Month: August 2010

Finally something for Malaysian to fill the longing of wanting a fresh historical site of the nation.

A book THE RELUCTANT POLITICIAN: TUN DR. ISMAIL AND HIS TIME by Ooi Kee Beng published by Institute Southeast Asia Studies Singapore is a MUST READ in order to understand and to get another insight of Malaysian politics and the past untold stories.. But as Ooi stated in the Sun newspaper interview (19 August 2010) by Pauline Puah “although the book was complimentary of Ismail, he should not be cast either as an “idol” or “devil””. Giving a valuable insight about most Malaysian, Ooi continue stated, “The tendency in Malaysia is either to idolise someone or ignore the person … I hope this book won’t make a god out of him,”. Ooi stressed that the book was not Ismail’s memoir but rather an analysis of his time.

One of the strongest content and something for Malaysian to re-think is the issues Ismail raised and asked fifty years ago..

“Why did we fight for Merdeka? So that the different races can be divided? That can’t be the way, right? That can’t be why all these great Malay and Umno leaders fought for this … Something is wrong,”

“I hope the new discussions will start. Why are we building Malaysia? What Malaysia are we building? What kind of symbol is Malaysia supposed to be?” he asked.

A selections of reviews gathered by Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) would be good to read to have an overviews of the book content.
This is the first Malaysian animation cartoon published by Filem Negara Malaysia (National Film Malaysia) in 1990.
Strongly influenced by Walts Disney cartoon,
Malaysia find its own way to present the nostalgic Hikayat Sang Kancil.

“Dialam inilah tinggalnya Sang Kancil yang bijak sana dengan sahabatnya si Kura-Kura. Mereka hidup, rukun damai, bebas bergembira, tolong menolong dan berkerjasama di taman peliharaan mereka”.

Translation: In this world lived the knowledgeable Sang Kancil (Mousedeer) and his best friend, si Kura-Kura (tortoise). They live harmoniously, peacefully, free and happy, and helpful between each other in their governed garden. Until Si Monyet (Monkey) arrived. And who is Si Monyet (monkey)? and what world are we living in? There are stories behind the narrative of the Sang Kancil, Kura-kura and Monyet.. and yes, there is also the owl who is living on the tree.. Hmmm.. clearly I have not thought about this when I was a kid… wait until you see the ending of this story, what had happen to Si Monyet…

Finally something for Malaysian to fill the longing of wanting a fresh historical site of the nation.

A book THE RELUCTANT POLITICIAN: TUN DR. ISMAIL AND HIS TIME by Ooi Kee Beng published by Institute Southeast Asia Studies Singapore is a MUST READ in order to understand and to get another insight of Malaysian politics and the past untold stories.. But one have to always be critical and not just take the content as it is..

As Ooi stated in the Sun newspaper interview (19 August 2010) by Pauline Puah “although the book was complimentary of Ismail, he should not be cast either as an “idol” or “devil””. Giving a valuable insight about Malaysian in general, Ooi continue stated,“The tendency in Malaysia is either to idolise someone or ignore the person … I hope this book won’t make a god out of him,”. Ooi stressed that the book was not Ismail’s memoir but rather an analysis of his time.

One of the strongest content and something for Malaysian to re-think is the issues Ismail raised and asked fifty years ago..

“Why did we fight for Merdeka? So that the different races can be divided? That can’t be the way, right? That can’t be why all these great Malay and Umno leaders fought for this … Something is wrong,”

“I hope the new discussions will start. Why are we building Malaysia? What Malaysia are we building? What kind of symbol is Malaysia supposed to be?” he asked.

Another book to read published in 2009 is Malaya’s First year at the United nations: as reflected in Dr. Ismail’s edited by edited by Tawfik Ismail, Kee Beng Ooi

A selections of reviews gathered by Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) would be good to read to have an overviews of the book content.

“Why? How do Malay look like?”

Several times these questions been addressed to me. But particular conversation nailed this question in my mind till these days.. Translation: Taxi driver: Are you a Malay?, Me: Does it really matter?!

It happen about a year ago.. on my trip back to Malaysia. I took a taxi from Melaka central to the red building areas. I has been a while since I step in this historical land, as most of the Malaysian puts it.

As the taxi started moving the conversation began. I was asked by the taxi driver in Malay language, “Adik ni Melayu ke?” (Girl, are you a Malay?) As much as I’m annoyed with his questions, I felt obliged to show respect by providing him an answer, and while I wondered, my mouth respond “Ya!” (Yes!). As soon as I answered, he respond back“Aiiikk! Tak nampak macam Melayu pun” (Aiikk (to show surprise) You don’t look like a Malay?). I cannot help myself from asking him back “Kenapa? Melayu tu nampak macam mana?” (Why, how do Malay look like?). He pause to silent for a while before he change his question to another unpleasant question “Yang kat sebelah tu sapa?” (So, who is the guy beside you?). I felt trapped in this taxi. I felt like I want to jump out of this interrogation, and for god sake, it in my birth land. “Sabar” (Be patient) as my mom used to remind me, when I get upset.. while my mind speak quietly “It is none of your business, Pak Cik” (‘Pak Cik’ Literally, it mean uncle, but for most Malaysian this is a common title used to address an elderly man, as a way to show respect).

Of course this sentence only speak loud in my mind.I wish I have the courage to said that to him. I kept myself silent, while the guy beside me started to get uneasy. Although he barely understand what the taxi driver said, Malay language is an alien to him, he understood the tone of voice. I hold his hand and said to him, like my mom will ask me to “Just be patient, Sayang”. I let my mind create its own story.. as I am aware when we been picked up by this taxi, there is a lady (wearing a hijab) occupying the sit beside him. My mind speak “Well, like him, I too can ask question if I wanted to.. Should I ask? but will I sounded impolite if I ask him, who is the lady sitting beside you, Pak cik?”. As I kept myself silent, he continue asking me question. “Suami ke?” (Is it your husband?). I lost my patient, sorry mom, not this time.. as I responded in Malaysian way with a smile on my face “Pak cik ni tengah buat survey ke?” (Are you doing a survey?). That’s it.. that was the last one from me and he stop asking me questions. But he pretended like the conversation never happen and he kept talking..

On our way the taxi driver…talked to the lady beside him about how the youth are becoming rude lately, and how the world have changed… Yes I think the world have changed, particularly the Malay world. I guess he is trying his best to keep annoying us.. Oh well…this doesn’t bother me any longer..
Enjoying my ride… and I can sense my liberty is coming back to me.. Thinking of Nik Rahimah Hasan, Mazlan Othman.. how do they get through this kind of situation before.. or they don’t …

My mind continue: “Tak ada kena mengena dengan Pak Cik!” (It got nothing to do with you….Pak Cik!)

Just keep on driving…

–NurulR–

Lat first graphic novel Kampung Boy graphic novel cover. Published in 1979. Lat took three years to published this book.

Recently published is Lat Kampung Boy series in Arabic. Note the illustrations have changed towards the Arabic market.

Published in 1993, after successful sells with Kampung Boy.

1980

First published was in Utusan Malaysia, later continues in Berita Minggu since 1968. Keluarga Si Mamat runs for almost ten years.

˜Prosthetic memory,
as Connerton put it, derived mainly from a visual form, that can sustain the existence of imagined communities as effectively as does. According to Benedict Anderson this is what it is call the diffusion of printing. This does not only sits with print medium but also film and moving images, by virtue of their narrative sequence, their temporal immersion, insinuate the suggestion of ˜being there.
P. Connerton (Handbook of Material Culture)

Every image of the past that is not recognised by the present as one of its own concerns, threatens to disappear irretrievably.

Walter Benjamin, cultural critics, 1930s.

This is the earliest series of Lat, Malaysian most influencial cartoonist. His cartoons has been published since 1964 till present. Lat has been a significant contributors in News Straits Times and Berita Minggu for several years before he became a freelance cartoonist which has allowed him to expend his cartoonist wings to several other publications. Most of his cartoons has been republished but this series is one of the best sellers that had brought Lat to many foreign countries such as France, America, Japan, England and Middle East. Recently Lat Kampung Boy series has been translated to Arabic language, and this added to the collections of Lat’s Kampung Boy graphic novel that has been translated to French, German, Spanish and Japanese. Even though Lat did not called himself as a satirical cartoonist, his cartoon does stirred up and highlighted issues about Malaysian politics, social and economy.

Graphic Design and Communication:

G D’ZINE

Grafik Mag – http://www.grafikmag.com/

Eye Magazine – http://www.eyemagazine.com/home.php

Id Magazine – http://www.i-dmagazine.com/

Print – http://www.printmag.com/

Graphic Design Museum – http://www.graphicdesignmuseum.com/en/the-museum/about-the-museum/the-collection/292

Conferences:

Impact 2010 : http://impact7.org.au/about.html

Graphic Design:

Design is History: http://www.designishistory.com/this-site/

Interesting sites for designers to observe design activities in other parts of the world:
http://designobserver.com/
Every image of the past that is not recognised by the present as one of its own concerns, threatens to disappear irretrievably. Walter Benjamin, cultural critics, 1930s.