THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

118 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
16
Early Politics: Nationalists of My Land, Unite
I am one of tens of thousands of Malays born at the dawn of the twentieth
century. It was, for us, a century for pursuing knowledge, for national
awakening and agitation for Independence.
As a young boy in Matang, I encountered four white faces regularly
– those of Tuan (Master) Alexander Keir, then Matang Malay Teachers’
College Principal; the District Police Officer and two estate managers.
Whenever we met on the street, me on my bicycle and they in either a
buggy or a car, I was always the one to jump off my bicycle to politely
make way. These white men looked formidable and gigantic, but they
always flashed a smile at me.
A book by the early Malay scholar Munshi Abdullah that I read while
in the Malay school mentioned how a Malay subject had to prostate and
bow his head on the ground – even if it touched a heap of cow dung –
as a mark of deep respect for any Sultan he would come face-to-face
with. After leaving my Malay school, I did not forget to ask a friend about
this. Much to my relief, he answered, “That was a long time ago; it is
different now.”
My brothers and I were exposed very early in life to the legendary
tales of Melaka’s Malay warrior Hang Tuah and his four devoted friends,
Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir, Hang Lekiu and Hang Kasturi. The tragic tale
ended with Hang Jebat dying at the hands of his beloved friend Hang
Tuah, immortalised as an exemplary Malay warrior for his absolute loyalty
to the Sultan, even though he was treated unjustly. Hang Jebat was on
the other hand pictured as a traitor. Today (1976), the Malay right
continues to hero worship Hang Tuah, while the Malay left lionises Hang
Jebat for sacrificing his life in the name of friendship and justice.
While at the English school, I read about the adventures of Sherwood
Forest’s Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck and Maid Marion, who
championed the rights of the poor against a wrathful, heartless and
unscrupulous lord. I also read about the four French brothers, Athos,