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NST Online: StreetsJohor

History of modern Johor in musical extravaganza

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT

A scene from 'Bumi Berlantai Permata'.

THE history of modern Johor and the Johor sultanate was staged in a musical at Bukit Timbalan in conjunction with the 8th JB Arts Festival in Johor Baru, recently.

The cast of Bumi Berlantai Permata (The Bejewelled Land) won the hearts of the audience. About 1,500 attended the musical which ran for five nights.

The musical caught the attention of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who came to watch the 90-minute production last Saturday, the last day of the performance.

The production had better-than-expected audio-visual effects which boost the quality of the musical.

Two actors -- Bulat and Kecil -- with the help of an antique camera, brought the audience to the 1860s, an era of turbulence, punctuated by threats of colonisation.

The simple language, and synopsis of the play projected on a screen, made it easier for the audience to enjoy the musical.

According to history, Sultan Abu Bakar, with the support of Chief Minister Dato Ja'afar, Dato Mohd Salleh Perang in Muar and the Chinese migrants led by Tan Hiok Nee, suppressed the rebels in northern Johor in what is now known the Jementah Civil War in 1879.

Later, the sultan, who was a personal friend of Queen Victoria, employed diplomatic strategies to drive Sir Frederick Weld out of the State as he wanted to colonise Johor for its rich natural resources.

The role of Dato Ja'afar was pivotal in the musical, as he was in most of the scenes.

His character and wisdom were crucial as a leader during the turbulent period of 1862 to 1886.

The part of Dato Ja'afar was played by Fairuz Ahmad, whose solid and commanding voice was ideal for the role.

His English nanny, was played by Norhafzan Ahmad. She was also consulted on matters of attire and etiquette. Norhafzan's British accent is reminiscent of Julie Andrew's Maria in The Sound of Music.

Award-winning artiste Shamsul Akmal Md Iliasa played Tan Hiok Nee. Addressed as Towkay Tan by Dato Ja'afar, Shamsul put on a heavy Teochew slang which injected humour whenever he spoke Malay.

It is doubtful whether the audience understood Shamsul's intermittent Teochew phrases during his performance.

Directed by Sahruddin Manas, or popularly known in the theatrical circle as Dean Manas, the play was his third instalment for the festival after Si Bongkok Tanjung Puteri and Kasih Teja Di Muara Muar.

It was produced by the Johor Society for the Performing Arts in collaboration with Alpha Consult.

Scripted by Rahimah Muda and choreographed by Shaque Saini and Khairul Anuar Bahari, the musical had a cast and crew of 70.

The 8th JB Arts Festival ends on Sunday. For details, on other events, visit jbartsfest.com/. -- By Sim Bak Heng

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PASSING-OUT PARADE

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:54 AM PDT

PASSING-OUT PARADE

2011/07/18
By Rizalman Hammim

Undergraduates from 14 public universities receive their commissions as junior officers of the Territorial Army

IT was a day like no other in the life of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) student Norazlan Abdullah.

On July 9, the 25-year-old, whose father is an ex-serviceman, and 1,108 other Reserve Officer Training Unit cadet officers received their commissions as officers in the Territorial Army.

The Royal Commissioning Ceremony was officiated by the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, at UTHM.

Also present at the ceremony were Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, Army Chief Gen Datuk Zulkifli Zainal Abidin and chairman of the board of directors of UTHM Tan Sri Jamilus Md Hussin.

Norazlan, who was chosen as the best cadet officer from UTHM, said: "In secondary school, I was active in Pasukan Kadet Bersatu Malaysia and when I studied for my diploma at Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, I joined the Territorial Army."

The final year mechanical and manufacturing engineering student, said he wanted to join the Army.

The new officers who came from 14 public universities received their commissions after three years of training.

The ceremony started with the passing-out parade by the officers at UTHM.

Looking smart in their uniforms, the officers stood at attention as Sultan Ibrahim inspected the parade onboard a special military vehicle.

The sultan also presented awards to the top 25 cadet officers. The officers received their commissions in a ceremony at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail.

Norazlan's mother Siti Rahmah Sidek, 57, said the family had always been supportive of his interest in the military

"We are proud of what he has achieved. He seems to have inherited the warrior spirit from his father, Abdullah Hasan," she added.

The top cadet officer from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Zuraini Mohd Ruslan, 22, said: "While in training, I had to be smart in dividing the time between studying and training.

"I also had to sacrifice a lot of my free time to fulfil my commitment to the Reserve Officer Training Unit.

"I learned a lot from my training, including self-discipline.

"It also prevented me from engaging in unhealthy activities," said the material engineering student.

The Reserve Officer Training Unit was established in 1979 to train public university students to become junior officers in the Territorial Army.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 19 Julai 2011