My grand-aunt, Salmah was very sick late last year. When I visited her, I saw a half-blind, bedridden 94 year-old woman who was still mentally sound. She kept asking her family.
“Aku di mana?”
“Telok Blangah, nek..”
“Where am I?”
“Telok Blangah, grandma..”
My cousin Khir told me that grand-aunt didn’t want to stay in a hospital. She preferred to spend her last days at home with her family. That was why she kept asking where she was. I then asked her if she wanted to drink. She said
“Belum time.”
“It’s not time.”
Upon hearing that, I turned to Khir and said, “So typical of people of Gedung Kuning!” He grinned and nodded in agreement.
Gedung Kuning was our family home from 1912. It was acquired in 1999 by the Singapore Government under the Land Acquisition Act. Growing up in Gedung Kuning, the family was ‘subjected to a ‘strict upbringing’ such as adhering to proper mealtimes, returning home before Maghrib prayers (or evening prayers at 7 pm).
Yes, our activities were regulated by the time factor.
I remember having to wash up before having tea at 4.30 pm. Even thought tea time was just tea or milk with pisang goreng (banana fritters), or some Malay kueh (cakes), we were made to sit down at the long dining table, showered and in clean clothes! And at that time, my brother and I were below 7 years old!
Speaking about time, the Malays often have their own concept of time. Time is linked to “Janji Melayu” or Malay’s promise. I have heard the same refrain time and again: “So late! Janji Melayu!” whenever their family members or friends came late for an appointment or weddings; sometimes as late as an hour.
It’s not as if the Malays don’t stick to their ‘promise’ of coming on time or sticking to their schedule. Sometimes, we do get pre-occupied with other business at hand. For example, at my recent book launch, guests were still streaming in at 4.00pm, a good two hours after the launch had commenced!
But did I get upset at how late my friend was? Nah.
I understand how she probably had to ‘organise’ her two young daughters and baby before attending the launch with them. A Chinese man at the launch remarked how people were still streaming in at the end of my event. A Malay girl quipped, “Like Malay wedding lah!”
Perhaps those who aren’t ‘familiar’ with the Malays, might think that Malays are very laidback, with no sense of time or urgency.
Well, this sense of ‘laidbackness’ can perhaps be traced back to the idyllic kampong days where most Malay men were fishermen. The villagers took things easy and didn’t see the need to rush. Often this characteristic is interpreted and labelled as lazy.
Ah… let’s not jump to conclusion!
Most of these fishermen would wake up as early as 3.00am, row their fishing boats from shore into the open sea and fish, returning at sunrise with the day’s catch. After selling their fishes at the local market, they would rest or sleep until the afternoon. Hence, this santai (leisurely) behaviour could have been the basis for the relaxed demeanour of the Malays.
I can hear the editor of Singapore Kopitiam chasing us bloggers to submit our articles…. “Ooi Mr Editor, belum time!”
*Hajah Salmah passed away on December 19, 2009.
Votes: 1
Comments (0)