Mr Siao's Mandarin Class

For once, I can truly say this Malaysian movie totally rocks. So proud to be Malaysian! I will live through this moment of euphoria until I realize that the script writer or producer is Singaporean or Hong Kong-ese or something. I dread to find out.

Mr Siao's Mandarin Class is ala-ala a movie I watched while I was growing up (so you know it is quite old lar) called Mind Your Language where we are treated with the funny antics of an English teacher, or more accurately, his class full of people from different backgrounds and cultures who are trying to learn English and driving their teacher, Mr Brown mad.

A thousand apologies!

I learned that phrase from that movie. It still cracks me up.

With the Malaysian version, we have two group of salespersons who are competing (or trying to lose) the opportunity to bring their direct sales business to China, the great mainland. Why are they trying to lose? Well, they can the not speak the China... (ahem, they can't speak Chinese). The idea itself is so fascinating and very close to reality. Not to mention so Malaysian.

Meet the melting pot of Malaysian students of Mr Siao Lang's class. Yes, his name is Lang, his surname is Siao, hence, Siao Lang. Are you laughing yet? And yes, the students are all Malaysians who speak one particular dialect or language. And know next to nothing about mandarin.

We have representatives who speak:

• Hokkien (he's hot: Hear no road - 'tia bo loh' )
• the Queen's English (Alvin Wong - very versatile actor that I enjoy seeing on screen)
• Cantonese (he's so good, you hate him the first time you lay eyes on him)
• Hakka (she's the obnoxious overweight lady who is trying so hard to be part of the in crowd and to please the boss. She's also known as the Great White shark. I think we will find out why soon.)
• a Malay guy (the only normal one in the class: his mother is his neibe!)
• an extremely upbeat and funny Indian guy who calls himself Shah Rukh Khan (wo di ben you zai na li)
• last but quite the least because they haven't really made an impact: the Great White Shark's rival (I'm not sure what language she speaks) and the sister (wasn't paying attention either).

Mr Siao himself is ala-ala Aaron Kwok. I am so sorry for not knowing his name but my brother in law says that he has that problem. He ' beh ang' that means 'cannot get famous'. Perhaps this show will help catapult him into stardom.

Oh, where are my manners.

Catch them on ntv7, every Wednesday (pronounced Wens-day) night at 9.00 pm after PCK Sdn Bhd - eh hee hee hee hee... dun pray pray ah!