Salina, Sebuah Refleksi Pilu Masyarakat Melayu Selepas Perang Dunia Ke-2

www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com

Judul: Salina
Penulis: A. Samad Said
Genre: Kemasyarakatan
KK. 893 - 1476 5106
Penerbit: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
Tahun: 1961

"... Salina dipersembahkan oleh penulisnya dengan cara yang serba moden. Ia mengemukakan persoalan-persoalan baru dan sikap yang berterus terang untuk membongkar latar keburukan yang tersembunyi dalam masyarakat pekan-pekan besar .... "  - Pengarah Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka 1987

ALINA merupakan judul buku yang sudah lama saya simpan di dalam hati untuk membacanya. Mungkin hasrat ini muncul dari kekecohan dunia kesusasteraan itu sendiri. Kekecohan dunia sastera di Malaysia ini, pada fikiran saya, cuma hangat di zaman 60an, 70an dan 80an (dan mungkin sebahagian permulaan 90an). Kemudiannya ianya dimakan oleh arus moden Internet yang berleluasa di kalangan anak-anak muda di mana minat membaca buku secara konvensional hilang ditelan zaman - khususnya novel Bahasa Melayu. Sebagai langkah untuk menuaikan semangat kesusasteraan Melayu itu semula di dalam benak jiwa saya, saya telah memilih Salina. Salina yang ditulis oleh Sasterawan Negara, A. Samad Said, seorang penulis kegemaran saya. Sebenarnya, secara jujur, saya bukannya pembaca buku Bahasa Melayu yang kerap. Kalau hendak diperbincangkan hal A. Samad Said, sebelum ini saya hanya pernah membaca 2 buku beliau, Langit Petang dan Al-Amin dan juga sajak beliau yang dibuat lagu oleh Kopratasa, Tetamu Senja.

Kononnya Salina sudah diterjemah ke dalam 38 bahasa, saya pun tidak pasti. Ini menarik perhatian saya akan apa gempaknya penulisan A. Samad Said ini? Jenuh saya ke kedai-kedai buku sekeliling Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor namun tak dijumpai juga buku ini. Kononnya Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka sudah berhenti percetakan buku ini kerana permintaan yang rendah. Kalau buku ini tersangatlah gempak untuk waktunya, mengapa pula tidak dicetak lagi untuk kegunaan akademik universiti sehabis kurang pun? Di dalam kehampaan itu, akhirnya terjumpa kegembiraan kerana pada tahun 2014 percetakan baru telah diadakan tetapi di dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Telah saya beli 1 naskah dan membacanya. Agak ganjil jika mahu dimenifestasikan ida-idea A. Samad Said di dalam Bahasa Inggeris kerana nilai kesusasteraan Melayunya hilang. Pada satu petang 2014 yang indah, di pesta buku Kolumpo Kita Punya di Dataran Merdeka, ada pula buku Salina Second Hand di dalam Bahasa Melayu yang dijual. Maka saya beli. Maka saya baca.

 

Gaya bahasanya merupakan satu penulisan kontemporari untuk zamannya iaitu 60an di Tanah Melayu dan Singapura. Jika tidak di'Context'kan penilaian ini mengikut zaman yang diterbitkan, mungkin pembaca-pembaca muda tidak dapat merasakan keindahan buku ini kerana bahasanya masih boleh dianggap lama dan tidak moden (jika di dalam tahun 2015). Apabila dinilai mengikut zamannya, ada pelbagai aspek yang membolehkan Salina dikategorikan sebagai penulisan kontemporari - (1) Gaya bahasa yang bersahaja untuk mewujudkan suasana realiti perbualan masyarakat terutamanya masyarakat Melayu di Singapura. (2) Pembinaan plot cerita yang dramatis yang melibatkan pembaca penusuk ke dalam karakter-karakter di dalam cerita ini dengan penimbulan rasa ingin tahu. (3) Kejujuran perbincangan isu-isu semasa yang Taboo tetapi masih berpandukan gaya bahasa Melayu yang tidak biadap.

 

Apakah kejujuran yang dimaksudkan oleh penulisan buku Salina ini? Salina merupakan satu refleksi masyarakat Melayu Singapura di zaman pra-kemerdekaan selepas Perang Dunia ke-2. Ia menceritakan kehidupan manusia yang penuh dengan kesusahan kemiskinan yang terjebak di dalam gelombang dosa dengan terpaksanya. Peperangan amat memilukan - kematian ahli-ahli keluarga dan sahabat handai; dan juga kehilangan harta, amat menghancurkan kewarasan insan-insan Melayu. Mereka ini harus meredah pelbagai konflik kehidupan. Mereka ini hilang pedoman dan hilang gah untuk terus memperjuangkan nilai-nilai murni. Mereka mengikut arus pemodenan yang bersulamkan kemiskinan. Di dalam mengharungi cabaran-cabaran hidup, mereka terus sahaja meredah apa yang patut demi Survival, walaupun ianya mempergadaikan agama, nyawa, bangsa, pendidikan dan harga diri. Begitulah tahap Desperation masyarakat apabila dibelenggu kemiskinan. 

 

Salina tidak ketinggalan di dalam kesusahan hidup ini. Habis keluarganya luput dimakan perang. Dia tinggal di Kampung Kambing yang amat hina kemiskinannya kerana suasana yang tidak terjaga dan penempatannya haram. Untuk terus hidup, Salina perlu lupakan segala perancangan untuk belajar dan melibatkan diri di dalam apa jua pekerjaan yang mendatangkan wang yang secukupnya untuk terus hidup. Salina menjadi pelacur! Apakan daya Salina tidak termampu untuk pekerjaan yang lain kerana tahap pendidikan yang rendah yang tidak dapat diterimai masyarakat Singapura yang hanya menerima pendidikan Inggeris. Insan-insan yang sewaktu dengannya juga sama - terutamanya Melayu. Mereka bekerja di kelab-kelab malam, sebagai kelasi, askar dan juga buruh-buruh kasar. Di dalam pembentukan sosial masyarakat Melayu yang negatif ini, nilai-nilai agama juga merosot. Melayu menjadi pemabuk, perogol dan tidak menghiraukan pendidikan ataupun politik setempat. Malah mereka menjadi bodoh dan sombong tanpa menyedari keperluan untuk memperkasakan bangsa mereka sendiri terutamanya selepas hancur dilanda peperangan.  

Salina terjerat di dalam kehidupan yang tidak adil ini. Bukannya dia meminta untuk menjadi sebegini, tetapi keadaan memaksa. Salina, dan juga insan-insan Melayu muda yang lain turut menyalahkan keadaan. Kenapa miskin? Kerana terpaksa menjadi miskin? Kerana hilang punca. Kerana peperangan. Kerana tidak cukup pendidikan Inggeris. Kerana terpaksa, mereka melakukan apa jua pekerjaan yang patut (untuk hidup). Kemiskinan ini terus berleluasa. Malah anak-anak muda yang dilahirkan selepas peperangan juga melalui dilema hidup kemiskinan ini (mempergadaikan apa yang murni - moral, agama, pendidikan). Akhirnya Salina mengerti bahawa kesemua kehancuran ini dibuatnya sendiri dan bukan keadaan yang perlu dipersalahkan. Biarkan mereka ini hancur di Kampung Kambing, aku (Salina) mahu bebaskan diri dari kehidupan yang tidak bermakna ini - Salina terus menukar hidupnya - Dia ke Kuala Lumpur.

Begitulah separa-sinopsis dari saya yang dapat sedikit sebanyak menampakkan perisa buku Salina oleh A. Samad Said ini untuk mereka yang ingin menuaikan semula semangat kesusasteraan Melayu di dalam jiwanya. Bacalah buku Salina ini. Ianya senang dibaca kerana tidak terlalu keterlampauan sastera klasik Melayunya dan intipati ceritanya amat menarik kerana Sublime Taboo masyarakat yang tentunya wujud secara realiti - jika tidak sekarang, sekurang-kurangnya releven di zaman buku ini diterbitkan (60an). Untuk mengakhiri ulasan buku ini, ingin saya ekstrakkan satu perenggan dari buku Salina ini, seperti di bawah, di mana A. Samad Said menyelitkan mesej yang Sarcastic kerana ianya amat sesuai dengan keadaan penerimaan (atau ketidak-terimaan) sastera Melayu di masa kini - yang mungkin akan luput ditelan zaman - :

         Perenggan dari Bab ke-22

     "Kalau endak tunggukan kesempatan, pendeknya sampai mati pun awak tak akan cuba membaca buku-buku Melayulah. Hilmy belajar Orang Putih, baca sajalah buku Orang Putih banyak-banyak; kenallah orang lain banyak-banyak. Nanti kalau orang tanya Hilmy tentang penulis-penulis Melayu, Hilmy kata tak ada sajalah? Kata saja buku-buku Melayu tak ada mutunya, atau katakan sajalah orang-orang Melayu ni malas endah tulis cerita. Atau sesekali nanti bila ada orang tanya: awak kenal Tun Seri Lanang tak? Hah, gelengkan sajalah kepala tu - bilang tak tau. Atau katakan sajalah Tun Seri Lanang tak ada dalam masyarakat Melayu, ya? Dan kalau orang tanya pulak: awak kenal Harun Aminurrashid? Entah. Kenal Abdullah Sidik? Entah. Kenal Keris Mas? Kenal Tongkat Warrant? Entah. Kenal Hamzah? Entah. Kenal Jymy Asmara? Entah. Ai, main entah sajalah. Dan kalau orang tanya awak orang apa? Melayu! Habis tak tau nama pengarang-pengarang Melayu? Hendak geleng-geleng kepala saja? Nak taruh muka di mana?"

* kopihangtuah

| mcmlxxv:viii:xxix |

Johan Menulis Apa Yang Mengesankan Dirinya

www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com

Judul: Nota Kaki
Penulis: Dato' Johan Jaaffar
Genre: Kumpulan Tulisan Pelbagai Aspek
ISBN: 978-967-5875-00-7
Penerbit: Balang Rimbun Sdn Bhd
Tahun: 2010

"Saya menulis kesan dan tanggapan saya terhadap apa yang berlaku waktu itu, apa yang menarik perhatian saya, dan apa yang mengesankan saya... " Dato' Johan Jaaffar 

OHAN (Dato')  bukanlah nama baru di persada sastera negara terutamanya kepada mereka yang celik dengan perkembangan sastera di Malaysia. Beliau bukan sahaja meneraju Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, beliau juga pernah menjadi Ketua Pengarang di akhbar Melayu tempatan yang terulung, Utusan Malaysia. Walaupun akhbar tersebut beraruskan Bahasa Melayu tetapi Bahasa Inggeris beliau tidak kurang hebatnya. Janganlah sekali-kali mengeja 'Kechewa' atau 'Cherita' kerana beliau akan memperbetulkannya kepada 'Kecewa' atau 'Cerita'. Dan jangan sekali-kali Bahasa Inggeris menggunakan 'Organization' kerana Bahasa Inggeris yang sebetulnya (Bukan dari Amerika Syarikat) menggunakan 'Organisation'. Dengan kewibawaan seorang wartawan dan kreativiti teater yang menjadi darah daging, beliau diberi amanah untuk mengerusi kumpulan syarikat media kreatif yang terbesar negara, Media Prima Berhad. Malah, kejujuran dan sikap prihatin beliau memampatkan lagi fungsi Pengerusi yang disandang untuk pergerakan anti korupsi korporat.

Sememangnya banyak pengalaman yang anak-anak muda boleh pelajari dari beliau. Malah saya juga pernah bekerja dengan Dato' untuk beberapa tahun suatu masa tidak lama dahulu. Ungkapan beliau yang sampai sekarang masih tertera di pojok minda saya sehingga hari ini ialah, "On your way up be nice to everybody.... because you will meet them again,.. on your way down" (Dalam perjalanan menuju kejayaan, berbudilah kepada semua kerana apabila kamu jatuh tersungkur, kamu akan berdepan dengan mereka lagi!). Dato' Johan juga menambahkan lagi keyakinan yang orang yang bernama 'Johan' sememangnya 'Juara' dan 'Jaguh'. Maka tidak hairanlah jika dia merenung ke mata anda sambil berkata, "Never doubt the words that come out from anybody whose name is Johan" (Jangan sangsi jika sesiapa yang bernama Johan berkata-kata). Kepada yang bernama Johan di luar sana, bolehlah anda berbangga-bangga diri.

Mungkin dengan hanya menceritakan perwatakan dan pekerjaan Dato' tidak mencukupi untuk memahami apa yang beliau telah sumbang kepada tanahair. Sewajarnya, buku beliau 'Nota Kaki', kumpulan penulisan beliau semasa di Utusan Malaysia, perlu didalami. Ianya mengadungi penulisan yang merangkumi pelbagai aspek semasa yang kritikal sewaktu penulisannya dibuat. Antara subjek-subjek yang menarik datangnya dari bidang sastera, dunia hiburan, sukan, politik, kebudayaan, ekonomi, sejarah dan juga isu-isu berbangkit lain yang tidak kurang pentingnya seperti hal ehwal bangsa dan agama. Oleh itu, berilah seniman seperti Dato' Johan, suatu kelainan, suatu taraf apresiasi sebagai penyumbang ilmiah di dalam pembangunan tamadun yang bergelar Malaysia. Rangkap-rangkap yang berikut adalah sedikit sebanyak petikan ringkas dari penulisan beliau sebanyak 206 rencana kesemuanya. Tidak semua rencana dipetik. Semoga petikan-petikan ini dapat merangsangkan pembaca blog ini untuk membaca penulisan beliau yang terbuku sebagai 'Nota Kaki'. Terimalah:

TENTANG RONALDO, BULATNYA BOLA DAN GODZILLA. [15 Jun 1998]. Apabila pasukan Brazil, juara bertahan Piala Dunia menentang Scotland di Le Stade de France, Paris, Rabu lalu, sekurang-kurangnya 80 juta manusia di seluruh dunia menonton perlawanan itu. Jumlah ini sebenarnya kecil mengambil kira apabila pesta ini berakhir pada 12 Julai hadapan, lebih 2.6 juta manusia akan menyaksikannya di 10 stadium terpilih di Perancis sementara 37 billion manusia lagi akan menontonnya melalui TV.

SASTERAKU, SIAPAKAH SEBENARNYA PENDUKUNGMU? [29 Jun 1998]. Sekiranya minat terhadap sastera dijadikan ukuran, maka majalah sastera sepatutnya boleh dijual lebih 50,000 naskah sebulan di negara ini.

TRADISI MANGA: ANTARA SAMPAH DAN MINAT MEMBACA. [8 Jun 1998]. Melalui anak-anak, kita mengambil "Doraemon" watak si kucing robot yang digilai di TV dan dalam bentuk komik. Tidak banyak daripada kita yang tahu Doraemon merupakan salah satu cerita kejayaan Manga atau komik Jepun yang luar biasa. Ia bermula sebagai komik bersiri pada tahun 1970 terbitan Shogakkan, salah sebuah penerbit terbesar di Jepun. Komik itu telah dijadikan siri TV pada tahun 1979.

"SENARAI DR. M", KETELUSAN DAN ERA BARU. [22 Jun 1998]. Kelmarin Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mengeluarkan senarai syarikat dan individu yang memperoleh projek-projek penswastaan dan kontrak kerajaan setakat ini. Senarai itu 20 halaman panjangnya dan memuatkan 285 projek. Ia terbahagi kepada dua kategori, 171 yang telah mendapat kelulusan penuh dan 114 yang mendapat kelulusan prinsip.

KELUARBIASAAN YANG BERNAMA INDONESIA. [25 Mei 1998]. Apa yang berlaku di Indonesia seminggu dua ini memperkukuhkan keyakinan banyak orang bahawa Indonesia sesungguhnya unik, luar biasa dan sukar diduga. Tiada siapa yang menduga bahawa Presiden yang telah memerintah lebih 32 tahun akan tumbang di tangan anak-anak sekolah yang kian ini kurang terancang dan bersatu.

"GAWAT EKONOMI MASALAH ORANG KUALA LUMPUR!" [1 Jun 1998]. "Gawat bukan masalah kami," kata Alip Tubing (bukan nama sebanarnya) di kedai kopi Alang Siak. Dia baru saja pulang dari kebunnya. Dua tandan pisang nipah yang di kandarnya dijual dengan harga 40 sen sekilo. Setandan pisang itu tidak kurang 20 kilo. Dua tandan 40 kilo. Pagi itu saja, Alip dapat kurang lebih RM16.

TENGGELAMNYA KAPAL BERNAMA TITANIC. [18 Mei 1998]. Pada tahun 1808 seorang novelis yang baru mencipta nama menghasilkan cerita tentang sebuah kapal mewah yang membelah angkuh Lautan Atlantik. Penulis itu, Morgan Robertson memuatkan kapal rekaannya dengan penumpang-penumpang yang kaya serta mereka yang paling miskin. Kapal itu merempuh air batu terapung pada satu malam bulan April.

VIAGRA, PIL (YANG KHABARNYA) SELAMATKAN LELAKI. [11 Mei 1998]. Berita baik untuk lelaki, er, maksud saya mereka yang mempunyai masalah kelelakian. Pil ajaib sudah tiba. Namanya Viagra, Ingat nama itu, kerana buat masa ini, anda harus menahan nafas, nafsu dan sabra. Pil itu belum sampai ke kedai ubat anda yang terdekat!

SIAPA KATA EVEREST GUNUNG PALING TINGGI? [27 April 1998]. Pada 29 Mei 1953, pendaki New Zealand bernama Edmund Hillary dan seorang Sherpa bernama Norgay Tenzing menjejakkan kaki di puncak Everest. Pada 23 Mei 1997, dua pendaki Malaysia M. Nagapan dan M. Munisamy mencipta rekod kerana menundukkan gunung itu.

TENTANG RAJA, KESESAKAN DAN GADIS-GADIS PATPONG. [23 Mac 1998]. Lupakan sahaja nama sebenar Bangkok. Krungthep-maha-nkorn-boworn-rataa-kosin: Mahindar-ayudhya-amaha-dilok-pop-nopa-rataba rajthani-burirom-udom-rajniwes-mahasatrn-morn-pimarn-awatar-satit-sakittiya-visanukam. Lagipun tiasa siapa yang boleh mengingatnya.

CLINTON DAN TRAVOLTA: SIAPA LEBIH BERKUASA? [9 Mac 1998]. Jangan perkecilkan apa yang boleh dibuat oleh bintang-bintang terkenal seperti John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Courtney Love atau Sharon Stone. Mereka sebenarnya lebih berkuasa daripada Presiden Negara yang paling kuat di dunia, Amerika Syarikat.

LAGI, SUMBANGAN BANGSA YAHUDI DIBUKUKAN. [8 Disember 1997]. Buku The Jewish Contribution to the 20th Century tidak sekadar menyenaraikan 1,000 orang tokoh bangsa Yahudi. Lebih daripada itu ia memperingatkan bahawa dalam pelbagai bidang dan disiplin, terdapat orang Yahudi yang menjadi tokohnya.

ANTARA DIANA, MEDIA DAN SNOW WHITE. [8 September 1997]. Sesungguhnya Diana dalam matinya lebih berpengaruh dari sewaktu hidupnya. Istana Buckingham juga nampaknya harus tunduk pada "Puteri rakyat" itu. Queen Elizabeth terpaksa membuat titah diraja ekoran pengebumian Diana - sesuatu yang pelik dan luar biasa dalam sejarah system beraja Britain yang tebal dengan tradisi dan kaya dengan kesombongan.

SELAIN CANNES, YANG TINGGAL HANYA SUNDANCE? [19 Mei 1997]. Festival filem Cannes di Perancis berusia 50 tahun, tahun ini. Bagaikan manusia separuh usiam ia sepatutnya sudah mulai hilang glamornya. Tapi Cannes tidak pudar-pudar kerana ia sebenarnya pesta bintang-bintang.

 

POL POT, KEMATIANNYA TURUT DIRAGUI. [7 Julai 1997]. Jumlah sebenar tidak penting. Mungkin sejuta, dua juta atau ada yang menyebutkan empat juta orang yang mati di tangan beliau.

TENTANG TANDAS, WARUNG DAN SIKAP KITA. [28 Julai 1997]. Perdana Menteri mempunyai alasan untuk berasa kecewa dengan rakyat Negara ini. Sekalipun kita sudah jauh bergerak dari masyarakat pertanian kepada masyarakat berteknologi tinggi, terdapat beberapa aspek kehidupan yang nampaknya tidak berubah. Zaman telah jauh berbeza. Demikian juga sikap, nilai dan kecanggihan manusianya. Tetapi dalam hal yang melibatkan tandas, warung dan kedai makan sikap lama nampaknya masih berleluasa.

 

DUNIA FESYEN ANTARA GLAMOR, DADAH DAN KEMATIAN. [21 Julai 1997]. Dunia fesyen dikejutkan oleh kematian Gianni Versace, pereka jenama bernama sama, yang terbunuh di Miami, Amerika Syarikat pada pagi Selasa lalu. Gedung dan rekaannya mula bertapak hanya pada tahun 1976 tetapi akibat pendekatan pemasaran, cara memperaga dan iklan serta reka ciptanya, Versace menjadi jenama berprestij yang cepat dikenal dunia.

BOLEHKAH "NENEK TUA" MELAHIRKAN ANAK? [28 April 1997]. Berita seorang wanita berusia 63 tahun melahirkan seorang bayi perempuan di Los Angeles, Amerika Syarikat baru-baru ini sudah pasti menarik perhatian. Moral ceritanya ialah. asalkan seseorang wanita itu mempunyai Rahim, dia boleh mengandung. Usia tidak lagi menjadi halangan. Sedangkan selama ini wanita yang berusia 40 tahun diperingatkan tentang "kesulitan" dan "bahaya" yang bakal mereka hadapi.

RUPANYA SUPERMAN "SI PENYELAMAT" BERBANGSA YAHUDI. [23Disenber 1996]. Tahukah anda bahawa Superman, salah satu wabak paling popular dalam kebudayaan popular dunia sebenarnya berbangsa Yahudi? Penciptanya ialah Jerry Siegel dan Joe Shuster yang menampilkan watak penyelamat manusia itu pada tahun 30-an.

APABILA TOLERANSI AGAMA SEMAKIN MENIPIS. [14 April 1997]. Pada Hari Raya Korban tahun lalu, bintang filem yang pernah terkenal kerana tubuh montoknya, Brigite Bardot (atau BB) mengecam umat Islam kerana melakukan penyembelihan ke atas haiwan atas nama agama.

APABILA DR. MAHATHIR SEBAK BERSAJAK. [6 Mei 1996]. Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad hanya mampu mengucapkan salam. Malah judul sajak "Perjuangan yang belum selesai" yang disebutkannya tidak jelas terdengar kepada ribuan hadirin. Dia sudah mulai sebak. Beliau mengagahkan diri membaca baris pertama sajak itu. "Sesungguhnya tidak ada yang lebih menyayat, dari melihat bangsaku dijajah."

MARUAH MELAYU: ANTARA DAKWAT, KERTAS, PENULISAN. [16 Disember 1996]. Seorang pemimpin Melayu, dalam keghairahan membuktikan bahawa orang Melayu sebenarnya bangsa yang buta huruf dan tidak ada tradisi penulisan tergamak berkata bahawa bangsanya hanya mengenal kertas dan dakwat apabila Inggeris bertapak di sini.

SELEPAS BUAYA PUCHONG, SAWA SEGAMAT. [11 September 1995]. Kalaulah tidak kerana kejadian yang menimpa Ee Hen Chuan di Segamat, ular sawa sudah lama tidak menarik perhatian rakyat Malaysia. Dalam kejadian yang luar biasa itu, seekor ular sawa sepanjang hampir 7 meter dijumpai sedang dalam proses menelan penoreh getah malang itu.

TINGGI, LEBIH TINGGI, TERTINGGI. [14 Oktober 1996]. Dua daripada 100 bangunan paling tinggi di dunia hari ini letaknya di Kuala Lumpur. Itu pun kalau kedua-dua Menara Petronas di Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) dikira dua bangunan berasingan. Dalam buku terbaru Judith Dupree, Skyscrapers, menara tersebut dikira berasingan, tiap satunya 450 meter (1,476 kaki) tinggi, telah mengalahkan Sears Tower di Chicago yang tingginya 443 meter (1,454 kaki).

 

BOM ATOM, HIROSHIMA DAN KEINSAFAN. [7 Ogos 1995]. Semalam, genaplah 50 tahun gugurnya bom atom di Hiroshima. Hari esok, genap pula 50 tahun bom kedua yang digugurkan di kota Nagasaki. Dalam kejadian pertama, bom yang diberi gelaran "Little Boy" yang mempunyai 20,000 tan bahan letupan TNT telah meratakan Hiroshima dan sekali gus membunuh 120,000 orang.

ANTARA ROBOCOP DAN DESPERADO. [24 April 1995]. Lim Kit Siang mungkin tidak pernah menonton filem Robocop. Atau mungkin juga hanya menonton filem yang pertama tetapi terlepas filem Robocop yang kedua dan ketiga.

* kopihangtuah

| mcmlxxv:viii:xxix |

Albukhary the Epitome Last Man on the Field

www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com

Title: Syed Mokhtar Albukhary : A Biography
Author: Premilla Mohanlall
Genre: Biography
ISBN: 978-967-415-806-4
Publisher: pVm communications Sdn Bhd
Year: 2012

The British brought Chinese and Indian to work in tin mines and rubber plantations. The Malays remained in the periphery as farmers. Years subsequently, the Malays find their country's wealth under the grip of the minorities. There was a need to bridge this divide and hence, the New Economic Policy. Syed Mokhtar quickly capitalised his fate in that opportune moment.....

LBUKHARY is another SuperMokh but he ain't a footballer. He is an entrepreneur. A successful one. Motivated by the state of Malay economy during his younger days, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar made a promise to himself that he will charge to the maximum. Back then (or still is, now), the Malaysian economic power rested with the Chinese, who were richer, better educated urban dwellers. The British colonial administration brought Chinese and Indian labour to work in tin mines and rubber plantations as well as in the colonial administration, adequately supported by well built amenities such as schools and hospitals. The Malays remained in the periphery as fishermen and farmers. Years subsequently, after they (colonial masters) had left, the Malays find their country's wealth under the grip of the minorities. There was a need to bridge this divide and hence, the New Economic Policy (the "NEP") was introduced in 1970. Syed Mokhtar quickly capitalised his fate in that opportune moment, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Government's affirmative actions surrounding the NEP was strongly revolving in its efforts to raise Bumiputera equity from 1.5% in 1969 to 30% by 1990. Although the achievement, as we all know, is far from the target, it is believed that Syed Mokhtar played an instrumental role in enhancing and preserving whatever is left of the Bumiputera's representation in the equity market. Through his various stakes in many businesses, locally and internationally, across many industries consisting of both public listed entities as well as private proprietary holdings, he has made himself well at the top of the list as one of the richest Bumiputera alive in the world (excluding the Sultan of Brunei, or perhaps, Tun Daim Zainuddin as well).
 

When deduced, we are awed by the overwhelming presence of Syed Mokhtar's businesses in our lives. We eat rice and red meat. We consume sugar. We cook in palm oil using gas or electricity. We communicate with families via postal service. We buy books from MPH. We buy apparels from Crocodile. We may have, at one point of our lives, used Proton or Honda cars. Our security is the product of the army who wears apparels that he supplied. In fact, almost everything imported from overseas may have passed through one of the ports that he owns.

If the Chinese inherited their hard working attributes from their ancestors who underwent the hardship of four seasons in main land China, how could Syed Mokhtar have the same trait? The Malays didn't have the same environment. They had fish by the river and vegetables by the forest. The clue is in his name. His blood originated from the harsh land of Bukhary, from where his father came to rename himself when migrated to Malaya. So, really, we ought to call him Syed Mokhtar of Bukhary. In 1950, the family naturalised as Malaysians as well as native Malays by operation of law. Malaya was generous enough to embrace many into the Malay category as the constitution provides for Malays to include those who professes Islam, habitually speaks Malay and conforms to Malay customs. Albukhary family hit jackpot on all three.

Ali Baba business involves a Malay taking up equity allocated to them and trading it off to a Chinese. Temptation did come across Syed Mokhtar. He refused to enter into any Ali-Baba arrangements, especially in Chinese dominated industries.

Many of us are aware (but reluctantly remain silence) that the special privilege of the Malays have been misused is various schemes. A famous term often used is the Ali Baba business. It involves a Malay taking up equity allocated to them and trading it off to a Chinese. The Malay is in business in name only and the Chinese runs it (and keeps majority profits). This is a major cause of the unsuccessful NEP. It hinders the progress of Malays that was intended by the very creation of NEP. Temptation did come across Syed Mokhtar. He remained true to the NEP's course. He kept whatever Bumiputera licenses that he has and refused to enter into any Ali-Baba arrangements, especially in Chinese dominated industries.

Tun Mahathir was quick to identify Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar in his good book. Both are Kedahans who came from poor families and have had to struggle to prominence. Although both have strong non-Malay roots (the former Indian and the latter Arab), they consider themselves Malays as they were raised in the Malay culture and have the values of a Malay. In fact, they had to struggle harder because of this. With many things in common, he (Syed Mokhtar) was also quick to identify Tun as his mentor. This relationship prospered alongside the prosperity of his businesses. When Tun Mahathir was replaced by Tun Abdullah, Syed Mokhtar's propensity to grow frozen like a troll turning into a stone at the exposure of the ray of lights from the rising sun upon the Middle Earth horizon.
 

... he safeguarded strategic Bumiputera assets when other Malays were liquidating their assets like they were jumping onto a boat escaping a sinking Titanic. He was reluctantly avoiding the 'Get Out of Jail' ticket.

 

The change in administration was not the only downfall to Syed Mokhtar. Earlier he faced the bubble burst of 1997. Capitalism is not without its ugly Mr Hyde. The Asian economic crisis crucified him but yet he survived. With devalued Ringgit, Syed Mokhtar's assets shrank from RM3 billion to RM600 million. This impairment tantamount to 80% of the market capitalisation of his businesses; but yet, he safeguarded strategic Bumiputera assets that were entrusted to him when other Malays were liquidating their assets like they were jumping onto a boat escaping a sinking Titanic. Not only he was suffering, he was reluctantly avoiding the 'Get Out of Jail' ticket.

This matter multiplied his credibility over night. He was concerned that the NEP was being raped by both Bumiputeras as well as Non-Bumiputeras. He holds strong to the believe that the NEP benefited the Non-Bumiputeras significantly as well. Malaysia's richest men today trace their wealth back to NEP and political patronage. To name a few, Robert Kuok, Ananda Krishnan, Lim Goh Tong, Jeffrey Cheah, Yeoh Tiong Lay and Vincent Tan. Why should Syed Mokhtar be criticised for being an opportunist? After all, weren't those opportunities created for Bumiputera like him and others? Notwithstanding the justification and fairness of it all, Syed Mokhtar did not escape the painful strikes of mass media. They bowled him numerous spinning balls but he took it like Brian Lara sweeping the whole oval with his might, his business acumen and entrepreneur valour.

"In my (Syed Mokhtar) opinion, Bumiputera allocations should not be sold since they were awarded to us (Bumiputeras) to achieve the NEP's 30% corporate equity target."

 

* kopihangtuah



| mcmlxxv:viii:xxix |

The Garden of Evening Mists - A Magnificent Touch of Malaysia's Tan Twan Eng

www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com

This is a story of a life struggle. This is a story of sadness. This is a story of dignity, purpose and love. This is telling us how much we as human beings are fragile but yet, with such realisation, we still roam the Earth with greatness along with the confusion that we carry with us forever ...

Title: The Garden of Evening Mists
Author: Tan Twan Eng
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-78211-018-7
Publisher: Myrmidon Books Ltd
Year: 2012

TAN TWAN ENG is the pride of the nation (Malaysia) when his masterpiece, The Garden of Evening Mists, got shortlisted for The Man booker Prize. Not only am I proud for what he did for the nation, I am also thrilled to know that he is my fellow statesman, the beautiful island of Penang. Tan writes beautifully. Justice is not done if Tan's work is read in a rush and pages turning fast like what one would expect from a Dan Brown's book. His requires patience. Readers should take their time and indulge in the slow but substantially composed storyline. The appreciation of such steady digestion simply pulls you into his world. Almost analogous to wine tasting where you let the liquid linger enveloping your tongue rather than a forceful gulp.

 

... between the sad memories of her late sister and her passion to prosecute Japanese occupation war criminals, her attention focuses on being an apprentice of this Japanese gardener. The apprenticeship proves to be an adventure uncovering many surprises ranging from her inner feelings to the gardener, communist attacks, to war secrets that involves Japanese spies and treasure hunts ...

 

The Garden of Evening Mists, as the name suggests, mostly revolve around a Japanese garden in the cool ambience of Cameron Highlands in Pahang. Set in three (3) different snapshots of the life of a Chinese lady, Yun Ling, the journey begins with a dark past of Japanese invasion of Malaya. Like many Chinese, women in particular, the Japanese occupation was nothing short of a living hell. Yun Ling and her sister struggle through the war in a godforsaken civilian camp deep in the rainforest. Of course, the Japanese did not stay long. The moment Hiroshima was bombed to pieces and the prospect of the same happening to Tokyo was apparent, the army of the rising sun surrendered. Yun Ling got her life returned to her but it is never the same. She lost her sister, her dignity and some fingers!

 

Such traumatic experience leaves a deep hatred towards Japanese. But!, ... despite the despise she has, Yun Ling later (the 2nd snapshop) finds herself enveloped with love and care for a Japanese gardener living at the fringe of a tea plantation estate. What is worse, this aged Japanese gardener was formerly the Emperor's (of Japan) gardener. All facts and feelings intertwined giving confusion to Yun Ling. She is playing tug-of-war between love and conscience. Her family and friends, mostly Chinese, looks negatively towards her like what Kunta Kinte would have felt if another black falls in love with the white colonial masters. Between the sad memories of her late sister and her passion to prosecute Japanese occupation war criminals (now that she is in the Malaya judiciary system), her attention focuses on being an apprentice of this Japanese gardener. She has to fulfil her promise to her sister. She has to build a Japanese garden in her (sister) memory. The apprenticeship proves to be an adventure uncovering many surprises ranging from her inner feelings to the gardener, communist attacks, to war secrets that involves Japanese spies and treasure hunts.

 

This is a story of a life struggle. This is a story of sadness. This is a story of dignity, purpose and love. This is telling us how much we as human beings are fragile but yet, with such realisation, we still roam the Earth with greatness along with the confusion that we carry along with us forever. Yun Ling is no different. She, like any other human beings, went through the exact template of a life saga. It is as if life is pre-ordained - or, perhaps, life is indeed pre-ordained anyway - leaving Yun Ling alone again in her old age (Snapshop 3) abandoned by her sister, her friends and her beloved mystical Japanese gardener lover. The pain Yun Ling feels gets unbearable when everything in her (memories), surrounding her (the surviving Japanese Garden of Evening Mists) and "on" her (a full body Japanese tattoo, Horimono, crafted by the gardener) are the legacy of the one and only lover she ever had.

* kopihangtuah



| mcmlxxv:viii:xxix |

Burgess Gone Mad with Slangs in Clockwork Orange

www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com

.... probably the most difficult book I have ever read, so far, alongside with Hitler's Mein Kampf

Title: A Clockwork Orange
Author: Anthony Burgess
Genre: Fiction/Violence
ISBN: 978-0-141-19236-9
Publisher: Penguin Books
Year: 1972

ADMAN is who he is this bloody Burgess. I have no idea how to comprehend this piece of work. It is probably the most difficult book I have ever read, so far, alongside with Hitler's Mein Kampf. I struggled all the way. Burgess' obsession with creating his own slang drove me crazy. It took me quite a while to be accustomed to his new language. I wonder how the movie for this is? Haven't really watched it. Just to demonstrate how difficult it is to read this book, I list below some of the words he created. See whether you have heard of them:

• droogs
• rassoodocks
• skorry
• moloko
• vellocet
• synthemesc
• drencrom
• veshch
• bog
• deng
• tolchock
• veck
• viddy
• ptitsa

Mind you the above are just from page 1. Imagine how many of these weird new words I had to go through in the entire 165 pages. Madness! I could only get the grips of these after surpassing the 100th page. I suppose he (Burgess) wanted to create a new trend of slang. He did not succeed.

In any case, it is a weird book. Burgess wrote it for money and it was done in just a few weeks. It became famous in Britain post-war. It was also named as one of the best 100 novels in the English Language world for the last 80 years. Fuhhh!!!!! bloody man created a disaster that earned such acknowledgement. Not just that, they did a movie out of it. The director (Stanley Kubrick) got so disturbed by it that later he withdrew it from distribution. Amazing! Have a read. You will curse.

So pervasive were his crimes that they had to put him behind bars, changing his name from Alex to 6655321

In summary, the book is divided into 3 components. The first was on how a teenager aged 15, Alex, lived a very violent life full of crime. So pervasive were his crimes that they had to put him behind bars, changing his name from Alex to 6655321. Such psychotic boy was perfect for Government experiments. Hence, in the second part of the book, he underwent various tests. His mind was brainwashed via various techniques including medical and psychological methods. To that, a robot he was. More of a zombie I suppose. Listening to instructions by the Government. A human that only does good. Well, he was no longer human for he had no freedom of choice. His brain was programmed. What sufferings he had caused the public pre-jail period were as if simmetrically done onto him during his time in jail. He went through sufferings when tests and experiments were conducted on him. A psychotic creature he became but intended to be a good psycho. So was the intention of the Government. Having concluded him as a successful subject of such experiments, the Government released him back into the society. Little that they know that this little rascal is no joke. He surprised them afterwards in the third part of the book, attracting the attention of the Minister of Interior and the entire political landscape when they were at the eve of general election. The media, the opposition, the rebels, the police force and the general public found their eye balls focused at little psychotic Alex, or 6655321. You'll have to read on your own.... but what I do want to share, are the remaining weird words:
 

• litso
• pletchoes
• cravats
• kartoffel
• devotchkas
• malchicks
• gullivers
• dollop
• chelloveck
• slovos
• forficulate
• messel
• mesto
• goloss
• ooko
• farfarculule
• rubadubdub
• malenky
• doddery
• nochy
• lewdies
• poogly
• skvatted
• razrez
• zoobies
• wuf waf wof
• goobers
• tolchock
• chepooka
• shoomny
• gollies
• hen-korm
• appy polly loggies
• baboochkas
• rookers
• minoota
• rozz
• chasso
• pooshka

There are too many of these words. I give up! Had to stop at page 10. Cheers!



* kopihangtuah



| mcmlxxv:viii:xxix |

Y.A.B. Cartoon

www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com

Title: Transformasi Najib
Author: Akmar Hisham Mokhles
Genre: Politics/History
ISBN: 978-967-5702-04-4
Publisher: Qalif Umar Creative
Year: 2011

I have never heard of any Prime Minister in this world who uses comic to reach out to the public, particularly youth. The closest I've heard would be Bill Clinton with his Clinton Hamburgers

ajib Razak (Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Prime Minister (PM)) never failed to attract my attention. This time with his comic, Transformasi Najib, by Akmar Hisham Mokhles. Where did I get it from? Well, One night, coming back from work late, I joined a group of friends for early Sahur (Supper) at Syed Section 11 Shah Alam. One of them handed me a pile of publications which included, amongst others, a Hari Raya card from our Prime Minister (addressed to the public), a book by some Professor Khairil Annas of which, the title was too long to be remembered; and a comic,.... a comic of the PM himself! I asked "Where did you get these from?", and my friend answered, "From the 1M4U launch. It is the shortform for 1Malaysia for Youth". Hmmmm.... no wonder there is a comic. It is for youth! Last I understood, youth in Malaysia (politically) ranges from 18 to 40 years old. The comic must have been for those aged 18 to early 20's, I figured.

Anyway, that comic facinated me. I have never heard of any Prime Minister in this world who uses comic to reach out to the public, particularly youth. The closest I've heard would be Bill Clinton with his Clinton Hamburgers as mocked by David Letterman. Amusing? Yes! Effective? Well, Yes indeed! Imagine this, youth from all over Malaysia who reads this comic will be able to understand what he (Najib) is trying to do for the country. So I put myself in the shoes of those youth. If I am to read the comic, what message will be conveyed across to me (to the youth)? This, in my mind, can be a powerful tool especially when the General Election is expected to be held late 2012 or early 2013. The new generation of voters can be influenced quite intelligently by this method of mass communication. Maybe the PM should commisssion Lat to come out with a set of publication from time to time because I believe that he (Lat) managed to convey Tun Mahathir's messages to the public via his cartoons quite briliantly. So, I took away that comic and read it during the weekend.

.... a Pakcik next to me said, "Hmmmm.... apa tu lagi si Najib nak buat tu? Kartun pun dia buat jugak? Pakcik cuma mau RM500 duit raya tahun ni. Rasa-rasa dia nak bagi tak?"

The comic is in Malay and it is easy for any Malaysian to understand. The language is clear and easy. The cartoon characters are identifiable to its real life characters and the message throughout the comic is political yet not overly done. I must say that this is a brilliant piece of work. However, as I was reading it while waiting for my car to be washed at Shine Shine, a Pakcik (elderly man) next to me said, "Hmmmm.... apa tu lagi si Najib nak buat tu? Kartun pun dia buat jugak? Pakcik cuma mau RM500 duit raya tahun ni. Rasa-rasa dia nak bagi tak?" [In English: What is Najib up to with all these cartoons? All I want is the token of RM500 for the festive season. Do you think he will give?]. What is wrong with Malaysians nowadays? All they want is just short term money like that? I truly feel sad. While the non-Bumis fight for their education, economic access and equal opportunities, the Bumis talk about getting Duit Raya (token) from the Prime Minister? What a nut case. I sure hope that the youth of today will not grow to be such narrow minded people. This comic, I believe, have got the strength to shape the young minds. F*** the Pakciks who have no sense.

So what message did the comic conveyed to its readers? It tells the story about Najib's birth, his early years and all the way to his current life. The story of his early life alone contains many political messages as it introduces stories about what Tun Razak (Najib's father who was the 2nd Prime Minister) started for Malaysia. It provides the foundation to what Najib is doing now as a continuation of his father's legacy. Things like abolishing poverty, developing the nation and being close to the community. Basically, it opens up the opportunity for people to know Najib without even meeting him. Brilliant approach. Of course the comic never miss important events that mark Najib's career progression as a politician: Everything from being a Member of Parliament at the age of 22 all the way until holding the highest post in the country's administration. One amusing bit out of all these would be the page on how Tun Mahathir declared his resignation. I remembered watching it on the TV (very dramatic) and now the author/cartoonist is trying to express the same mood in the comic including a cartoon character of Rafidah (The Minister of Trade back then) with a speech box that says, "Why? Why?" responding to Tun's resignation declaration.

So, what message that Najib conveyed in this comic? For a start, he made clear what his expectations are for the current political leaders: (1) Loyalty, (2) Integrity, (3) Capability; and (4) Dedication. This is further reinforced by the appointment of a special minister from the corporate world to monitor the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the ministers in the cabinet. Truly a strong message sent across to the public to say that he means business for his Manifestos to the Rakyat (citizens) to the extent that his own ministers are held accountable for their own performances.

The comic further revealed Najib's slogan for 1Malaysia "Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan" which means People First Achievements Prioritised. In driving this 1Malaysia concept, 8 values have been identified as follows:

1. Excellence Culture
2. Courage
3. Acceptance
4. Education
5. Integrity
6. Meritocracy
7. Humility
8. Loyalty


The comic then showcases his humility whereby the Prime Minister had appeared in various public spaces to be closer to the public. Some of those places visited were restaurants at Brickfields, street shops at Petaling Street and the village Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur. The visits were inpromptu, informal, casual and unexpected by the public. It was positively accepted by the public. To ensure that the youth understand what he is trying to achieve for the nation, the comic listed his plans and strategies based on the 2012 Budget. Some of those that may get significant attention from the youth are as follows:

1. RM2.5 billion assistance for new entrepreneurs
2. RM1 billion for school upgrade programmes
3. RM100 for all schooling students
4. Voucher for books of tertiary education
5. RM200 million funding for seeding start up companies under ValueCap Sdn Bhd
6. Subsidy of RM500 for those earning RM3,000 and below per month
7. Cheap priced goods groceries stores, Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M)
8. Introduction of 4,500 agricultural entrepreneurship contracts
9. Cheap housing scheme, Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA)
10. Micro financing totalling RM2.1 billion for entrepreneurs
11. Youth technical training provision of RM200 million
12. RM15 million for the construction of 150 futsal courts
13. RM50 million for the development of sports centres
14. RM30 million to train young athletes
15. RM200 million for the establishment of a venture capital for the creative industry

The comic went further to show how lives of Malaysians were made easier with the establishment 1Malaysia Moving Medical Clinics, laptops for schools and many more. On the last page, the publication appropriately ends with a message from Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Najib Razak which sounded as follows:

"Adat memegang kepercayaan orang
Jangtan sekali-kali menikam belakang
Adat memegang kekuasaan
Jangan sekali-kali merosak binasakan
Adat memegang kebebasan
Jangan sekali-kali lupa batasan"

[In English: The ethics of trust is loyalty,
of power is anti-destructive,
of freedom is tolerable limits]

Quotation by Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia

* kopihangtuah



| mcmlxxv:viii:xxix |