NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:39 AM PDT 2011/09/06 For over 50 years, a kuda kepang maker has been preserving the art form FOR the past 50 years,kuda kepang maker Naim Marjani, 70, has been training countless number of people not only to make the handicraft, but also how to use the two-dimensional bamboo horse in a graceful dance. Some come to him to master the making of the Javanese handicraft to make a living out of it, but many treat it as just a hobby.
Naim, of Kampung Sungai Nibong in Batu Pahat, is probably the only one in Johor who has been keeping alive the tradition of making the kuda kepang . He learnt about dancing with it when he was 18.
The kuda kepang is made by weaving bamboo strips into a mat before it is shaped into a a horse. Some people use dried cattle skins but this is rather rare.
The mat is later fastened onto a bamboo framework before it is painted, embroidered and decorated with animal fur. The horse is drawn and painted to give it "character" and "personality". In a performance, a dancer will look as if he or she is riding the limbless figure. It is common to perform the kuda kepang dance upon arrivals of VIPs, for wedding ceremonies or major celebrations. Salina Bohiran, 21, from neighbouring Kampung Sarang Buaya, is among the few who are passionate about kuda kepang culture, having devoted herself to the art which she treats as her life-long vocation. She joined the workshop two years ago, and took only a month to master the art. "It is basically my interest which prompted me to choose this handicraft-making art as my career. "I never get bored weaving the bamboo strips and creating the framework. "Now, I can easily make a medium-sized kuda kepang a day," she said. Salina is also a member of the dance troupe. The art not only attracts the young ones, but also senior citizens like Yunos Sulaiman, 67. Yunos said he has been making the handicraft for seven years. He is also a kuda kepang dancer. The former carpenter became interested in making kuda kepang after his retirement. "The job is like a hobby, which keeps me occupied," said Yunos, who specialises in drawing and painting the kuda kepang to inject life into it. Yunos said he would continue making the craft as long as his vision allows him to. He said a good kuda kepang is judged by its aesthetic value, adding that beads and other accessories are added to enhance its value. Fazirin Abdul Rahim is a UiTM student who had just completed his practical training at Naim's workshop. He said he chose kuda kepang for his practical training as he was fascinated by the weaving work. "After the two-month training, I also know how to make the handicraft now. I dance well too," he said. Naim said schools with cultural clubs form the majority of the kuda kepang buyers, while tourists are more interested with miniature kuda kepang. He said all his seven children have families of their own, and none of them are interested to inherit the art from him. As for the future, Naim said he prefers to live one day at a time. |
| Be on guard against security guards Posted: 06 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT 2011/09/06 IF one is too strict and rigid, either people will rebel or they will acquiesce -- but curse you under their breath. If you are too nice and lenient, people will walk all over you and think you are not doing your job. I have nothing against security guards but the story of Zulfadli Abu Bakar, which was highlighted in the Harian Metro article entitled Jaga Marah Lawat Isteri on Aug 31, brought back a flood of memories concerning overbearing security guards. A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property or people. They have bosses to answer to. So, if they are "too nice", they would probably not be able to carry out their duties.
Take the case of Zulfadli, for instance. The 33-year-old reportedly brought his 2-year-old daughter to visit his sick wife at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (SAH) on the first day of Hari Raya. It was reported that Zulfadli had already sought the permission of a nurse to bring the toddler in as the child missed her mother.
At the guard post, however, Zulfadli and the child was not only stopped by a security guard, the latter reportedly ticked off Zulfadli in front of a crowd which ignited an argument between the two. I remembered an incident when I had accompanied a friend to SAH several years ago. She had received a call from the hospital regarding her relative that morning, and she instantly knew that something was amiss.
That day as we were entering the gate, a security guard stopped us and told us to use another gate which was at the other side of the building. He said that the gate, through which we were planning to enter, was meant for hospital staff. If that were the case, why was there no sign put up saying so, and why was it that on other occasions, she could use that gate? The guard just did not want to listen to reason, and insisted that my friend use the other gate. My friend did not want to waste another moment arguing with the guard as she knew time was of the essence. So she complied. A colleague of mine also told me a story of how she had wanted to go into the children's ward to interview a patient when the guard told her rudely that he was going to chase her out if she were to enter. Since my colleague was there because of work, the security guard should have talked to her in a firm but courteous way. After all, both the guard and my colleague were doing their jobs. Being rude was simply uncalled for. Another colleague also shared with me an incident where he had snapped some pictures of a hypermarket. He was outside the hypermarket and was taking a shot of the crowd doing some last-minute Hari Raya shopping when a security guard rushed out and shouted at him to delete the photos. It made me very uncomfortable having to witness this incident because I felt the security guard didn't have to be rude even though he was following orders from his employer. My friend, who is working with a complex management company, then told me that security guards were instructed not to allow customers to take photographs in a shopping complex -- but never were they permitted to be rude to customers. "We explained to the guards why customers are not allowed to snap photographs in a complex, as some customers are our competitors," she said. "Some of our security guards are retired army personnel, so they come across as "fierce" as they are so used to behaving that way. "No, we don't encourage our guards to be rude, but to be firm -- unless the customer tries to be difficult. In such cases, stricter measures have to be taken. "If an employer were to see someone taking photographs in our complex, the employer is going to go after the guard, not the person taking the photos," she added. |
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