[11 February 2006]
Launch of Journeys - Rediscovering the Malay legacy

A group of eleven Singapore Management University (SMU) Malay students from its Malay Language and Cultural Club has published the first-ever collection of fictional stories about Malay heritage, culture and its rich intellectual legacy. Written in English, the book, Journeys – Rediscovering the Malay Legacy, is a groundbreaking and valuable contribution to the literature collection in Singapore. It tells stories of five Malay individuals belonging to the Bugis, Minang, Boyanese, Javanese and Riau ethnicities who embarked on self-discovery journeys about their heritage.

It all began two years ago in February 2004 with an innocent question which members of the SMU's Malay Language and Cultural Club (MLCC) asked themselves. “What makes me proud to be a Malay?” Nobody expected that this pivotal question was the beginning of a journey of self-discovery.

A few months later in June 2004, members of the SMU's MLCC decided to organise a conference entitled, “Who are the Malays?” There are many illustrious speakers and authorities in Malay heritage who spoke at the conference held in SMU. The various speakers discussed the five sub-cultures – the Bugis, Minang, Boyanese, Javanese and Riau – that made up the majority of the Malay people in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The conference marks a milestone in the students' journey in search of their roots.

Their interest piqued by what they heard at the seminars, eleven SMU students led by Mr Syed Hassan Alsagoff, final-year SMU business management student and then President of the MLCC, went on to interview elders of the Singapore Minang Association and the Singapore Boweanese Association as part of a research project to delve deeper into Malay culture and heritage. The more they learnt about their heritage, the more determined were Syed Hassan and his SMU schoolmates to share their knowledge with others.

“There are immature youths who are so drawn to American screen idols and rock stars and have no interest in their own culture. Some know absolutely nothing of their heritage, and worse, are even ashamed of traditional beliefs,” said 25-year-old Syed Hassan who was worried about how rock and pop was eroding traditional Malay cultures. “But Malay culture is blessed with beautiful code of ethics which we call Adat that contains the wisdom and belief systems of our people. If we examine Adat , we can unlock the secrets that made our forefathers successful.”

Syed Hassan and his fellow SMU schoolmates brainstormed on how they could best communicate to young people of what they had discovered about the Malay culture. Originally, academic papers were written based on their research, findings and observations. However, academic papers are not the best outreach medium. The group then hit upon the idea of rewriting their academic papers into short stories as a way of sharing their discoveries of Malay heritage. They also suggested including an activity section after each chapter with quizzes and crossword puzzles. This is one way of helping young readers absorb the messages better.

It took more than a year for the book, Journeys – Rediscovering the Malay Legacy , to be published. “This project has been a journey in itself,” said Syed Hassan. “We started off wanting to know more about the culture and origins of the Malay people. As we learnt more and began to better appreciate the legacies of our forefathers, we were moved to tell others about what we learnt.” Thereafter began the process of writing and re-writing, the search for funds to publish the book and for a publisher who would believe in them. All this work, the students undertook themselves.

It has taken almost two years, but the book, aptly named Journeys – Rediscovering the Malay Legacy was launched today by Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Management Committee of the Malay Heritage Centre. The efforts of the SMU students have been commended by the Minister of Education, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam who noted that the interesting vehicle of fictional story-telling ensured that old teachings did not come across as dull sermons. Mr Yatiman Yusof, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts; Mr Zulkifli Mohammed, President Majlis Pusat and other prominent Malay leaders also sent their congratulations.

Members of the SMU's MLCC started off with a question, “What makes me proud to be a Malay?” Today they have their answer. Journeys – Rediscovering the Malay Legacy is the first English book in Singapore on Malay heritage that uses fiction to tell facts. Like their forefathers, the students were pioneers in search of a better tomorrow. Like those before them, they passed on their pride in and knowledge of their heritage.

For more information , please contact Ms Hamidah Aidillah BINTE MUSTAFA at email: hamidahm.2004 [at] soc.sc.smu.edu.sg ( ) or mobile: 96617141.