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Two enthusiasts of Malay culture are using the Net to keep their heritage alive, writes Rozana Sani
FROM 9am to 5pm every day, Fazrul Wahid Zahari leads a pretty ordinary life. After saying goodbye to his family in the morning, the father of four would drive to office and go about his job as assistant accountant at an international university in Kuala Lumpur, only pausing for the usual breaks.
But come after-hours, things get a bit extraordinary. After reaching home and attending to household needs, Wahid, as the 35-year-old is known, would indulge in his passion: the art of silat and traditional Malay weapons.
An avid fan of the keris (Malay dagger) in particular, he would trawl the Net for interesting finds and engage in discussion on the much-revered weapon among like-minded folk on Facebook. And if he’s not on the trail of a genuine traditional weapon or catching up with keris makers who still practise the craft, he’s updating his blog and YouTube account on his observations on the Malay martial arts heritage, as well as sharing musings on life.
Wahid says: “Traditional weapons like the keris are steeped in the history of the Malay archipelago. In those days, it was a symbol of power. It was a tool not only for combat and self-defence in everyday life but also used in official ceremonies.
“In fact, there are strategic, scientific and aesthetic aspects to the make of a keris. When you’re in training to handle the weapon, you learn, respect and appreciate the design and strength of the keris.
“Sadly, traditional weapons like it are slowly losing their shine among the younger generation today, with their significance replaced by all sorts of myths. Even the handling of such weapons in the practice of martial arts such as silat has reduced.”
HOW IT STARTED
Wahid’s interest in silat was sparked when he joined Pertubuhan Seni Gayung Fatani Malaysia and learnt Silat Gayung Fatani in his secondary school days. The skills he acquired boosted his self confidence.
When he entered university, he was charmed by another sport, a polar opposite to silat — bowling. He took it up seriously and entered competitions. But he soon found the sport too expensive to pursue and came back to silat, only this time it was Silat Melayu Keris Lok Sembilan.
“It’s an old discipline that can be traced back to the Malacca Sultanate. After the fall of Malacca in 1511, the Sultanate split three ways, one of which moved to Sarawak before it finally settled in Pekan, Pahang. It was this branch of the
Sultanate that had kept this closely guarded art throughout the centuries,” explains Wahid.
This form of silat is now taught and led by Mahaguru Dr Azlan Jumat Abdul Ghanie. It is one of the silat systems that, as a discipline, positions the keris as a weapon of war right from the start and provides a greater understanding of both armed and unarmed fighting.
Wahid reveals: “This aspect is what caught my interest in traditional weapons. About five years ago, this fascination became more pronounced when robbers broke into my home and I felt I couldn’t protect my family. They took what we had. Since then, I have collected traditional weapons in earnest.”
As his collection grew from the keris and sundang (a Malay sword) to include badek (long knife), kerambit and many more, he started selling some online while continuing in his search for genuine, quality traditional weapons.
“It was during my many online searches and online forums on the keris that I met Ahmad Hazuan Hasmi, a full-time online keris seller and a Malay culture activist,” says Wahid.
Elaborating on the partnership, Wahid says they have their own presence on Facebook — Senjata Tradisi for Wahid, and Kedai Warisan for Ahmad Hazuan, 27. Both have blogs that use the same moniker but are not associated with each other.
“As partners, we mainly support each other in terms of sales and supply of weaponry, as well as in creating awareness on the heritage.”
AHMAD HAZUAN’S STORY
Ahmad Hazuan was brought up in a family who practised silat and the traditional Malay lifestyle, from traditional clothing to martial arts. Though he took up business studies at tertiary level, he decided to strike it on his own upon graduation — specifically, selling traditional Malay goods, clothing and weapons. His online shop, Kedai Warisan, is recognised by the National Heritage Department.
“My efforts to preserve culture started when I bought a type of keris called Keris Malela and showed it to my uncle in Perlis. He could immediately tell it was well made and wanted to buy it from me... I pocketed a tidy profit from the sale.
“Then through word of mouth, more people wanted to buy keris from me, and that sparked my entrepreneurial interest,” he says with a chuckle.
But unlike Wahid, who is more keen to practise silat and armed fighting, Ahmad Hazuan is more into documenting the history of the various weapons in his inventory.
“In Jawa, there are properly formed associations that have been studying the works of master keris makers for hundreds of years. They can tell you exactly what signature design and era a keris is from by simply looking at the various parts of the weapon. They have many references that have been verified and properly documented. We don’t have that here in Malaysia and it will be our loss if we don’t start showing some concern and preserving our art and culture,” he says.
That’s why he is actively engaging the keris collectors from Brunei and Indonesia. In fact, through online forum engagement, he has been able to help organise talks, seminars and forums on the various aspects of the Malay heritage.
“Our heritage is important to preserve so we can go forward with confidence. The keris is only part of the gear of a Malay man. It complements the whole traditional costume, from tengkolok to the baju melayu to the capal (sandals), and how you look and behave is a reflection of who you are and your status. That’s why we must take utmost care of our appearance and attitude,” he says.
GOING FORWARD
Wahid and Ahmad Hazuan are two of 40 keris/weapon traders in Malaysia on Facebook. Their audience goes beyond local shores to the US and Europe. They say there’s no competition between them as they complement each other.
Wahid says: “It’s not just about trading. I hope my blog, Facebook page and YouTube videos under the banner Senjata Tradisi can have an impact on society, that heritage is not old-fashioned and is very much relevant and practical not only today but also in future. I hope to reach out to those aged 30 and below, to help them understand the significance of old traditions and culture,”
He now teaches Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9 to kids in his neighbourhood every Saturday night. He plans to produce more video clips that will showcase silat and traditional weapons from different aspects.
Ahmad Hazuan, meanwhile, believes that it’s possible to keep heritage alive by living it and sharing it on online media, whether it’s in what we wear, how we act, how we are entertained and in the equipment and tools people of yore used. He hopes to pass on what he has learnt to the younger generation and those who are interested, whether online or through workshops and seminars.
“When we take pride in what we have and what we have inherited, we will become stronger individuals and be more sure of ourselves as we face the future.”
article by :
Rozana Sani
