NST,Friday 27 January 2012
The part of
history
that has affected
us most must be
appreciated
in order to live a
more noble and
meaningful life
I refer to the letter “They are part of our Malay cultural heritage” (NST, Jan 25) and recall that 50 years ago, while in primary school, I learnt that the Malay annals were interwoven with myths and legends.
Recently, I conducted a training programme in Melaka on community tourism development. While on a field trip, the tourist guide narrated that Hang Li Po came with a retinue of 500 maidens.
When asked where the descendants of these 500 maidens were, she was dumbfounded. It is a good example of how superficial Malaysians take things at face value.
If the retinue were that large, many would have married the locals, unless they were forbidden. The descendants, just like the locals that intermarried with Arabs, Indians and others, would be known as Malays.
A participant ventured to guess that the Baba and Nyonya, also known as the Peranakan Chinese, are the descendants. However, similar Straits Settlement Chinese can also be found in Penang and Singapore.
The 700-year-old Peranakan community remained Han Chinese although many of them, for several generations, spoke Malay. Their cuisine is laced with local spices and Nyonya food is popular among Malaysians.
Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim said the younger generation tends to place too much importance to personalities and objects without historical evidence.
I would say that the elders are not much better as they can be oblivious to evidence before their very eyes. Worst, old buildings are demolished in the name of development, leaving many communities with little heritage and soul.
If we are truly proud of our hometown, village or settlement, we would want to know its origin and the founders, the trials and tribulations of past generations and the current challenges so that we can move towards a better future.
However, there is little sense of belonging or accountability. Many Malaysians are quick to uproot and move to better neighbourhoods. Taking pride of our roots, conserving the ancestral home and upholding the family name are not held sacred.
Pretty boys and girls in heavy makeup performing traditional dances in colourful costumes are portrayed as our Malaysian culture. Tourists quickly forget such entertainments, as they looked similar anywhere in the world.
People are proud of their language, culture, customs, tradition and rituals which tourists find quaint. On the other hand, cultures that promote good human values would have an impact on tourists and locals alike.
One good example is the Adat Perpatih brought over from Minangkabau to Negri Sembilan. Such rich cultures, among other virtues, promote courtesy – much lacking in uprooted societies.
We should take pride of our ancestors and honour them by leaving a better world for our descendants. Instead, lessons from history are not learnt and most of us prefer to enjoy life to the hilt as if there is no tomorrow.
The study of history should not be confined to textbooks. Assignments for students should include tracing their family tree, discovering the hardships their ancestors faced and recognising the sacrifices made by others in the community.
The part of history that have affected us most must be appreciated in order to live a more noble and meaningful life. Sadly, this is not happening as most Malaysians lead superficial lives. Many dream to be royalties and adore celebrities.
Myths and legends will always be popular as they are fascinating and many have been passed down for hundreds of years. They can be used to inculcate good values as they appeal to the emotions.
On the other hand, intellect and logic are needed to understand history. Not many people can separate fact from fiction, more so when they are interwoven. Finding myths and legends in historical records does not make them real.
YS Chan
Kuala Lumpur
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