MY LONG-SHORT STORY OF CENSORSHIP WOES

I had this to share. My experiences on the 'hype' of censorship by 'certain quarters' on things 'they considered' deemed unfit for Malaysians.

I experienced all form of media 'censorship' right from the date I was first commissioned as a 'fully-fledged' Television Practitioner – as RTM employee in 1971.

Having served Radio Television Malaysia for more than 30 years, (retired in 1996 as RTM Managing Director) and with the emergence of multilevel mass communication outlets, I am of the opinion that there is now the need to 'redesign' and reform the country's censorship act.

I remember, as a Public Broadcaster, right from it's inception, RTM's programming 'gate keeping' censorship was 'fluid' yet 'rigid'. Government policy and public interests must be adhered to fully. And those policies changed with times.

No programme considered fit for broadcast without undergoing stringent censorship and approved by Ministry's of Information Directorate as well The Government Censor Board.

Even Government Sponsored video or film campaigns were not spared. Some had to go under the axe if they failed to fulfill the censorship demands.

I remember 2 filmlets on Government Road Safety Campaign were put on shelves because the characterisation and the slant of the dramatic sequences considered racial.

I remember a 'commercial film' for a bank, portraying a particular community as 'watchman' with the tag line STRONG AND FRIENDLY was rejected for tv commercial 'spot buy'. That community complained that the portrayal was not done in good faith. Also sequences such as the slaughtering of cattle for Aid-Adha offerings would certainly go under the scissor, as the act would offend the Hindus. Nor do a Muslim Actors performing Non-Muslim religious ritual in a local TV Drama allowed on the screen. There are many other thrifty-gritty sensitive elements being added to the rules and would be implemented totally.

As such many of RTM's very own production had been banned or heavily censored.

One of the special Made for TV Movies, I produced for Aidilfitri in 1974 entitled SAYANG MAS MERAH was taken off the network on the eve of Hari Raya Celebration in spite of its earlier massive media promotions. The main character a Chinese, acted by singer cum actor Andre Goh was portrayed in a scene having a brawl with some Malay youths. The Ministry rated it as too 'racial' and disapproved the sequence. Unless I chopped the whole scene or the production banned. I off ted for the latter.

Even Tom Jone Musicals were not spared the ban; for reasons the singer's bare breasted attire conspicuously dangling a scripture medallion on his hairy chest as he swings in rhythmic ecstasy, the trademark of all his shows. Reason given - the show not fit for Muslim viewers.

Tun Razak Hussein our 2^nd Prime Minister had a cameo role in one of Filem Negara's Production THE GREEN BOOK on Rural Malaysia's Development project. The dramatised blockbuster documentary was sponsored by a private firm, meant for public screening in the theatres and the Mobile Units. The documentary never got to the tv network, because there was a scene of a Malaysian Cabinet Meeting, where The Prime Minister bang his fist in desperation for some unresolved problems at hand. 'They were' of the opinion that the particular shot would tinted Tun's soft spoken personality, as well discredit his cabinet. The decision was to censor it.

(Who would dare to snip off Prime Minister Tun Razak sequence in that high profiled documentary without his consent. Neither, who would have the courage to seek Prime Minister's consent, in the first place. I don't think my boss would, or even my Minister dare take the risk.)

So the idea of telecasting the documentary for public viewing ( for that particular period ) was left in oblivion.

The tight censorship policy was real challenges for us in RTM as well other media practitioner and the production houses. As far as RTM was concern (until late 1980es) no local programmes were outsourced to private production houses.

The Ministry of Information was noted to be too strict in assessing all programmes for telecasts. It's in house 'censor board' were more stringent in enforcing its own set of rulings than that of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Lyrics, dialogues, multiracial/multi religious castings, political or cult's ideologies, cultural promotion and interpretations must follow MOI rigid set of rules.

There was a totally different set of rules for shows performed in a converted stage in the amusement halls or stadium to those performed for the mass media.

Present day, what is being staged around you, would eventually be access to television and other online multimedia viewers.

Furthermore, pop artistes persona's are 'star rated' based on their self personification. Mostly on multilevel self image representations, some are personal, sordid and incoherent, not suitable for the young minds.

Take for example, the much talk about the objection by PAS Youth Wing on the American Superstar Beyonce's Concert in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 25^th.

"Beyonce Promotes Hedonism", says PAS."We know that these groups are not suitable for our Malaysian culture. Their appearance and attire are against our Eastern identity."

Beyonce's followers in the country were devastated on the objections. They aired their desperation as well put forward all the justification they could, supporting the show to proceed. Even Dato'Seri Dr Rais Yatim, The Honorable Minister of Information joined in the foray, citing that The Ministry would have no objection if Beyonce is dressed accordingly.

PAS Youth was quick to respond: "Even if Beyonce were to dress in a Jubah (Muslim Attire) she was still known for her 'sexy image'. We are against Western entertainment that promotes bedonism. We do not want our youths to be misled. We have in the past objected to Indonesia dangdud artiste Inul Daratista performing in Malaysia as she is also well known for her sexy gyrations."

Now, here we go again. No consensus of opinion. Each beating around the bush. Each follows their very own set of rules.

For whatever it is the 'gate keeping' process on activities touching on racial, religious and cultural sensitivities amongst the Malaysian Society still staggering at its infancy stage. Say what you like, it still the unending tales of desperation, ' a thorn in the ass ' to most aspirants.

I suggest, it is time to formulate a standard set of 'fool proof' rules enacted by the government to be adhered to by Producers and the Performing Artistes. Banning a show based on some public outcry would mean setting an unprecedented precedent. On the other hand 'allowing' such an act would not earn an extra credit to the population, except that it satisfies the follower's few.

The degrading of morality amongst the young has been of concern to most. More than 60% of Malaysian population are below 50es. There is this believe that, the influx of western cultures in our midst would for the foreseeable future form a society of a mixed east-west broods. And the very thought of our very own social and cultural heritage succumbed to foreign influences not to the favour of most Malaysian.

Come RAYA

Most likely the 1st of Shawwal this year would fall on Sunday the 20th September 09.
The month of Ramadan saw Muslims world over passionately fulfilling their Ibadah. In mosques and suraus Muslim performed Terawih Prayers followed by sessions of Kiaimulai. They beseech Allah’s forgiveness by offering ‘sunat prayers’, ‘doas’, giving out alms to the poor, reciting and understanding the teaching of Al’Qur’an as well performing all other compulsory religious obligations - attributions and covenant to Allah.
Come Shawwal Muslim world over herald Eid Fitri as a day of liberation. A period of deliverance and rejoice, a deserving celebration for most, with relatives, neighbours, colleagues and society at large - despite their different ethnics, religion or faith.
Most Muslims in Malaysia choose to celebrate Eid Fitri with their close kin at their ancestral homes in the villages. Hence the once a year exodus of ‘Balik Kampung’. Malays which form the majority of Malaysian Muslims are close nit families. Aptly Eid Fitri as the opportune time for them to forge acquaintances amongst siblings, relatives, neighbours, old collegues as well other village folks.
The Eid Fitri morning starts with special Eid Fitri prayer congregation at the local Mosque or Surau. Some would visit the ancestral graves of their long lost also visiting the elders. The day would be spend receiving visitors or visiting others in the neighbourhood. There are spreads of traditional cooking to everyone’s delight. Some of those traditional recipes take months to prepare, hence they are considered as the local specialities. Each household would have its own festivity ambience, serving some of the family’s known close guarded recipes. This uniqueness beckons togetherness amongst close kin, hence the urge of ‘Balik Kampung’ favourable to most. Those spending Raya away from home would consider themselves as missing a moment in time. They not only missed the traditional ‘Kampong Raya’ galore with close loved ones, but missed the uniqueness of one’s a year local gourmets.
Evidently Eid Fitri is a festivity of tolerance where the young and the old would seek for each other’s forgiveness. This act of ‘moral cleansing’ strengthened Muslim Brotherhood as Eid Fitri is an appropriate time to advocate the forbearing concept of Islam.

To err is human, to forgive Devine.

To all Muslims –
Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin.

'Merdeka! Merdeka!! Merdeka!!!

31st August 1957 - Malaya 'Merdeka'. I regretted to this day since 52 years ago for not being able to attend The Merdeka Proclaimation Celebration at Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. I was 16 then and in Form 3 at a Government English School. Being in the most senior class, we were offered special student passes to attend this auspicious and historical occasion. School Principal Chegu Rahim personally encouraged us so, on condition we had close relatives staying in Kuala Lumpur.

The offer inspired me most. For long I had wanted to visit the capital city. I had 2 uncles living in Kampong Dato’Keramat. They had been encouraging me to visit them. The long desire of visiting the cosmopolitan city, the chance to be invited to the newly built Stadium Merdeka and the lure of witnessing ‘Merdeka Fireworks Display at The Lake Garden very much influenced my decision. For once, I had valid reason to take the offer.

‘Kuala Lumpur, here we come.’

However Chegu Rahim adviced that we should provide his office with letter of consent from our parents.

But father was quick to discourage me. Father was more concern of my safety. It was not safe for a 16 year old the long bus journey alone to Kuala Lumpur along stretches of ‘curfew areas’. Then again, one had to change buses 5 times along the route. The total distance from my Kampung to Kuala Lumpur was around 150+ miles. The narrow roads to Teluk Anson, Bidor, Sungkai, Slim River, Tanjung Malim, Kerling, Batang Kali, Rawang right to Kuala Lumpur passed through lonely stretches of vast rubber estates, small villages, unattended orchards, meanding through hilly dense jungles in communist infested areas and were unsafe for ordinary travelling. Father said some stretches were famous for regular occurrences of communist insurgences.

Commuters along those curfew stretches were not to carry foodstuff or medicines. They had to pass many road blocks for their travel documents to be checked by the security forces. The communist terrorists would ambush and burnt vehicles, rob passengers of their belongings, travel permits and identity cards before escaping into the deep jungle. The terrorists needed those documents for their daily movements for foodstuffs and medication.

Mother tried her best to convince Father. Discreetly she told Father that I had been in touch with cousin Ismail in Kuala Lumpur about my attending the Merdeka Celebrations. Ismail was quick to respond and the date of my travel was fixed. Ismail would wait for my arrival at Kuala Lumpur bus depot on the evening of 30th August.

Father reiterated it was a journey not worth taking. Approaching Merdeka the communist propaganda machines had continuously threatened to destabilize the country with force. The threat was serious. I could easily be involved in an ambushed and be killed.

Father’s decision was final. I was devastated.

No Kuala Lumpur trip for me, meaning not attending the Merdeka Proclamation Ceremony at the stadium, or witnessing the fireworks display at the Lake Garden on the Merdeka night.

Alas my desire to be part of our nation’s history shattered. It was a lifetime occasion that I should not missed. The date and the event would be etched in the nation as well the world modern history. And I had the chance to be at part of that history.

Malaya of the Malay Archipelago had been colonised by the western powers for more than 500 years. As of 31st August 1957 we would be a free Nation. ‘Merdeka’ means ‘freedom’, free from colonial rule. Indonesian got its independence in 1945 and had just celebrated its ‘Merdeka’ day on the 14th August. The Indonesian had to take up arms against the colonial for their Independence. For years their freedom fighters struggled and sacrifice their lives fighting The Dutch. Unlike Indonesia, Malaya got its independent from the British through negotiation.

We were lucky.

It’s the communist that had wanted to destabilise Persekutuan Tanah Melayu sovereignty, terrorising the country by taking up arms and staging guerrilla’s war fares. The communist insurgences were real threat to the country’s stability. Communist ideology had influenced certain sector of the population. Likely they had supporters and sympathisers amongst us.

We have to accept the fact that we must be vigilant at all time.

I finally submitted to that notion, and accepted Father’s decision. I wrote a letter to cousin Ismail cancelling my trip. The letter was short and was written in English.

Cousin Ismail in his reply; chided me for still honouring the colonial legacy even on the eve of our Nation’s independent. Ismail wrote: ‘aku malu menerima warkah dalam bahasa penjajah dari anak bangsaku diambang negaraku menerima kemerdekaannya.......’ I was ashamed and felt like being hit by a truck.

Cousin Ismail was a member of the arm forces. After Form II he joined the elite force - The Royal Malay Regiment.

Since then, on every August countdown of our Merdeka Celebrations I vividly recollect my failed desire to be at the Stadium Merdeka for the Merdeka Proclamation by YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.

Whatsoever since 31st August 1957 I passionately behold my love for the country. ‘MERDEKA’ had since to be my ‘war cry’.

And again it was cousin Ismail’s critique that helps me to be true Malay and strengthened my patriotism to my beloved country - Malaysia.

DirgahyuIbuPertiwi

Note: Cousin Ismail retired from The Malay Regiment as a Warrant Officer. He passed away a couple of years ago after a long bout of Parkinson disease. Alfatihah.

THE WAY WE WERE

Saturday the 15 was a day to remember. At least for most of us RTM pensioners. It was PVRTM's meeting at Hotel Singgahsana. Some 50+- 'diehard' members converged at the venue for the occation. They were in as early as 8.00 am. Most had surpassed 70, still strong and healthy. Ex RTM staff are known to be functual. Maybe because of our past daily routines, governed by strick work shedules and datelines. A habit we mostly preserved and practice till this day. That maked us ticks. That maked RTM ticks. Since its inception for the last 6 decades RTM never fails its obligations.

The PVRTM general meeting was smooth and cordial a reflection of true democracy in practice.

Looking back my 30 years service with RTM (1966 – 1996) I acknowledge that we were a great team. We were a bunch of true professional of our times. Each of us an effective team member and proactive team player irrespective of age, experience and position we held. As public servant we never ever failed our obligations to the country and the nation. A word of command from our bosses upstairs, an order to be executed fully. We communicate effectively and freely as a team. We worked on shared opinions and divide our responsibilities effectively. We were trustworthy lot. (Bukan nak masuk bakul angkat sendiri). Truly we were. We relied on each other to give our most. At time we were ‘Jack of All Trade’ within the contact of our professional skills. We were Producers, Script Writers, and Reporters/Anchor Person, DJs ect..whatever each could contribute to enhance team output. That makes us effective and RTM strong. Self critique and our willingness to accept criticism both from our bosses and our peers as well the public strengthened our determinations for continued success. No financial or self gain. We were proud for a job well executed.

Those were the way we were.

Most of the 65 – 75 years old attendees with us today are the remnants of the ‘Last Mohicans’ of RTM yesteryears. They formed the majority of this year’s GM Quorum. It was an honour to have Tan Sri Zaleha Ismail (former UMNO Wanita Chief), Tan Sri Ahmad Merican, Dato’Abdullah Mohammad ex Director General of Broadcasting. Again there was a strong present of Radio Malaysia stalwart among others Dato’ Aziz Singah, Fatimah Kamaruddin, Norazah Aziz, Zahurin Zakaria, Habsah Hassan, Norela Samad, Latifah Sidek, Maizatul Akmam Yahya, Datin Wan Rohani Zain, Lee Keng Seng - also the regulars and some ex office bearers make our gatherings more significant. Though this time we missed Tan Sri Dol Ramli ex RTM DG a strong supporter of PVRTM, Tan Sri SM Salim, Dato’Jaafar Kamin and some senior members, least to say the successes of PVRTM are attributed to the all time commitment from all its members.

We bade each other farewell after lunch with a prayer to meet again

The Case of Nadrah 'gadis Belanda'

I vividly remember the couple's loving poses. She was a foreigner, a Dutch. He was local, a teacher in Singapore hailed from Kota Bahru, Kelantan.

Other than the portrait of Sukarno, the Indonesian Freedom fighter, the framed postcard size photograph of Mansor Adabi and his young bride Nadrah adorned the ‘tiang seri’ (main pillar of a traditional Malay House) of my house. More so on most Malay houses in the British Malaya and Singapora then. They were then the icons of most Malay Muslim. The duo was the 1950es craze, their potraits were most adorable pinups.
Mansor Adabi was Malay, and Nadrah was Dutch - ‘gadis Belanda’. Mother fondly refers her beauty as that of a ‘bidadari dari shurga’ (a fairy from paradise) and Mansor as the young ‘Malay Bangsawan’ (The Prince Charming ).

To most Malays they were the most celebrated couple of the year. They adored them, prayed for their well beings and ever willing to fight for them. Being hardcore Muslims they were directly committed to the cause of Islam. They were of the openion that Nadrah had willingly embraced Islam and should remain a Muslim. She should not be raised as her biological parent’s Roman Catholic religion. She should be free to lead her own lives with her foster parents and her husband and raised her family as a true Muslim.’

There was a legal tussle between Aminah Mohamad her foster mother and Adranus Petrus Hertogh her Dutch father, and was widely covered by the media. When the court finally assigned Nadrah to her biological parents and returned to Holland, the Malay Muslim ran amok. The onslaught was bloody. The clash was between the Muslim and the Christians on the streets of Singapore. The aftermath of that religious riot in Singapore also deepened amongst the Muslim in the Peninsular. The period was 1950es. Indonesia just got its Independence from the Dutch and Malaya was still in the midst of negotiation on its Independence from the British. As such the grudge for the colonial rules continuously deepened.

...........

Today Friday, July 10, 2009 The New Straits Times – filed the sad news in its PRIME NEWS page the death of Maria Hertogh 72 at her home in Huijberhen in South Holland of leukemia at the age of 72 the day before. Her 10 children and close relatives were at her side.
A statement released by her family said Hertogh made world news when her parents Adeline Hunter and Adranus Petrus Hertogh went to court to seek her return after World War 2.

Adrianus had been captured by the Japanese in Indonesia in 1942. Her mother then gave her for adoption to Aminah Mohamad from Terengganu without her father’s knowledge. She was renamed Nadrah Maarof and raised in Kemaman as a Muslim.
After his release at the end of the war, Andrianus began the search for his daughter. Aminah took her to Singapore to see her father and she was placed in a girls home ( a convent ). Aminah won an appeal to get her back and the then 13 year old was married to Mansor Adabi. But on December 12, 1950, the court ruled she should be returned to her biological father and she went back to Holland where she was brought up according to the religion of her father.

After the judge assigned her to her parents riot broke out between Muslims and Christians in Singapore, resulting in 18 deaths and 200 people injured,’ the statement said.

Malaysian’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Datuk Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib, who last met Hertogh at her birthday party on March 24, said she looked frail but happy.
“Her birthday party had a Malaysian-Indonesian theme. She talked a lot about her happy days in Malaysia and her heart was very much there.”

Till present day, the tragic case of Maria Hertogh @ Nadrah Maarof was a never ending stories among the Malays especially those in the East Coast. Books and journals were written about her early life, the court tussle between Aminah her foster parents and Adrianus her biological father. Television ducumentries, a (Malay) feature film was also produced based on her life story. It was a love story with a different twist.

The youngest of her 10 children, Silvija Wolkenfell 38 said there would be no burial as it was Hertogh’s last wish to donate her body for research. “All her life she did what other people wanted. This is her own choice, and it is important we respect that,” the 38 years old said in a telephone interview.

..........

There is an irony to the above statement by her youngest daughter on her last wish, to give her body for research.

She was brought up as a Muslim for almost a decade before returning to Holland and brought up according to her biological parent’s religion. Such a tragic situation for a young girl having lost both her parents because of war and found a new family love in the Malay and Muslim hardland. She blossomed as a Malay damsel with a foreign complexions. Loved by her foster family and proudly accepted by the community. She was later married to a Muslim. But the jevunile marriage won her biological father's custody appeal. The court ruled in favour of her biological parents. She returned to Holland and was brought up according to the religion of her father.

It was a teen love story with a twisted ending. Her life story chronicled that of a 'bondage or feudal serf' female.

.........

She was borned in Tjimahi, Jawa on 24th March 1937. She was the 3rd child. She was baptised Maria Bertha Hertogh by her Dutch-Eurasian parents. Maria's father was a A Dutch Army Sargent was taken in as a prisioner-of-war during during the Japenese invasion of Jawa during WWII. Andelina her mother gave Maria to the care of a family friend Aminah Mohamad on 15th November 1942 without the knowledge of her husband. The process was withness by Andelina's brother Soewaldi. Maria was raised as a Muslim and named Nadrah binti Maarof. She was verymuch loved by her foster parents and fondly niknamed her Puteh ( meaning 'white').

Aminah moved out of Jakarta to Bandung. She was enlisted as an interpreter for the Japenese Military Police. Fearing that Nadrah's Dutch background made her vulnerable during the Indonesian War of Independence Aminah and her foster daughter Nadrah fled to Terengganu, Malaya. Nadrah grew up in Aminah hometown Kemaman. Maria aka Nadrah study at Chukai Malay School, Kemaman and learnt reading the AlQur'an from an Ustazah.

Renuited after the war Maria's parents began seeking for their lost daughter. They lodged a request with the Dutch officials to locate their daughter.

Arthur Locke, the a British Administrative Officer, in Terengganu was first to alert authorities on Maria's whereabouts when he spotted her at a school competition in Kemaman. A custody battle ensued over Maria, which drew much public attention and fuelled religious sensitivities.

Initially the custody of Maria aka Nadrah was given to Aminah. Within 4 days of the ruling, on 1st August 1950 Nadrah was married off to Mansor Adabi 18 year old Kelantanese, a 2nd year Normal Class Teacher at Bukit Panjang Government Shool. The marriage of a juvenile 13 year old Maria was reised to court, at Andranus's appeal for custody of Maria. The 12th December 1950 court's rulling granted the custody of Maria to her biological parents. She screamed for mercy and begged the court to recind its rulling. She pleaded to be with her husband and remained in Malaya with her foster mother as a Muslim. But the court rullings also nullified her juvenile Muslim marriage. She was made a 'Murtad' and 'allowed' to be brought up according to her father's religion that of Roman Catholic. With the court's rulling her biological parents immediately wisked her to Amsterdam.

Maria married a Dutch cabinet maker John (Joep) Ganardus Wokerfeld on 20th April 1956 and bored 13 children, 3 of which did not servive infancy. However a 1975 TV production on Maria's story stirred up Marias's unhappy memories and led her to tragic actions. Meserable over her working at her husband's cafe-cum-bar the "T Pumpke" (Tan Sri A.Samad Said 'Lantai T.Pumpke'?) from early morning to midnight, she plotted to murder her husband through 2 friends, but the plan was found out and she was brought to court on 16 August 1976. However, after reviewing her tragic past, Maria was aquitted within 1 day of hearing.

.........

Aminah bt Mohammad, Maria's foster mother was from a respected Malay family in Kemaman, Terengganu. She married her first husband Abdul Rani (Abdul Gani) who had been the private secretary of The Sultan of Terengganu in 1918. Abdul Rani was a cousin of Datuk Panglima Bukit Gantang, who became The Menteri Besar of Perak after the war. She accompanied her husband to Tokyo where he tought Malay for almost 11 years. They mustered Japenese and adopted a Japenese girl whom they named Kamariah.

Maarof bin Haji Abdul a jeweler from Bandung was Aminah 2nd husband whom she married in the mids of 1930 after her 1st husband passed away.

..............

FATHER'S DAY - Sunday 21st June 09

My Reminiscene Of Father We Fondly Called 'Bapak'.

I remember, Bapak passed away after a long illness at 9.30pm on the 6th September 1960 aged 52, and Emak 33 years later of old age. Since then I missed them most.

I remember Bapak as an icon and mentor. Born in 1908, he grew up between the 2 World Wars. War had deprived him of proper education. As a teenager he had to fend for his family living, helping his aged parents providing him and his siblings enough food and shelter.

Bapak had an elder brother, a travelling shaman. But his brother was of no help to the poor family. Little did Bapak told me about his elder brother, except that he had settled somewhere afar married to a nobleman’s daughter he had successfully nurse back to health from a long supernatural illness. Bapak had all the respect for his brother as an elder, and look high upon him. However, his brother died at a young age, leaving a wife and a son….a Meor. ( Who knows a 70+ years old a Perakian Meor out there could be my first cousin ).

I can consider myself closed to Bapak. As both of my brothers died during the hazards caused by The Japanese Occupations. I was sort of ‘the apple of his eyes’ ( 'Anak Bapak' the rightful term used in our Malay society) as the surviving boy of the family ( Zainal my younger brother was born 10 years later ).

But, little did I knew, he had tasked himself to make a man out of me. Learning all the trade of surviving the hardships of post war Malaya at the same time pursuing proper education. So as a lad I was made to go to school as well learning the trade of hard labour. The weekends were usually spent working at our Salai Kelapa (Copra Kiln), or helping him cutting down ‘MataBuaya’ tree of the mangrove species at the distant banks of Bernam River, or his sampan 'deckhand' as an inshore fisherman. Each was a tedious job not meant for a 15 years old. Choosing and cutting down a tall ‘MataBuaya’ tree in the thick and muddy mangrove swamp was no joke. Each tree should be about 20 meters tall. One had to fell them using axe toward the riverbank for an easy excess to the river on a high tide. Bapak could’t do that alone. He was not healthy either. He was a frail man, look older than his age. More so he was suffering from a certain terminal illness.

For all that tedious jobs he depended so much in me the unexperienced with a lot of energy to burnt. Diligently he would guide me on using the axe, the technique of cutting the hard wood, chopping on the area the tree should fall. For the inexperience it took almost an hour to fell down a hard MataBuaya tree. But it was a worthy experience. Choosing and felling the second MataBuaya was yet another challenge and a complicated task. We would cut down 2 MataBuaya for a day’s work. The fallen trees to be trimmed of their branches, and push down towards the river banks using slippers of Nipah Palm found abundance by the river banks. Pushing 10 to 13 meters length of a hard MataBuaya log through the muddy bank of thick under growths was no easy task either. We have to wait for the high tide to ease the burden.

Bringing home 2 MataBuaya log for a day’s outing was more than enough for a feeble old man and his inexperience son could offer. Those logs were meant as pillars for building a new annex of his elder sister a single parent's home. We had to have a few more trips to the mangrove swamps before the annex could be built. Bapak as the only man in the family, was duty-bound to look after the welfare of his siblings. And me as the eldest boy in the family was to be trained as a responsible Waris Ahli (next of kin) to my siblings. Ardently Bapak had fulfilled his responsibilities as a father and a Waris Ahli ( next of kin ) of his siblings.

During those days, going to school was not a common things for young lads of my village. The nearest Malay School was miles away. One had to brave the wet morning through a narrow, muddy and isolated kampong lanes for the 3 miles trek. One had to leave home after dawn to reach school in time, a journey too scary to undertake, considering my tender age and the only lad from my neighborhood attending primary School then. Bapak was adamant for his son to have a proper education. He would do anything for me to be in school, though at most time I joined my two cousins from another neighborhood playing truant.

After 3 years in the Malay School I was admitted for English Education firstly at GES and later at ACS in town. Bapak was highly trilled on the news I passed my SC/FMC (Cambridge School Certificate & Federation Of Malaya Certificate of Education) Examination in 1959. He passed away the following year at 52 years of age.

If Bapak is still alive today, he would be 101 this year. For sure, there would be no Father’s Day celebration for him from me either. It was not part of our family tradition. Further more he would not understand why we should have the celebration in the first place. It is difficult to justify to him on why we need to celebrate Father's day, for we are totally living in 2 different world altogether.

Me ( his onetime ‘apple of his eye’) is now living in the fast lane, far away from our beloved Bernam River we used to fish to gather. Far away from the mangrove swamps where he tough his son to swing the axe and cut down some MataBuaya trees, or helping him building our RumahKotai at Parit 26 Baruh, that took 5 years to complete. He would not understand why I ownd a couple of cars for me and my wife’s daily chores, he won’t understand why everyone in my family, including some of his cicit (great grandchildren) having a hand phone each, or wearing braces to put right their ( God given ) jongang (Jonah) dentures. He won’t understand why we had television set each in the kitchen, in the study, in the bedroom as well as in the living room. Neither he would understand why we need to go for annual holidays abroad or an occasional Umrah in Saudi Arabia, for during all his entire life time he could not afford even to perform his obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca & Medinah, though he very much like to.

Now thinking of all the sacrifices Bapak had for me during those short years of his life, the more I missed him. Not a day passed by my remembrance of Bapak and Emak fading off memory. I am proud to fulfill all his dreams for me, my siblings, children and grand children. Though he is not around to share our glories, his fighting spirits and his life vision inspires and lives on all his decendents.

Alfatihah untuk Bapak dan Emak.

s

Playwrights HAROLD PINTER and UTUY TATANG SONTANI

HAROLD PINTER & UTUY TATANG SONTANI, were renowned and established modern playwrights in the late fifties.

Harold Pinter borned in Heckney, London (Oct 1930 – Dec 2008) an English Nobel Laurete: playwright, screen writer, actor, director, political activist and President of The Central School Of Speech & Drama, University Of London. Among his known plays: THE ROOM, THE DUMB WAITER and THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Utuy Tatang Sontani ( 1920 – 1979 ) borned at Cianjur, Indonesia and died in Moscow was Sastrawan Sunda Angkatan 45 of Indonesia. Among his famous play were: Awal Dan Mira (1952), Sayang Ada Orang Lain (1954) and Si Kebayan (1959). His writings had been translated in various languages including Russian, Tagalog, Mandarin and English.

I was tasked to produce and direct Utuy Tatang’s SAYANG ADA ORANG LAIN during my final college year in 1962 - a royal command performance attended by The Sultan of Perak - for the Silver Jublee Celebration Of MPSI. The other production was my very own stageplay IBU KANDUNG directed by a collegue.

I was very much influenced by Utuy’s technique of play writing treatments for the stage, in many of my early writings: PUTERI MALISA RATU BERTUAH (Malaysia Drama Awards Ministry of Culture Singapore 1962), MEMBURU BULAN SABIT (staged in Kuala Trengganu 1964 & published by Pustaka Pendidikan 1968, later produced for television by Malaysian renown TV drama producer Aziz Wok (Dato’) and KEMBALI KEPERIBADI SENDIRI (DBP awards 1968) and a novella RUMAH KUNING (published by Utusan Melayu 1969).

Harold Pinter’s triller THE DUMB WAITER was specially selected for my drama major final production at the BBC TV and Film Production Course, London in 1973. THE DUMB WAITER was my tv drama production debut with professional casts and production crews. It was a daunting and challenging task for a young Malaysian working in British Studio with BBC’s professional crew. The experiences gained in Programme Planning, Casting, Rehearsals and the studio production itself was worth a 1000 lecturer room hours.

I became an ardent follower of Utuy and Herold, very much influenced by their stage writings techniques, their well chosen and meaningful dialogues, the uniqueness of each of their story characters and the prearranged ‘obstacles’ that moves the story forward. Most of their play structures followed a perfect paradigm i.e The Premise, The Confrontation, The Resolution. It hooks you as well as the audience right from the opening scene.

On my return home to Malaysia I was made a fully fledged TV Drama/Film Producer Director, a Senior Drama Producer and Head of Drama RTM for more than 2 decades. I chanced in designing, producing and directing RTM Drama Series, Sitcoms, Telemovies and a Feature Film: series Potrait Pekerti, Drama Minggu Ini, Penggung RTM (Made for TV movies), OPAH, ANJANG AKI, TOK PERAK, also sitcom SANTAN BERLADA, FLAT PERSEKUTUAN and DAYANG SUHANA (Feature Movie).
Little did I realised, later in life I specialized myself in producing, directing and writing of stage plays, teleplays and screen plays as well served as a fully fledged Television Drama/Film Producer Director for more than 20 years of my earlier career in RTM (1966-1996). Presently I am managing my very own production house and advertising company specializing in multi media design and productions.

For whatever it was, Harold Pinter and Utuy Tatang Sontani creative approach and style of 'storytelling' somehow influenced me in most my early creative persuits.