Blog Article by Khoo Salma, Local Historian

The Other Side of the Balik Pulau Newsletter

by Khoo Su Nin alias Khoo Salma Nasution ( local historian in her blog http://areca-nut.blogspot.com/ ) 11 Feb 2011

Egypt and their neighbours are going through a social revolution. But Malaysians are still stuck in the mental mud.

The Balik Pulau newsletter controversy just goes to show how easily history and heritage can be racialised and communalised in Malaysia. 'Only passionate heritage fools rush in where angels fear to tread.' 

Through repeated intimidation by politicians, we Malaysians are always reminded that everyone should stay within their allotted 'racial' categories. Noone from any other ethnic group should dare take an interest, write about or discuss the history or heritage of any other ethnic group. 

So Pulau Betong (Umno) rep YB Muhammad Farid Saad denounced the Balik Pulau booklet because he apparently thought it was sponsored by the Pakatan Rakyat Penang state government. In this way, he misled the public to think that there is something sinister about the Balik Pulau newsletter.

It is obvious that the Balik Pulau newsletter was not read for what it was - a wonderful community history effort by the arts education group ARTS-ED. If there is any omission of history, YB Farid should have approached the organisation for clarification. Instead he used it as an excuse to lash out at the state government. But it backfired. Why?
 

YB Farid chose the wrong organisation to pick on. Because everyone who knows Arts-Ed knows that they have done a wonderful job since they were founded in 1999 to encourage young people to take an interest in their history and heritage. Everyone knows that their Balik Pulau project has been a boon to the community of Balik Pulau. Everyone knows that, in their literature and performances over the years, celebrating Penang's history and heritage, they have been consistently inclusive of young people of all cultural and language backgrounds. 

I trust even YB Farid knows that. I am sure he believes in 1 Malaysia. But possibly to ensure his political survival within UMNO he had to prove that he is a 'Malay champion' after all. Yes, it's the same old story, and Malaysians are tired of it.

As with all politically-motivated racial postures and statements, they tend to get out of control. YB Farid's statements has consequences. Did he know it would lead to burning books? 

Amid the ensuing political cross-fire, Arts-Ed has to gently raise its hand. 'Permissions to speak, sirs.'

'This community newsletter – myBalikPulau was published with just one intention: to enable children, elders and local residents to engage with their communal space by sharing memories, legends and experiences.'

What could be so objectionable about that?

I will address one main point of YB Farid's statement, 'Bukankah Pulau Pinang dulu adalah sebahagian daripada Kedah. Perlukah mereka menjadi pelarian dinegeri sendiri? Beberapa orang Melayu marah apabila disebut sebagai "pelarian" kerana seolah-oleh mereka adalah keturunan pelarian.' (Wasn't Penang formerly part of Kedah? Do they need to become refugees in their own state? A few Malays were angry when the word "refugee"was used, as if they are descended from refugees.') 

I wonder who are these Malays are so upset that some of the early settlers in Balik Pulau are called refugees.

Yes, there is oral history captured by Vaughan and published in 1858 which says that 'Tukong Ko of Purlis and Lebbi Tampak of Delhie, cleared Bali Pulo.' (see reference below) It was omitted, but not deliberately, and certainly not because of some sinister ploy to 'blur' the history of Balik Pulau.

However, it is also well known that Balik Pulau only became heavily populated after 1821, by Malays from the northern Malay States fleeing the Siamese invasion of Kedah. Where did these people go? They fled to 'balik pulau' (the other side of the island).

Why not have a community history workshop to explore this further?

Invite the people of Balik Pulau, as well as historians (including Kedah historians) to have a open, civilized and enlightening discussion.

Ensure us a democratic space so that our minds can grow free of this mental mud of stagnated communal politics. Where we are ignorant, let us be educated. But without intimidation, please.

Khoo Salma is president of Penang Heritage Trust, but all views contained in this blog are her own.

REFERENCE:

'Tukong Ko of Purlis and Lebbi Tampak of Delhie, cleared Bali Pulo'. Vaughan, 1858: 174- 175.
Vaughan, J.D. “Notes on the Malays of Pinang and Province Wellesley”. Journal of the Indian Archipelago & Eastern Asia, new series, 2, 1858: 115-175. (http://books.google.com.my)