In a leafy four-star resort in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, more than 50 journalists waited to tell a compelling story. Telephoto lenses bristled from palm leaves, pointing at members of Chinese families who were having breakfast on a terrace at the resort.

Although the hotel had kept information about the Chinese family away from the media, dozens of reporters still managed to sniff out the location.

Beside the terrace gurgled an artificial waterfall. Hammocks slumped between palm trees where squirrels jumped and squeaked.