Marina Mahathir

Depending on where you’re coming from, Kuala Lumpur (always called KL by the locals) is either orderly or chaotic. Those coming from neighbouring countries marvel at our ‘orderliness’; the fact that we actually stop at traffic lights, don’t normally run down pedestrians on zebra crossings and do not have hawkers clogging our pavements.

I came to live in Bangsar by chance. While looking for a house to buy, and doggedly insisting on other areas of KL, the real estate agent persuaded me to look at a house that she said I could move in ‘right away’.

When I was packing for a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan some years ago, I faced a dilemma. What on earth is appropriate to wear in that country? From what I’ve heard it’s a conservative country, so what should I wear for this meeting?