Exploring Malaysia Through The Eyes Of Cats

By Norhidayyu Zainal

PETALING JAYA, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- His longing for his three pet cats during his frequent work trips to Kuching, Sarawak, became the starting point for the publication of a travel poetry book that explores Malaysia from a different perspective.

Titled ‘A Book of Poems: The Meowgical Tails of Malaysia’, the collection, written from a feline point of view, introduces various aspects of the country, including destinations, culture, food, nature and the everyday lives of local communities.

The poems are by bzBee Consult founder and managing director Prof Mohd Said Bani CM Din, whose source of inspiration was the B.A.M. Trio — his cats Basyirah, Ashqar and Muezza

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“During my travels, two of my cats, Basyirah and Muezza, fell ill while they were at a pet boarding facility. I was constantly worried about them... it was as if I could hear their ‘meows’ in my head, and that eventually became my source of inspiration,” he told Bernama when met after the launch of his book here recently.

He said the distinct personalities and characteristics of the three cats led him to imagine them as the narrators that set the entire poetic journey in motion in the book.

“Basyirah has an elegant, queen-like and independent personality, Muezza is portrayed as affectionate and patient, while Ashqar is more active and mischievous.

“I began to imagine this trio travelling with me, discovering the charm of Kuching before venturing to different corners of Malaysia,” he said, adding that more than 500 copies have been sold since the book was introduced in December 2025.

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He added that beyond the three main characters, the book also features more than 30 other cat characters inspired by the pets of his friends, clients and staff, as well as fictional characters to give a local touch to the location-based storytelling.

Mohd Said Bani, who is also president of the Public Relations and Communications Association, said the poems, initially written separately, were later compiled into a single volume with a continuous and reader-friendly narrative.

“Each poem is layered, allowing for different interpretations by children and adults. It can also serve as a relaxed introduction for international readers who want to get to know Malaysia through experiences and emotions, rather than destination facts alone,” he said.

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He added that the storytelling in the book covers various states across the country through a combination of personal experiences and research.

“There are places I visited myself, and others I did not manage to go to but researched extensively. In the process, I was surprised to discover how many places in Malaysia I had not known about before,” he said.

Despite its light-hearted and imaginative approach, Mohd Said Bani stressed that the central message of the book is to encourage readers to appreciate their own country.

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“We are often too eager to travel abroad, me included, as though everything foreign is better. If even cats can see the beauty (of our country), why can’t we?” he said, adding that the book received support from the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, as well as Tourism Pahang.

He hopes that in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the poetry book will spark curiosity among readers, especially children, to discover and appreciate the richness of the country.

“I hope when children read it, they will say they want to visit these places. When they grow up, they will value what we have in Malaysia,” he said.

The 173-page English-language poetry book is published by Hikayat Fandom and is available for online purchase at RM120 per copy.

-- BERNAMA