Malay Proverbs

Glad I found this book while browsing through in MPH. What a nice bilingual book with illustrations by a great Malaysian artist, Siti Zainon Ismail. This book: '100 Malay Proverbs: An open ground for knowledge', is a translation of selected proverbs by her.

She even wrote the proverb in Jawi at every single illustration. Jawi is writing in the Malay language using adapted Arabic alphabets. Siti Zainon is an author, researcher on Malay cultural heritage, artist, poet and painter. In 1989 she won the Southeast Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Award), presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers in Southeast Asia.

/\ A painting by Siti Zainon on dance movements entitled ‘Kenangan Makyong 2'.
- source: The STAR Online.

/\ The lady herself, with one of her paintings entitled 'Kembang Malam Si Pauh Janggi'.
- source: The STAR Online.

Siti Zainon Ismail is almost 64 years old this year, hope I could meet her in person, one of these days.

Malaysia`s Culture Icon

Azah Aziz

Malay Culture Expert, Journalist, Author
1928 – 2012

In July 2012, Azah Aziz, an authority on Malay culture passed away. We lost a Gem. She had a special interest in the Malay attire, and was always seen in her Baju Kurung, which is the Malay traditional attire, consisting of a dress and a sarong.

I once met her at a traditional dance competition. She came in after the show had started, touched my hand and asked me if she could sit on the empty chair beside me. Of course I said yes. Later she whispered something to me, “Sepatutnya Baju Kurung lebih sesuai digayakan dengan kasut yang terbuka, bukan kasut itu, ya..” (“The Baju Kurung is better styled with an open shoes not that shoes, ya..”) She was referring to the dancers on stage wearing shoes with Baju Kurung (the Malay traditional attire for women), which actually should be worn with something like a sandal.

Malaysian`s Slang

Some of the slang words used in Malaysia. Just like in any other culture, there are many more.

TAPAU is buying food to take home, take away or to go. Another word often used for this is BUNGKUS, which means wrap it up.

JOM-LAH! or just JOM! is to say "lets go!" or "come!"

BRUDDER is actually brother spelt the Malaysian way, used to refer to a man, just the same as how "bro" is used in English.

*Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered acceptable in certain social settings. Slang expressions may act as euphemisms and may be used as a means of identifying with one's peers.- Wikipedia.