Sheathing the Keris

 

Whether we Malaysians like it or not, the Keris has been widely accepted as the symbol of the Malays. Throughout the Malay annals and history we can see that this short curvaceous bladed weapon be revered and respected as the symbol of the Malay survivability, might and power.

 

As described in Sejarah Melayu and Hikayat Hang Tuah the culmination of the Keris as a Malay symbol can be seen in the Melaka Sultanate period where it is used as a part of the Sultan’s royal regalia. It is also worn by the ministers and officials not for the purpose of killing or maiming others, due to fact that there are many other better weapons much more suitable to help do the killing, but as part of official attire and for asserting authority.

 

Fast forward few hundred years after the Melaka Sultanate, the Keris is still held dear, as a symbol, to the Malays. Each time a Sultan or the YDPA is enthroned we can always see that kissing of the Keris forms part of the ceremony (with the exception of the current YDPA). The Keris also finds it place in many emblems and logos such as the UMNO’s, the Bar Council’s and even my good old SDAR school badge. I even wore one during my wedding.

 

Recently Hishamuddin, who was made extremely famous with the Keris waving episode, made a public apology with regards to that incident after being pressured by various quarters of the public. With the apology UMNO hoped that the Keris waving critics will drop this issue thus halting further assaults against him personally and to UMNO generally.

 

This apology was actually forced by the loss suffered by the BN in the 2008 election. If not for the defeat I doubt that there be such apology. ‘Brilliant’ party leaders seems to believe that the Keris waving episode is one of the gravest cause for the so called defeat. Is this true? Is the Rakyat’s decision to vote against BN is somehow influenced by that incident? I think not. There is nothing wrong with the Keris waving act, but perhaps not for a bigot, but maybe there are something wrong with the Keris bearers and wavers.

 

The main reason why the Rakyat voted against the BN was mainly because of the feeling that the coalition of parties failed to provide the Rakyat with a government of ‘good governance’. A lot of issues such as allegation of corruption and misuse of power which were posed before the government went unanswered and seem to fell on deaf ears. These caused the voters change of heart.

 

Whatever the reason would be, apology has been made. I wish to state part of my conversation with my mother, a very critical, bright and insightful housewife, with regards to this matter.

“Kenapa la derang minta maaf pulak ni?”

“Sebab kene desak kot…”

“Keris tu kan lambang bangsa, kalau minta maaf pasal soal tu sama la dengan mengalah dan menggadai maruah bangsa, patutnya tak yah minta maaf… betulkan diri sendiri dulu. Orang bukan marahkan keris, orang marahkan pemimpin”

 

That was my mother’s comment. Once again the Malays are humbled by the wants and demands of non-malays and I do believe that this kowtow-ing will not end here. Demands will continue to be made and it is up to the Malay leaders to defend the rights of the Malays and the Bumiputera under the notion of social contract. If the current so called leaders are not fit to be the bastion of the Malays, perhaps a change of leadership should be done and be done quickly. The Keris is now sheathed, thus I personally hope that that incident will not be sensationalised again by any quarter.