RIFLE RANGE BOY: The past will present the future!

Malay Magic

Walter William Skeat (1900)

There was a time many years ago when the Malaysian National Museum in Kuala Lumpur decided to go all out to make their exhibits draw more viewers. They curated an exhibition themed along the lines of 'Magic in Malay Land'. Just a few days into its starting, it had to be discontinued. The powers that be were not too comfortable as the reception was too overwhelming. Before this exhibition, the National Museum building was like Siberia; everybody knew where it was, but nobody wanted to go there. Rows and rows of hired outstations express buses were seen parking around the vicinity of the museum on a daily basis. The religious bodies did not realise that the interest amongst our community in knowing our ancient animistic past believes ran that deep.

So, as what a true-blue beholden of belief would do, to avoid confusions among its confessors, the religious authorities decided that the best thing to do would be to cancel the whole show. Never once after that was such a display ever held. The leaders thought that ignorance is bliss, curiosity would make believers dabble in the supernatural and occult practices and that they would probably doubt the teachings of the Book.

Maybe, as a knee-jerk reaction, the religious bodies decided to tighten the screws on what can be exhibited to the impressionable public. The broadcasting companies and moviemakers were reminded that subjects delving on the supernatural or religions were out of bounds.

It is remarkable that a Western anthropologist of the 19th century would go through such lengths as to produce a 700-page treatise on the cultural practices of the natives if the Malayan peninsula. Even though the writer admits that his records are no means exhaustive of all the traditions of the natives, the book is definitely encyclopedic in nature, detailing into most of the day-to-day concerns of an average agrarian Malay of the late 19th century. He managed to venture into their psyche, spirituality and esoteric practices.

There are many ancient practices in the Malay world that a modern Malay person would like to forget. Many of the rituals outlined in this book may be considered as un-Islamic, polytheistic in nature.

Some gadgets used to determine auspicious times. After the spread of Islam

to the region, these practices became unnecessary. Every day is good as

decided by the Almighty. Traditionally, the first Wednesday on the Islamic

month of Safar was deemed as the day of mishaps. To cleanse and to protect

one from misfortune, people believed that they had to immerse themselves

in seawater. People congregated around the beaches around Malaya for this

occasion. As the fiesta-like atmosphere reached fever pitch, the religious

authorities put a stop to it, deeming it un-Islamic. This practice called

'Mandi Safar' only remains in the annal of Malayan history.

The population of the peninsula mostly depend on the goodwill of Nature for their survival. Living in the vicinity of ferocious beasts, they develop a system to appease the spirit of the jungle and its occupants. They believe every being has a soul that needs to be respected. Sometimes the spirit of the tiger is also invoked to combat human malady like illness.

The Malays have their interpretations of the origin of animals in the jungle. Many of them seem like a mumbo-jumbo of folklores and pseudo-sacred tales with a twist of Islamic flavour sprinkled upon it. Many jungle produce like fruits, incense, camphor and medicinal leaves are used in ceremonies before any life-changing task is commenced. Many practices also tell of the role that Hinduism played in the civilisation of the region.

Pawangs are shamans who are gifted with extraordinary powers to communicate with and ward off evil spirits. Their services are indispensable in treating the sick and initiating rituals.

One important tradition that stays on till today in the remote areas of the padi planting areas of Malaysia is the worship of the rice spirit. The rice spirit has to be feted to assure good yield, protection from pests, and to ensure favourable weather for planting and harvesting.

Superstitious customs go beyond the spectrum of forests and its dwellers - tiger, crocodiles, snakes, owl. The natives have various fascinating stories about ghosts. Ghosts play essential roles in their lives. A well-known spirit, known as pontianak, involves a mother who died in childbirth. There are great taboos related to pregnancy, birth and puerperium because of this.

Even though Mohamedan men are discouraged to don ornamental appendages, many Malay men traditionally wear rings. The rings usually carry a stone. Most of these stones are not precious ones but are bezoar stones, polished undigested droppings of monkeys, porcupines or other animals. They are said to bring aphrodisiac or medicinal properties. Amulet and talisman are frequently deployed as love charms or to ensure conjugal fidelity. They have their own non-scientific ways to prove the authenticity of the stones.

The author goes on to discuss the various dances performed in leisure hours. The natives spend many hours in multiple games. Cockfighting is particularly favoured. He goes on to tell about its intricacies, preparations and the madness that surround the pastime. Dice games, cards, top spinning, kite flying, checker and sepak raga are played too. Children create their own games with sticks, sand and stones. Like children elsewhere, they play hide-and-seek also.

Theatrical performances with dancers or puppets (shadow play) are reserved for the noblemen. Here again, rituals take centre stage before any performance. Many of the input into this book also comes from Frank Swettenham and Hugh Clifford. The exciting thing about the writing is that the author is respectful of the natives' beliefs. He does not look at their ritual with his condescending judgmental eyes, like a real anthropologist.