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Elizabeth and I have known each other now for almost 20 years. We attended the same school in Alor Star many years ago and to this day, I remain in awe of her. When we left school all those years ago, many of us drifted into university - most of us chose careers that were 'secure' like medicine, law, engineering or accounting. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to know what she wanted; she followed her passion and is, today, a journalist with the Malaysian newspaper, the New Straits Times.

 

Over the years, whenever there is an occasion, we have all come to wait for Elizabeth to turn up for she is always full of stories and news. Her stories are exciting and the quality of her stories are superb because she really is a great storyteller.

 

The following is the transcript of the conversation that I had when she told me some of her fascinating stories.  

 

 

*****************

 

QUESTION

 

Hello Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing your stories with us. People often say that being a lawyer takes courage. But you know, sometimes when I hear you tell your stories, it scares me. When I was still in practice, I never had to go through some of the situations that you went through. Tell me, were you ever afraid at any time?

 

ELIZABETH

 

Sometimes, when we are assigned to do the stories, we have no choice and the question of courage doesn't come in. But it is only when I am in the middle of a situation that I sometimes wonder, "What am I doing here?"

 

QUESTION

 

Has there been any one time when you have been really afraid?

 

ELIZABETH

 

Actually there have been many but there is one time which I remember, in particular: we were assigned to do a story about some rapists. We are given protection and we never go alone but it can become scary when they say something like, "in 20 years when I come out, you may not remember me, but I will remember you!"

 

Also, sometimes, when you look back at it, it can be funny.  Remember the time with all those Al Maunah issues? We were interviewing this man in his house. Suddenly a lady came from inside the house and started to ask us why we were asking questions about her son as his father was involved in the case. Then she went inside and came out a minute later with a broom. She began to chase us and we ran ...

 

Everything about this job requires courage. Talking to strangers, building trust and getting them to share secrets, going into difficult and sometimes dangerous situations, poking your nose into places its not generally welcome, going up against authority and staying objective and honest.

I've been in some scary situations over the years - been held hostage, chased by irate political party supporters, threatened over stories... 

 

QUESTION

 

In the form that you filled, you did say that the stories you find most hard to do are the ones where people are grieving. Since the devastating tsunamis that have just destroyed so many lives in Asia recently, this must be an even harder time for you?

 

ELIZABETH

 

Yes, what I find most difficult to do, even after so many years, is talking to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Unfortunately it is one of the situations we are often faced with and not one we always handle well. What do you say to people who have lost entire families in natural disasters or who have lost a one-room shack - the only home they own - in a flood, or those who have lost their eight-year-old daughter to a rapist-murderer?
Personal danger is something you get used to but dealing with grief takes the kind of sensitivity and courage we often do not possess.

 

Also, there are so many stories full of compassion and it is hard to decide which one to pick. But one that I remember is about a boy who needed funds for a prosthetic limb. He had been diagnosed with cancer and had lost one of his limbs. Although people donated generously, the boy died before he could receive proper treatment. The money that had been donated, which would have relieved the financial burden on his family was instead returned to the fund and that money collected was used to fund the treatment for other patients who needed limbs. In total, 16 other people benefited from this boy and his family's generosity. 

 

QUESTION

 

Hmmm. Let's continue with other stories. I remember not long ago, you did this story on drugs being sold in pubs and so on. Can you tell me a little about that?

 

ELIZABETH

 

Yes, I went undercover and wore 'bling-bling'.

 

QUESTION

 

What's that?

 

ELIZABETH

 

That's what they call the jewelry you wear - all those plastic rings and earrings. Then, not only did we talk to those who push these drugs, we had to try to purchase psychotropic drugs. It was a very interesting time.

 

QUESTION

 

You know the thing I remember most about the article is this terribly long word you used - methylenedioxynethamphetamine. You must have to do so much research.

 

ELIZABETH

 

Yes. When I was new, I used to get scared because when there was negative feedback, I would wonder, "Maybe I should have seen it from this point of view," or "maybe this person is right." As I matured, I learned to do the research so thoroughly before. My colleagues and I have spent weeks posing as buyers in order to uncover a story of how authorised agents were overcharging for new computers in a government subsidized computer purchase scheme. We've spent months ploughing through financial documents of public fund companies to uncover poor management and broken promises to investors. In all these cases information was difficult to come by, work was time consuming, sometimes risky and fraught with intervention by interested parties but they were eventually written and published. They also saw reaction and action on the part of authorities. Whether it was successful remains a matter of public judgement.

 

QUESTION

 

Loads of research to tell that one story. But you know Elizabeth, I think I can safely say that you are pretty experienced at interviewing people. I remember going with you  to one of the results show at the recent Malaysian Idol contest. You had been assigned to do a story on one of the contestants. You were so cool and really had all the questions all sorted out in your head. I was so impressed. I suppose telling a story is something that is so natural to you now that really ...

 

ANSWER

 

You get used to it.

 

QUESTION

 

O.K. Elizabeth. I think that wraps it up for now. I thank you so much for participating in this and wish you great success.