Career

Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa 

By : Siti Hawa Saleh

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About The Story

Merong Mahawangsa (HMM), which explains the origin of the kings of Orissa based on myth and legend, a member of a traditional Malay literary history. Almost every ancient Malay kingdom has its own history of literature describing the origin kings, state origin, development history from the beginning to the end based on the conception of history held by the traditional Malay society. History of literature is held by the government as a valid document for recognizing and reserving rights and power of the king over his kingdom.

Therefore, in the treasury of traditional Malay literature, there must be multiple results history, from the most famous work that is rarely acknowledged, even by the Malays themselves. Along with family HMM in literary history there are at Masjid Pasai, Acheh saga, saga Palembang, Riau Rulers History, Story of Bencoolen, descent al-Salatin (Malay Annals), Johor sagas, sagas Seri Kelantan, Pahang saga, saga Patani Malay Mass, Origin of King Sambas, Banjar sagas, sagas Kotawaringin, Salsilah Kutai, Tale of Siak and many others.

In the history of the development of states in the archipelago, endorsement power of the king to be an issue in question when Westerners appear. Questioning, whether caused by the Western powers themselves or by other states neighbors. This is part of the Western tactics break the Malay states of allied against the march.

Obviously from the point of creation, one of the reasons why HMM composed is to be used as a legitimation document Kedah royal power over land and territory areas. The sagas are also useful in Siam dismissed allegations that the king is not entitled to submit Kedah Penang to the British in 1786. Thus, like the results of a traditional Malay literary history to another, HMM is mobilizing elements of reality and myth used to uphold the rule of kings and their descendants Orissa.

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The local version poster

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The international version poster for the movie.

The first career that ever triggered me to get started on this blog wasn't a very historical textbook, but a movie. A film that was written by Yusry KRU from KRU studios. For all its pretensions to being a film by, for and about Malaysians, it is very much geared towards a more “Western” sensibility. It even has a different title for the international market: “The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines”. The irony is that in trying to mimic the syles and mindsets of Western cinema, it has lost whatever unique sense of identity that might’ve made it appealing to the Mat Sallehs.

And this is the biggest problem with Malaysian cinema in general. The lack of a singular, original voice. Perhaps our nation’s pluralism has something to do with it. Perhaps that’s just an excuse. After all, a few local filmmakers like the late Yasmin Ahmad managed to turn our diversity into a selling point, allowing their films to resonate even with foreigners. Ahmad’s films, like “Sepet” and “Gubra” celebrated true Malaysiana, warts and all. In being single-minded about the differences that make us what we are, her films felt honest. And honesty is a universally appreciable trait.

There was a great quote that I picked up from the movie. It wasn't a really meaningful quote but its kind of a catchy phrase.

''sampi masa tibanya waktu

redup hati kaum berdua

bila dua jasad bersatu,

hidup mati jadi bersama''