The Malay Heritage Foundation‘s (MHF) Sembang Ilmu Series (SIS) resumed its second part of Sahabat Sastera @ Sembang Ilmu in May 2022. The seventh SIS session, supported by Yayasan Mendaki, was organised in collaboration with the NUS Malay Studies Society (NUSMSS) and the Majlis Bahasa Melayu Singapura (MLCS), featured four young speakers delivered a 15-minute presentation each on their topic of choice in this forum entitled: “Sahabat Sastera @ Sembang Ilmu – Nilawarisan: Budaya, Bahasa, Sastera & Seni Berlanggam (Bahagian II)”.
Saturday, 14 May 2022 — Assistant General Manager of the MHF, Fadli Idris, began the live stream by welcoming the virtual audience and speakers before inviting Muhd Fahmi Nazmi, representing the MLCS, also known as the Malay Language Centre of Singapore, to share a few opening words. To deliver his opening address, Fahmi gave a brief welcoming address before handing over the forum moderator, Dr. Azhar Ibrahim, Vice-Chairman of the MHF. Dr. Azhar thanked the participants who joined the live stream in his remarks. Like the last session in March, he provided a background of SIS, set the context, and introduced the four young presenters. He then called on the first speaker, Nur Hikmah Md Ali, to kickstart the forum discourse.
Hikmah is a graduate majoring in Malay Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS.). She previously served as the President of NUSMSS. In 2021, Hikmah was appointed as Sahabat Sastera, an initiative spearheaded by the MLCS, and has a strong interest in issues related to religion, women, and literature. She presented on the topic, “Menulis Perempuan: Representasi Perempuan dalam Novel Salina”, by A Samad Said. The book, first published in 1961, chronicles the colourful life of a predominantly Malay community in Kampong Kambing in post-World War II Singapore. Hikmah shared how the author depicted poverty, moral ruin, and the struggle for survival amidst destruction after the war. This includes the plight of the two women who are seen in “sinful” occupations.
According to Hikmah, through these discussions with a religious teacher, a mother, or an abusive partner, readers see the conservative morality that is quick to vilify women without considering the difficulties of a life that can drive individuals to set the path they choose. She shared a quote from A Samad Said and Usman Awang, who were strong critics of victim-blaming in today’s parlance. Hikmah mentioned that society often fails to acknowledge those serving in the industry. It does not necessarily mean that they do not possess a good heart, which is the issue that the author is driving at. As for unconditional love, no matter how sweet it sounds, it will remain meaningless if it is unrequited and when one constantly receives abuse and sexual objectification.
Next, Dr. Azhar introduced Ahalla Tsauro for the second presentation of the forum. Ahalla is currently a master’s student in Malay Studies at NUS. He has a strong interest in Islam, contemporary socio-politics, and development. Ahalla has also contributed various works to publications such as Ekologi Al-Quran: Kajian Islam tentang Lingkungan (2016), Indonesia in Changing Southeast Asia (2016), Journal of Indonesia Center for Middle East Studies (2018), Karsa untuk Bangsa (2021) and MHF’s Heritage, Culture and Society: Critical Voices of Young Malays (2021). In this forum, he discussed the topic of “Keseharian di Jakarta: Menyingkap Pemikiran Seno Gumira Ajidarman tentang Kelas Menengah Perkotaan”.
Ahalla started his presentation by briefly sharing the profile of Seno Gumira Ajidarman (SGA), an Indonesian author of short stories, novels, essays, and movie scripts. Seno is also known as a journalist, photographer, and lecturer and won the 1997 S.E.A Write Award. Ahalla also shared a slide on SGA’s works and touched on the city space of Jakarta. According to cultural research, Jakarta is one of the contemporary cities that has undergone a process of urbanisation in modernity, with a culture associated with modernism. This brings about the three types of cities: Inner City, Postmodern City, and Global City. SGA’s writings show the inconsistent relationship between the city and its people. At the same time, implicitly, the structure of the text can be read as a critique of the impact of Jakarta’s development as a modern and dynamic urban space.
Ahalla also mentioned a short tale of a prima donna blessed with a golden voice, to the point that village men, both young and old, are seduced by her melodious singing in the bathroom. Of course, this resulted in protests from the village women until a new rule was issued – Singing is prohibited in the toilet! This is the reality that we often experience lately. How the masses often determine our fate for no sensible reason. If singing is banned in the bathroom, regarded as a private space, what more about our other rights? Should it also be limited by the general will? This is precisely what SGA is attempting to verbalise.
Dr. Azhar called upon the third speaker, Suraya Suhairi, to present. Suraya is a final year NUS student majoring in Malay Studies and a University Scholars Programme undergraduate. Her thesis is on the role of Malay dance practitioners in presenting women’s issues in dance production. She believes that Malay literature and performing arts are essential and remain relevant in encouraging local social discourse. Her topic delved on “Wira(wati): Emansipasi atau Ketundukkan Wanita? – Sebuah Analisis Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina”. Suraya listed the main characters and important scenes from Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina for a start. She discussed the motive of the disguised heroine from Mulaika Hijjas (2011): Victorious Wives – The Disguised Heroine in 19th Century Malay Syair. The story is about the female lead disguising herself as a male warrior to oppose the enemy. She will only reveal her identity at the end of the story, and the rewards, in the form of rank and respect.
Suraya explained the use of motives in the story. First, it gives agency to female characters. In this instance, it is about the characters being able to contribute to the story in a meaningful way and make things happen. Secondly, their active involvement in the palace affairs is clearly depicted in the story. It also provides alternative viewpoints to a universal thought. Suraya also discussed the characteristics of Siti Zubaidah as the “ideal” woman, the power imbalance, and the woman’s attachment to marital ties.
To deliver his presentation, Dr. Azhar invited the final speaker for the forum, Wan Noor Khuzairey Wan Mohtar. Khuzairey, is a history teacher, an editor in GERAK Malaysia, co-editor of a novel by Jamal Ismail titled Ombak Selatan (2021) and co-writer for the article “Kemanusian Marhaenisme Usman Awang: Memintal Penyanggahan Menyulam Keindahan” published by Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka. Besides writing materials for publication, he also contributes his writing on several platforms, including Lestari Hikmah, Solidaritas, and Gerak Malaysia. Khuzairey, currently researching humanism and poverty, talked about “Adibah Amin: Wanita Baru dan Kritik Sosial”.
Khuzairey first shared a quote from R. A. Kartini and a brief profile of Adibah Amin, who developed the concept of a “New Woman”. Among her concerns is discrimination against women either at work or at home. Often, women are considered second class without any special treatment and only serve as a complement to men, nothing more. Adibah Amin also suggested that a New Woman should not remain silent against being discriminated against. Be brave to stand up, speak up and recapture what has been taken away or confiscated. However, we should understand that new women do not arbitrarily regard men as enemies in this struggle but instead embrace and work together to create change.
The forum concluded with a Q&A segment where the young presenters were invited to answer several questions from the virtual audience. The session was joined by Zoom registrants and viewers tuning in from MHF’s Facebook live.
“Sahabat Sastera @ Sembang Ilmu – Nilawarisan: Budaya, Bahasa, Sastera & Seni Berlanggam Bahagian II” marks the second SIS event for the MHF in 2022. Previous SIS sessions were held in 2020 and 2021. SIS is a discursive platform for our youths and young professionals to deliberate and discusses issues relating to the socio-cultural development of the Malays in Singapore from a contemporary perspective. SIS supports and provides a platform for youths to discuss these issues and topics with MHF.
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Useful Links
- Full Video: Part 1 | Part 2
- “Menulis Perempuan: Representasi Perempuan dalam Novel Salina” by Nur Hikmah Md Ali
- “Keseharian di Jakarta: Menyingkap Pemikiran Seno Gumira Ajidarma Tentang Kelas Menengah Perkotaan” by M. Ahalla Tsauro
- “Wira(wati): Emansipasi atau Ketundukkan Wanita? – Sebuah Analisis Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina” by Suraya Suhairi
- “Adibah Amin: Wanita Baru dan Kritik Sosial” by Wan Noor Khuzairey Wan Mohtar