One of the great things about living in a multicultural country is seeing it reflected in our TV series and films. We also take pride when these productions achieve remarkable milestones. Actor Andy Teh (郑金发) is among those talents, with his film “Blood Brothers” becoming the second-highest-grossing local film in Malaysia earlier this year.
His popularity grew further as more Malay audiences became familiar with the star, with many surprised not only at his proficiency in the Malay language but also his understanding of Malay traditions, to the point that some even assumed he was not Chinese. The 38-year-old has since addressed those comments, and here’s what he had to say:
In his latest film, “Abah Saya, Uncle Mike”, which is based on a true story, Andy Teh takes on the role of Uncle Mike, a Chinese man who adopts 3 Malay children and develops a deeper appreciation and respect for their culture and religion. To better portray his character and the story rooted in Malay traditions, the actor immersed himself in learning more about the culture and Islam.
This led some to assume that the star was either Malay or had converted to Islam. Speaking to the media, Andy clarified that he is indeed a Chinese man while addressing the rumours and comments from netizens. “First of all, as an actor, you have to understand the culture. Malaysia is a multicultural country, and whenever I receive a role centred on Islam, I have to study it,” he explained.
He added that learning Islamic verses and prayers was not an attempt to show off, but simply to prove that he could portray the character convincingly. “I’m mostly involved in the Malay film industry, and many of my peers are Muslims, so I can see where the misunderstandings come from,” he said.
Andy Teh also revealed that he has received numerous DMs from women who nicknamed him “Daddy Mike”, likely as a term of endearment for his role as the adoptive father, Mike. Although he took no offence at the nickname, Andy stressed that, as an actor, he must remain professional, set boundaries and focus on his work.
For those curious about his new film, here’s the trailer for “Abah Saya, Uncle Mike”:
