Kuah Jenhan On Being "Positive-Heckled"

"My show, Like This Like Dad, is a story of my relationship with my traditional Chinese father," Kuah Jenhan enlightens. "Also, let's not pretend you haven't heard silly Asian stereotypes like, 'Finish your rice or your wife will be ugly'." It was actually a "poignant moment" Jenhan shared with his dad when he started pursuing comedy that inspired this show. "It may not sound like much, but, when I started comedy, Malaysia did not even have an open mic night," the comic tells. "The first gig I performed in was in 2006, and then the next open mic night wasn't until 2008! Now here I am at the MICF. 

"Stand-up is very new and only in its infancy where I come from, Malaysia," Jenhan explains, "but I continue to strive to do comedy to the best of my abilities. This time around, I have collaborated with a lighting designer and a director to help me bring you an experience that I hope you will want to tell your friends about."

He claims "there isn't very much heckling in Malaysia" ("Asians are fairly reserved"), but admits he's been "positive-heckled" before. "I was performing a gig at a corporate dinner and, after winning the crowd over, a table of drunk uncles started shouting, 'This boy is right, I tell you!'... Most annoying positive feedback ever!" Although Jenhan says he once somehow managed to turn "a near-fatal car accident" into a joke, he adds, "Comedians have to be responsible for their jokes. Saying something outrageous just to get a reaction isn't responsibility."