Angkasawanku.. Heroku...

10/10/2007 on 21:21 hours
Our first Malaysian astronaut blasted off to space on Soyuz TMA-11

I didn’t join the many Malaysians who went to watch the historical moment in Merdeka Square. It was such a relieved that I didn’t, after being told that the giant screen was not working, hence they had to resort to sharing the small screen TV provided. Not to say that I am not patriotic enough to have shared the joy with thousand others proud Malaysian. I do, yes I do, but I prefer to share my joy in the quiet comfort of my small home better.

So anyway, there have been mixed opinions about sending off Malaysian very first astronaut.

WHAT the fuss all about?
Could we have done it without having spent millions of taxpayers’ money into purchasing military helicopter equipments from Russia?
The achievement is not really ours to claim, as it would have been more meaningful had we gone into space with our very own space rocket.
Why couldn’t the government spend the money to further improve our domestic trade and economy?

While writing this, I am very much confused myself. I am not sure whether I supported the cause, or I just simply do not care. If not for the very strong objection from some anonymous citizen, I would simply choose the latter. Then I re-discover my passion for debate, hence this.

I felt proud knowing that one of Dr M’s visions has materialize. You couldn’t stop but wonder how he could think light-years ahead of other people. And your zealous crazy mind would have thought that his brain would be an interesting specimen to study (gosh… that’s some twisted mine I have).

When people ask me, am I proud? I would not have qualm to say yes. For me, we need heroes. While politicians have sickened me for their lack of creative contribution to the society lately, the general public has chosen to look elsewhere for source of inspiration.

Just like Dato’ Dr Mohamad Nor Khalid @ Lat who has done it with Kampung Boy, (btw, Dato’ is now in Washington as the only Asian to be invited to the International Comic Art Forum. He would also be there to launch his new book, Town Boy after the success of Kampung Boy which became no 1 for Editors Choice in the United States) AND SO did cicakman (which ability includes it’s power of fast healing, sticking to walls and ceilings and the ever-so-useful tongue-extension mechanism) our friendly occupants of most homes in Malaysia TO THE EVER SO FAMOUS Mawi, the chap next door. As both Lat & Cicakman are heroes envision by its creator, you’d feel excited knowing that Asmawi Ani and Syeikh Muszaphar Shukor al Masrie are heroes on our very own backyard, whom we groom and grow so fond off. While Mawi is the simple, good looking and yet very humble person, Syeikh Muszaphar comes in the form of a handsome, well established-doctor cum part time model, What else could you have ask for?

Five years from now, you are very sure that he would be entitled to a Datuk-ship, still remain a bachelor (for whatever reason you know) and would be ever-so famous and rich. He would be getting the same adoration from the public similar to what Mawi have enjoyed. I can already imagine looking at dozens of his billboards while driving, his many advertisement that will follow (as if he has not gotten use to that), co-starring in movies by Professor-Madya-you-know-who and then probably producing his own hari raya tracks.

Lalalala.. lalala… A new hero on it’s way! And he’s a yummy treat.

Negeri Kelantan Kebanggan .. KU? MEREKA?

MI and I were kissing goodbye, and wishing each other ‘Selamat Hari Raya’, when we then bumped into Jd. MI then asked Jd, ‘You are Kelantanese right’ and ended her conversation with something like, ‘Don’t marry many’.

I was quite shocked. If MI wasn’t a very close friend of mine, I would have found that the remark was very insulting. But knowing MI, and her innocent in understanding the Malay culture, I forgave her instantly.

Little did MI knew that I am Kelantanese myself (well, my parent that is). And when I told MI, she was shocked. “Now, does that change your perception about Kelantanese? See, they are not so typical. Haha”, Jd said. True, I am not like any typical Kelantanese. The ways I talk, walk and poise myself disarray the normal perception about people from Pantai Timur.

Living with parents who speak Kelantan at home doesn’t make me any more Kelantanese. I can honestly admit that I could not at all speak the native tongue. I have been living in KL ever since I was born. The only sibling of mine who is eligible to own property in Kelantan is my eldest sister, as she is the only one who bore the state birth certificate. I have to admit that none of my family member wears tudung (except for me mom), and we have been totally colonized by the urban upbringing. Except however, our big family signifies our origins. I would have to say that it has become a custom for Kelantanese to have a big family (hence mine) where the more kids you have signify more of your success. Then, come your children’s education. The further they go, the proud the parents would be. Well, that is the typical keluarga Haji Daud (my grandfather).

What is it about Kelantanese that scares off other people? I would have to rephrase that. What is it about Kelantanese that scares off KL people?

Nowadays, you could hear the dialect being spoken mostly in pasar malam, Chow Kit area, and discreetly in offices of high rising towers. Kelantanese has become an epidemic that is spreading fast all over the country. It’s not surprising as a typical Kelantan family could easily have 6 childrens, whom will all travel all over the state for promise of better future. Child 1 to JB, Child 2 to Malacca, Child 3 to Pahang, Child 4 & 5 to KL, and maybe Child 6 to take care of the sawah bendang back home. The more the merrier right.

So, what is it about Kelantanese kahwin banyak ni?

People have a lot of different perception about Kelantanese. These people are the group of people whom would cause rivalry in school dorms. Kelantanese like to stick to their own kind, mostly because they are more familiar with oneself OR maybe because people alienate them due to their differences? I never like to admit that I am Kelantanese, unless being interrogated in details. Why? I would be accused of ‘lupa daratan’ by the Kelantanese simply because I don’t speak the native tongue and I don’t act like one, OR being alienated by those who like to discriminate against one.

Bigotry.

I sometimes wonder why people from Kedah does not receive the same treatment? Is it because most of our leaders are Orang Utara, that we are so accustomed to them? Heck, I sometimes even speak Utara just to adapt to my surroundings. Why don’t we point out their flaws? Or, why not people from –Ganu? They are just next door to Kelantan! Maybe whatever flaws that Kelantanese have might rub off on them?

Have you heard of this phrase?

Kalau tidak malas, bukan Melayu
Kalau tidak tipu, bukan Cina
Kalau tidak minum, bukan India

If you’re not lazy, you’re not Malay
If you don’t cheat, you’re not Chinese
If you don’t drink, you’re not Indian

SO…
Each race has it’s own distinct character? NOOO..
But people from each state can simply be clustered into it’s set of bad vs good? YES? NO?

We are all racist in maybe the most minimal amount. I would say that deep inside, maybe I am. But lately, I just don’t care anymore. I take pleasure in telling other people that I am going back to Kelantan for raya this year, much to other people’s amazement. “You are from Kelantan?”, and the very same look that I have gotten use to.

I might not be so much connected to my roots, but I am proud that my family originated from somewhere. I enjoyed the scenic drive of watching kerbau, sawah and rumah kampong berdinding papan beratap zink. Now, we are persuading abah to move to Kundang, so that we can enjoy those kampong style environment whenever Raya. This small house can no longer fit the 11 grandchildren who comes back during Raya.

So, whatever it is, I am proud of my family, and the very place that my parent Haji Sidik@Sidek and Hajah Halimah originated from.

To all of you…
Selamat Hari Raya you all! Maaf Zahir & Batin.