half Semelai and half Minangkabau, while his wife, Norzalifa, a university lecturer, is Malay.
Both of them were school mates in Maktab Rendah Sains Mara, Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
“I was his first love back when we were 16 years old,” Norzalifa says, smiling.
But things didn’t pan out back then and it wasn’t until decades later that Kalam and Norzalifa met again, fell in love and got married.
This is the second marriage for both of them.
“I had a stroke in 2008 and was in a coma until 2010. Kalam visited me and was always there for me when I was in hospital,” Norzalifa reveals.
Love blossomed and they eventually got married in 2011. Kalam has three sons (aged 27, 25 and 19), from his previous marriage to a Dutch woman, while Norzalifa has four daughters (26, 22, 20 and 14), from her first marriage.
Kalam is currently a licensed nature guide and runs the Jungle School Gombak, a jungle survival training and edu tourism centre that is hosted by the Orang Asli in the area. The centre is an initiative the couple started to help Orang Asli families there.
“Initially, it was like a hobby for us, then it became our calling because we saw the needs of the Orang Asli families in Gombak where we live,” Norzalifa says. Their children also help out at the school.
“My boys have lived in various parts of Malaysia such as Sarawak, Pahang, Selangor and Kedah, and travelled to almost all states from Perlis to Sabah.
“They probably have more knowledge about Malaysia and Orang Asli culture than most Malaysians do,” Kalam says.
“My second son, Dayan, can even teach visitors (to the centre) how to use the blowpipe,” he says proudly.
The couple feels that being a multicultural family makes life more interesting and there’s always something new to discover.
“When I got married to Kalam, I learnt so much about Orang Asli culture. We always have so many interesting things to talk about,” Norzalifa, who loves the arts, enthuses.
She adds that Kalam has many tales to share not just about the Orang Asli but also about his life in the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
“He loves the outdoors and extreme sports and even took park in the Ironman triathlon and Powerman duathlon,” she says.
The loving couple notes that they don’t face that many challenges as a multicultural family because they have more things in common than differences.
“For one thing, we’re Muslim, and at home we speak English and Bahasa Malaysia to each other and the children. We celebrate the same festivals such as Hari Raya.
“We also celebrate some Orang Asli festivals such as Hari Moyang, a day to honour the ancestors,” Norzalifa says.
Kalam notes, “When we’re multicultural, it’s like a conversation starter – it’s easier for us to break the ice and talk to strangers.”
Being multicultural is part of being Malaysian, the couple concurs.
“We must embrace that multiculturalism is our strength and accept one another as true Malaysians,” Norzalifa concludes.