Rasa malu dorong Faye mengenali ‘keluarga’ Malaysia

Faye Lim, known as Faye, faced challenges in recognizing the diverse cultures of Malaysia when she attended a celebration combining Kaamatan and Gawai festivals. Initially, she encountered people identifying themselves as Kelabit or Kiput, and quickly realized how unfamiliar she was with many ethnic groups in Malaysia. This led her to start The Rojak Project, an initiative using art, food, and culture to engage with the public from various backgrounds.

The project initially featured portraits of Malaysians holding food like onde-onde, laksa, and nasi lemak, which helped her understand the vast diversity of Malaysian society. Since then, Faye has documented over 250 ethnic and sub-ethnic groups in Malaysia. Her efforts expanded to Sarawak in 2025 with a grant from the Gamuda Foundation, aiming to document the Orang Ulu community.

Over 18 communities were recorded, including Lun Bawang, Kedayan, Bisaya, Tabun, Berawan, Tering, Sa’ban, Kenyah, Penan, and Penan Peruan. Faye shared their stories on social media, The Rojak Projek, and Canvas Art Malaysia to introduce these communities to a wider audience. She noted that many in Sabah might not be familiar with these smaller communities, such as the Kiput or Sa’ban.

Despite the challenges of documenting these communities, Faye emphasized the importance of acknowledging Malaysia's diverse family, stating that Malaysia is not as united as it could be without unity.