SIBLINGS 46: DISCOVERY OF NAMES

From left: Mak Ngah, Zam, Kak Fuzna and Syun reminiscing about old times at Lorong Kelompang

At 11.03 am, on the third day of Raya (22.09.2009) we received SOS from Abang @ Syun asking for direction to Mak Ngah’s house. Although he has been all over the world without experiencing any loss in direction, yet he was at a loss at Taman Muhibbah, Alor Setar.

We were on the way back from Kuala Kubang Rotan Market with Nana in the driver’s seat when we received the SOS. We immediately .rushed to Abang’s rescue and we landed at Mak Ngah’s house safely. Following the standard procedure of entry into Mak Ngah’s house, we managed to open her door through the self service method.

Mak Ngah was very excited that Abang and Kak Fuzna had paid her a visit despite their over stretched schedule. Seing Abang, Mak Ngah was physically energetic and they began to reminisce about old times during their stay at Lorong Kelompang, Bakar Bata.

Mak Ngah told us that Syun was very mischievous during his younger days. Although he was punished regularly by his father and grand mother, yet it did not deter him from creating more mischief. While he was being punished, Mak Ngah and Mak Chik Sayang used to shed tears in sympathy to Syun.

However Mak Ngah was also very grateful to Syun for his part in being Mak Ngah Deputy Sheriff in enforcing the law on her naughty boys. Syun was her enforcer in disciplining her boys. As she could not match the speed of her agile mischievous sons, Syun would then render his helpings hands in catching or arresting the boys. The arrested boys would then be brought by Syun to Mak Ngah to be meted out the appropriate punishments. So Syun was the official enforcer of law for Mak Ngah.

One of the culprits that was arrested by the ENFORCER

Although Syun was the enforcer, yet Syun would also receive similar treatment from another super enforcer in the form of Pak Teh. If Syun created any mischief and was bound to be prosecuted, Syun would try to evade from arrest by running away as far as possible. The best escape heaven for the day was to hide in the river below the roots of the banyan tree. Pak Teh was very overzealous in his duty and he would search high and low for Syun.

If Syun was caught by the super enforcer, he would be tied up, paraded and brought to the judge/prosecutor in the form of Ata Mak Dun. With both of his hands tied, Ata would place a burned chili on Syun’s nostrils which would have a chilling burning effect to the nostrils or even to the brain.

The SUPER ENFORCER

Another strict judge and prosecutor was Syun’s father himself. With his hand bound, Syun would be caned by his father by using various form of equipments such the normal cane or the whips that Syun has created to pursue his mischievous endeavours. Syun’s father code of ethic when receiving punishments was that Syun must stand still while receiving his punishments. Syun must not produce any sound loudly or yelling that depicted the agony and pain that he was receiving. Syun would only be permitted to shed tears silently during his astonishing punishment. That was why Mak Ngah and Mak Chik Sayang would also shed their sympathy tears silently.

Despite the cruel torturous corporal punishments he has to endure, yet it did not create any dent on Syun’s pride. Instead the punishments themselves would spur him to create more mischief vigorously. However the positive impact of these corporal punishments was very constructive in assisting Syun to be a successful businessman for discipline (the main pillar of success) was already embedded in Syun’s character.

When we mentioned to Mak Ngah about our Tam’s demise, fond memories cascading down Mak Ngah’s memory storage. The effect of Tam’s demise was also similar to the demise of Ata Mak Dun and Pak Teh pet animals. During the late fifties there were two pet animals of Lorong Kelompang.

Pak Teh used to have a pet monkey by the name of Moon whose cage was situated adjacent to Mak Chik Sayang’ room. When she was conceiving Sunaiyah, she would always came face to face with Moon when she did opened her room windows. This practice has some psychologically effects on her new born daughter which depicted in Sunaiyah’s behaviour during her toddler days. She used to store her foods in her cheeks. She would not crawl but instead she would prefer to shift around. That is why Darus used to call her by the nick name SOD which refers to the word kesot.

Sod the elegant lady

When Moon attacked their pet grand daughter, Zam, Moon received her punishments by being banished to Bakar Bata Hindu Temple by Tok Wan, the super duper enforcer. It was very sad for Pak Teh to depart with his pet monkey, Moon. Pak Teh dowsed his sorrow by bringing bananas daily to Moon at the temple for two weeks.

Moon the monkey

Mak Ngah related that in the late of the fifties, Ata Mak Dun used to have pet goats of a mother and her baby goat. The mother goat went by the name of Debab because of her bulky size. Both the mother goat and her baby goat was very attached to Ata Mak Dun. Dedab was so bulky that Ata used to attach a cloth that could support Debab's fully laden milk breasts that even touched the ground itself. Syun and the late Pak Su Omar used to bring debab for grazing around Lorong Kelompang while Pak Teh would take Moon for her daily walks around the kampung.

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However Ata's attachment to the baby goat was short lived as the baby goat died suddenly. Ata Mak Dun was crest fallen with the baby goat's death and she was very remorseful and she could not shed away her misery easily. The apeace her forlorn and longing for the baby goat, when Noraini was born on 21 March 1960, Mak Yah affixed her new born youngest daughter the glamourous nick name in memory of their pet baby goat that was MEK TET.

Mek Tet the purple lady

Mek Tet the baby goat and Debab the mother goat.