Monday 26 March 2012

The Second Try - The Beginning of Tanjong Kling




Yabada - badoo!!!!  Finally  this geriatric genius (?) managed to get it right.  In Kuala Lumpur I could rope in Faiz my nephew-in-law,  but here I'm on my own and bodged the job again and again.  That's why the video took days to see the light of day on AsH.

I must apologise for the poor quality.  It was done on my little hand-held camera and it gives the shakes because of unsteady hands  and not enough 'mee rebus' !  But it was worth it!  Terima Kasih Ma'cik.

I know it's a long video  (almost  10 minutes), longer than the normal 3- minute attention span.  But this little story by Ma'Cik Alimah is a historical gem: by an 86 year old bumiputra of Singapore recounting the life and times of a 'deleted' people.  No history book or academic exercise can match her account.

So please give her your attention right to the end of the video.  Thank you.

P.S.  There is nothing derogatory in the use of the word 'kling'' here.  It was never ever meant to be - it's just PC gone mad.  In fact the name 'Kling', given to Ma'cik's kampong is a tribute to someone who is not a Malay.

4 comments:

curio said...

Thanks AsH for the video.
I listened to it twice. It is always nice to listen to the stories of the past. Only now i know of tanjong Kling. I just goggled its location. Maybe my husband knows, it's near his workplace at pioneer road. I wonder if the keramat is still there. So touching. Makcik felt the connection with the keramat and in her times of needs, she was touched by just a simple comforting visit, she remembers till today. even though she never felt any need to ask for anything, only out of goodwill, she looked after the makam.
it's nice to hear your voice :)

anak si-hamid said...

Thank you curio,

I hope you and the family are in good health. It was wonderful to meet someone (and her family) from my Comment box. It's a shame that I missed meeting up with wawa while I was in Singapore.

Thank you for your interest in the story of Tanjong Kling. I'm afraid your husband will not be able to locate that Kramat - it has gone. How, I have to check with Hjh Alimah or her daughter. Macik said it was bombed by the British during the 2nd WW although Mariam said it was still there when they left Kampong Tanjong Kling.

Anonymous said...

ASH,

Are you refering to Tanjong Kling, Melaka or is there another Tg Kling somewhere in Spore ?

Spent my childhood days in TgKling Melaka :D

anak si-hamid said...

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for the query.

You lucky devil growing up at Tanjong Kling Melaka.

This Tanjong Kling is in Singapore, in the Jurong sector.

By the way, there's also a Pasir Panjang in Negri Sembilan.