5/7/11 THINKING OF THE MALAYS....
Posted By: Abdullah Chek Sahamat - July 07, 2011(In Kelantan this pattern is called Janda Berhias. For non-Malay or even the current younger Malays, not many will realise such a term being used for such a pattern)
Wednesday, 6 July, 2011 was a real test day. Starting from 0400 hours, I woke up and can't put my eyes back to bed. I just reached the Book which now used to lay next to me, and try to read some of those phrases that could give me some freshness.
(2) Starting as early as 0630 hours, I rushed to all those paper works before I then move to attend to the first appointment. By 0900 hours, I have a nice discourse with FELDA Global, the subsidiary of FELDA to see how such a GLC could help to realise a longing dream to infuse greater socio-economic change to the Samarahan-Sadong Jaya peninsula. It was very fortunate, in the FELDA Global team, there is that remnant of the old FELDA frontliner that I believe could assist me in infusing what being termed as People Participation in Development Communication. In the American social development, it is usually term as Public Referendum, but in the Malay adat, it is usually termed as Berbincang, while in Iban, is termed Randau. Nonetheless, most of us had lost track of the approach due to the lost of our social touch onto the target groups.
(3) I intend to capitalise FELDA 1960s People Participation strategy in educating our rural population to see thing differently from their current complacent and self-subsistence approach, to, expecting the future chanllenge and change now before it becaming too late. A team of my friends will work and put this effort into test.
(4) Later at 12.30 hours, I ajourned to have quick business meal with another group of advisors from Kota Bharu on how to make Darul Hana a Project that had been tasked upon us to restructure the settlements along the north bank of the Sarawak river, into a real modern Malays Neighbourhood. The catchy word is a Malay Neighborhood. The neighborhood must sustain the Soul of the Malay Neighborhood. While it is modern, it must sustain the spirit of the Malay, the Soul of the Malay must be kept intact to meet what Hang Tuah had said: Melayu takkan hilang di dunia. This make the assignment a happening is real though since the planning architects are less concern to the idea. Worst, the term, the Soul of the Malay Neighborhood has not been properly studied and characterised in the Sarawak Malay Society. Mushi Abdullah did made lots of remark in his book after his visit to Trengganu, but, the craft per se is not the Soul of the Malay.
(5) The Mengaji, Silat, Gendang, Tukang Perahu, Anyaman, Berkutu, Sidaian Kain, Berkemban, Gotong Royong, Reban Ayam, Kerbau Lembu, Sawah, Perigi, and all those made the old Malays Kampung. The question is how to bring those into the modern urban living?
(6) I want to take the Mosque as the axis of the neighborhood, and ubnder normal circumstance, the Mosque would resemble the Arabic Architecture. Arabic architecture is not Malay. Thus, centering the Mosque as apoint of definition, then we need to look for a Malay Mosque. It should not be an Arabic structure. It mus be a Malay, and it must be a Mosque. To strengthen the Malay spirit, the Mosque must paly it role. The role that goes beyond today function. What are those?
(7) Looking at the socio-economic profile of the proposed Darul Hana, the greatest weaknesses of the area is that it doesn't have an in situ source of quality employment. The current most popular cottage industry is the making of the Kek Lapis, but are done in quiet traditional way with less productivity and compliance to larger market demand and requirement. The local are mostly odd job wage earner accross the river. Iliteracy and poverty are norms that are amazing disease that need immediate remedy. Bringing quality employment to the area, and at the same time sustaining their long term economic control is something that I have to be cautious since the development of the area is a very hard pressing over time. Here, again I need to wander, to explore, searching the Soul that could place the Malay in the right position now and into the future. How and what?
(8) Later after sending the Kota Bharu group to the airport, I rushed down to a seclude Seafood Place about 45 minutes away from town. There, I have another early dinner discussion with the FELDA Global group. After their quick filed reconnaisance, their level of confident is not warm enough, and I need to inject the need for us to work real hard for the good of the Malays in Samarahan-Sadong Jaya.
(9) The nicely done steamed pompret, oyster pancake, sea cucumber soup, fried mancong, Sarawak Vege, Sabah Vege, jelly fish plus the breezing river mouth in the golden early evening, turned the mood for the partnership into a warmer concern.
(10) I hope, with this two Projects in hand, I could fulfill probably my last life time dream: building a school, a mosque, and a hospital and seeing serious rural Malays socio-economic change at least to start with Samarahan-Asajaya region.
(11) I settled home at about 2100 hours and hurried packing for the next long haul search. Thursday, 7 July, 2011 agian my biological clock strike at 0500 hours. After tidying all those domestic messes, I drove off at about 0630 hours. Unfortunately, my truck heated up and need to pulled over to a nearby gas station. Upon checking, I fould my cooling system is leaking. After filling the cooling water system, I was almost late to office, ie 0745 hours. I really need to hurried on yesterday outsatnding paper works and giving some urgent instructions to ensure few critical things are properly done in my absence.
(12) By 0945 hours I rushed to the airport, and upon checking in, I met a friend, a native whom felt that her father had not been properly rewarded in one of a land deal. A native, as usual, in business and legal matter, they alway take those easy. To them, trust is overiding priciple. It may be so, but, it is never always be so. She sort of desperate for assisstance.
(13) Upon landing in the hot Kota Bharu at 1610 hours, with my friends and old buddy, from the airport we went straight to have a tasty sup perut sapi. In Kelantan or even southern Thailand and Indonesia, poverty and hardship always made the people being creative. To them everything must be turned into their advantage even the internal organs of the cattle, buffaloes, goat, chicken or duck.
(14) The Asian: the Indian are expert in capitalising the fish head, the Chinese and Indochinese, having great skill to make great from the fish internal organ, while the Malays (in larger context) are best at making so many delicacies from all those non-prime part of their animals: sup ekor and tulang, sup and kerabu perut, kari and masak lemak tendon, sup otak, sup ceker, and all sort.
(15) In the evening, with those Malay Architec advisors, we had nice Thai Food at the Horizon Restaurant with some futher discussion on some business deal that we want to head on for the good of the future State food and tourism industry, and later, joined by an entreprising lady, despite having real red eyes and itchy body, and due to pressing of time, we pay a visit to another Thai Restaurant to see the operation of such place.
(16) I settled back at the hotel at about 2400 hours, and this morning, Friday 8 July, 2011, at 0500 hours I started my day with this writing. Later by 0830 hours, about 10 of us, Malaysian and Thai, we are heading up north for about 14 hours driving journey. I'm searching for another my live time gift to be left behind.
(17) After the long que at the Golok Immigration Post, we have Nasi Ayam Kampung at Golok town, in a packed shop. Compare to 10 years ago, the town seem deserted. Security is the main problem here. After the heavy brekfast, we suppose to move on by 1000 hours. I kept looking at the watch, and later only realised what they meant was Sie time ie 1100 hours Male time.
(18) We boarded a nice seven seaters van, with full home theater audio system, nonetheless every thing is Sie not Male and far from English or American. That is Thai, everything must be Thai.
(19) We move up to Narathiwat (Nara) to meet some more others. Along the way, the security blockage seem much thighter than I passed through a month ago. Recently there was another blasting. We reached Nara just in time to have the Jumaat at Penare, a small town by the beach. After the pray, the Ustaz whom is going to accompany us all through the way invited us for a Bekwoh: kenduri at one of his friend home. It seem the samll party whom won the recent Thai election for the area, gave a Thank Giving for their supporter. We have kari kambing and later served with pulut durian. A real nice experience among these so called pemberontak.
(20) At Penare, the beach is fantastc. Here, I came accross the bilis productio village. Lines of bilis cooking and drying barn are constructed by the beach. The price of driend bilis here is only RM5.00/kg.
(21) Later we went back to Nara town and have nice dam sweet cendol at one of my friend favourite place. There we make up with the other three more Sie, whom among them is one of the Narathiwat City Gavernor. We need their accompany travelling in this real Sie Country.
(22) Later reaching Hatyai at about 1800 hours, we split into two van each accomodating five persons. We didn't turned into the town to catch up with our lost time. The day slowly turned dark, but the drive was smooth because there was no traffic problem. The weather was fine. Everybody settled down nicely to their dreams.
(23) We made a pullover at one Bus Terminal by the Hatyai-Bangkok Highway around 0100 hours of 9 July, 2011. It was a real big well organized place for the sale of local food products and fruits. Our Malaysian Highway Authority probably should learn from this set up to really promote our local food cottage industry. At one side there was a dedicated Muslim Stalls area. I took a real nice big bowl, spicy and delicious Sup Perut Sapi. The operators were very friendly, most of Pattani origin, thus I took the liberty to see the detail design of their cooking places as well as all those rempah they are using.
(24) later at bout 0530 hours, we made a pullover at one of the petro station. I was shocked to see the diesel price at RM3.00 as compared RM1.90 back home. Petrol cost the local RM3.90. Now Chingluk Shinawatra is the new Prime Minister of Thai, and her party had promised to cut the fuel price to half, I wonder, soon the Sie would get their Life Bonus. Judging from the traffic, it is very possible for the Thai to do so. On the road, most are lorries, trucks, pickups and buses. The fuel price cut would benefit the domestic transport system, and thus probably would reduce their factor of production. As an overall, such measure would enable Thai to compete better in producing cheaper good. Another promised of her, an increase in basic wage would hopefully increase their productivity.
(25) Upon stoping at many Petro-Stations, one thing that I noticed was how the Sie really make their Gas-Station look great. They seem made it compulsory for the operators to do nice planned landscape of the place. Creative bistros also being nicely introduced to capitalise the good ambient of the stations. Petronas should learn from this.
(26) After travelling for 23 hours, instead of the intended 14 hours, we at last reach the Cosmopolitant of Bangkok. I set my feet here in 1992. The last 19 years have really made Bangkok an amzing metropolitant. I believe, there are about 12-15 million inhabitant here. We check-in to Regent Inn at Ramkhamhaeng St. It is a budget hotel, at RM90++. Operated by a Muslim, the place seem very popular among the Kelantanese.
(27) After two hours resting we headed to the Pechetburi Province. Passing the Rama Street, I could see Bangkok, over the past 20 years had transformed into a multi-layers streetway. Numerous long high bridges had been built to cross the Menam Chao Phraya. The traffic flow seem smooth with no traffic jam.
(28) We spent about two hours in one of the integrated farm, where coconut, fish and many other fruits being blended into a high income enterprise. The Thai are very smart in managing their limited land rewsources especially within the Central Flood Plain region. They also have a very unique way to resolve their high water table issues. The coconuts in particular are very productive, producing about 1,800 seeds annually. Local price for both the Pandan and Sweet varieties is about RM2.00. Demand accross the Vietnam is very good and mostly traded through the Military System which could intercept whatever any other administrative arrangement required.
(29) We later went over to the Floating Market. Taking a boat ride along the khlong, one could see how the traditional living are now a money making business. Tourists are flocking into such a system where they could enjoy the bustling busy lives of the rivers. Both tradition and modernity seem to blend well. The Floating market in deed is a real mixed of leisure, creativities and naturality. The sarawak river development currently pursued by Abg Johari could emulate this.
(30) In the late evening after the breezing, we went over to the Sukumvit Street. I was amazed to see how this High Class area had been sort of bought over by the Arabs. Arabs business are bustling in this small, sort of unorganized, and crowded street. Name it, it seem all the Arabs requirement are available here: foods, entertainmenet, shopping places and travel agent services. Price of services and goods are considered high. I could see the Thai, except some laddies and pondan, have not blend well with the Arabs lifestyle as compared to those at Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur. The Arabs here seem less discipline and lower income as compared to those coming to Kuala Lumpur.
(31) Later, at about 2300 hours, we adjourned to Patpong area at Silom Street. This area in fact is the other world of Bangkok. Pubs, bars, all sort of dinning and entertainment places suited to the western lifestyle are available here. Nonetheless the over hanging multi-layers highway seem had affected the place badly. In 1992, Patpong Street II & III have much outlets with lots of bookstores and souveneirs shops, now it seem the stalls just lay along the Silom Street. The products are good and with great bargaining skill, we could push the price down about 60-70% below their offer price. I would say, this is the place for the young and ladies. I help some friends to get their deal. The trick was in fact simple, never potray our eagerness to buy before we get to the price that we can afford. The earlier downfall made the street messy and unhygenic.
(32) After quick shopping at the Bangkok Mall, we drove to the ancient city of Ayuthaya or Ayuthia about 150 KM to the north. This was a city built by King Rama as his head quarter hundred of years ago. The city was devastated due to the attacked by the Burmese where later Rama retreat to Bangkok and established another Kingdom there till to this day.
(33) Compare to my last 20 years visit, the Historical City of Ayuthaya had changed alot. Most of those ruins has gone, and what left are those main structures with lots of open fields. The area had been heavily commercialised. With a friend I took a 10 minutes elephant ride around the park. Here, one could be entertained by lots of elephant dances and inteliggent tricks. Thai handycraft seem to be the main selling products here.
(34) After a visit to the Ayuthaya Mosque, we head south to Phuket. This is a real long journey. Leaving Ayuthaya by 1600 hours, we only settled to a nice Nai Yang Beach Resort by the beach at 0630 hours on the 11 July, 2011. After nice hot shower, I took a stroll to the beach. The beach was not that great in fact, but from the sight of those facilities available, it seem very popular for those who love windy environment.
(35) By 1100 hours a guy, whom is a friend of our Uztaz Karim of Panare fetched us and took us to his village. He orignated from Kelantan and settled with a Satun wife. This is a 95% Muslim village. He claimed to be able to treat 280 sickness the traditional way. We have nice Nasi Lauk Ikan. I did also have the chance to see how the sailing post being made. Using various pieces of cengal planks, glued together, the local supplied the 80 meters long sailing post for the Chinese Junk.
(36) Thereon, we took a ride to the Phuket City and passed by a Monument of two Malay ladies name Aminah and Muesah, which probably long time ago being called Mek Nah and Mek Sah. The duo was narrated as the worriors who faught the Burmese Army in their invasion of the late Ayuthaya Kingdom. I was also told, in the past, Phuket was dominated by the Malays, but due to the Thai Governing System, the Malays began to lost their identity and now hardly could speak their Pattani Mother Tounge.
(37) Listening to such a story, and recalling the event back home, the so called Bersih Street Demonstration by Ambiga, Anwar Ibrahim and Hadi Awang, I would say, all of them have behave like:Kacang lupakan kulit or least Marahkan nyamuk, kelambu di bakar.
(38) We headed to Patung, the popular spot for the tourists. The beach and city seem to be vlooded by foreigners; the West and Arab as tourists, while the local, especillay the poor Burmese are traded for their flesh. It seem, poverty justified for one to be degraded to the lowest human status. We then visited a newly built Mosque and later headed for the beach side to have our late lunch.
(39) After the lunch, I intended to pay a visit to a nice Thai Build Food Garden and outlet selling all sort of scriptures that seem good to deco my Kampung Library and as well as to bring them down to add greater attraction to the Pasir Panjang Family Park. Since there are some among us who seem so eager to shop around, I let them have their share. Nonetheless, as they can't keep to their time, that derailed the whole Program, and later I decided just to settle in the hotel to finish off this article and browsing through the six books that I just bought in town: History, Water Garden Design and Travelling Stories.
(40) A great rememberance of this trip, despite my critic about the habit of the Kelantanese and the Pattani that were accompanying us, who seem to disregard about the importance of Keeping To The Time, yet my teamates took my critic to the deaf ears. I wonder, in fact, these Pattani and Kelantanese, they really observed to the call of pray, yet they take keeping the time to all other responsibilities to their ease. I said, that the reason why they are far left behind in many things.
(41) I discovered, at least in this trip, the need to keep both the timing of pray and the timing of taking all the other obligations in their total true position, probably then only Allah would grant us all Just In Time.
Kota Bharu-Bangkok-Phuket
8-11 July, 2011
#Abdullah Chek Sahamat
Writing that complies Bizarre, Odd, Strange, Out of box facts about the stuff going around my world which you may find hard to believe and understand
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