Deja Vu

It was déjà vu when Dr Bakri Musa penned a short essay.

Sakmongkol was reading a piece written by our California domiciled surgeon, Mr. Bakri Musa. Why is it surgeons are sometimes titled Mister and a GP, Doctor? Just asking. Told by a doctor relative, the title mister denotes specialist status.

Anyway, Bakri Musa mentioned a book that Sakmongkol has almost forgotten. And now he is frantically searching for the title in his library. The missus is making a din, because Sakmongkol is rummaging through his books again in the wee hours of the morn. She wants her beauty sleep and Sakmongkol is seized by his Sherlock Holmesian intense ‘The game is afoot!’ unshakeable hold.

The book dear readers, is a Malay folklore called Hikayat Malim Deman- loosely translated as the Chronicles of Malim Deman.

Bakri Musa, has alluded to the role that each one of us play in our lives. In Pak Lah’s case could it be, the deaf, lame and blind being assisted by the limp? One infirm assisted by another equally incapacitate? Pak Lah has big ears he says. But he appears to deafen himself from the voices of the people. Najib on the other is the limp because of his many skeletons in the cupboard.

It made Sakmongkol refresh his memory as to how these apparitions of a leader are visited upon us.

YANG CAPIK DATANG BERTONGKAT

YANG BUTA DATANG BERPIMPIN

YANG PEKAK DATANG BERTANYA

YANG KURAP MENGEKOR ANGIN

YANG LUMPUH DATANG MENGESOT

Which Sakmongkol has liberally translated thus:-

THE LIMP COMES WITH CRUTCHES

THE BLIND COMES AIDED/ESCORTED

THE DEAF COMES (BY) ASKING

THE ONE WITH SCABIES(SIC) FOLLOWS THE WIND.

THE LAME COMES CRAWLING

And then Sakmongkol mischievously tried to rationalise:-

The limp( Najib) has always benefited from subsidies. Became MP by default. Became deputy minister because of Uncle Hussin Onn, became Youth Leader because of Brother Anwar, became VP because of Anwar, became DPM because of Tun. And then further incapacitated by numerous dubious record.

But the PM, he is the many in one. He can be the deaf, the lame and the blind.

But each one has his assignment in the natural pecking order. Which makes it important to sometimes acknowledge that the job may be too big for you. Have it divided or delegated. Hence:-

YANG CAPEK MENYAMBUT TAMU

YANG BUTA MENUMBUK LESUNG

YANG PEKAK MEMASANG MERIAM

YANG LUMPUH MENGHALAU AYAM

THE LIMP WORKS AS USHER

THE BLIND POUNDS THE PESTLE

THE DEAF FIRES THE CANON

THE LAME SHOOS THE CHICKENS.

So readers, employ your imagination please. Sakmongkol fears he is wanting in this creative department.