As a vegan himself, this chef is promoting plant-based diets to Malaysians
It all started with a Facebook video in 2019. Kalidevan Murugaya, or popularly known as Chef Dave, was going through his social media when he stumbled on a link that claimed to expose cruel practices the egg and dairy industries.
Curious, Chef Dave clicked on it, revealing a video that showed how animals were mistreated in the making of common food products. It shook him to his core.
“At first, I didn’t really want to believe what I was watching was the truth. I tried to do more studies online, watching different documentaries and reading different studies. In the end, I realised that such practices were considered normal in animal agriculture. I was shocked and upset but had no idea what I could do,” says Chef Dave, 29, in an email interview.
Related: Sustainable Sunday: How To Start A Plant-Based Diet
Continuing his research, he discovered another video by the YouTuber Arvind Animal Activist, which offers insights into why people should go vegan. Inspired, he decided to go on a plant-based diet.
But he also wanted to inspire others too, which was how he started documenting his vegan journey through social media. Today, his YouTube channel ChefDave Vegan Journey has over 65,000 subscribers, while his Facebook page has 225,000 followers.
“I felt that sharing my journey might inspire others to go vegan too. Or at least I could educate the general public about the vegan lifestyle through lifestyle sharing, recipes and vlogs,” says Chef Dave, who was born in Sibu, Sarawak but grew up in Jementah, Johor.
See also: The Ultimate Guide To Vegetarian Fine Dining In Malaysia