Cium Tangan

My memory can only go back to my grandfather. I remember clearly his house in Kampong Kassipilay. I remember my grandmother. I remember holding in my hands, the MBE that he received for services rendered to God knows who. And most of all, I remember his children, my father, uncles, and aunties.

When meeting any of them, I will approach them with a smile, bow to them ever so slightly, kiss their hands in greeting and in joy at seeing them, and also to show my love and respect for them. They, unfailingly, no matter who they are with, will focus their attention on me for that moment, and by the smile that they gave me back, show also, their love for me and convey to me their happiness that I have acknowledged their presence. That is why we Malays do the hand-kissing bit when we meet our elders....to greet them and show our respect and love for them.

Today, of all his nine children, only my aunty remains. And I can tell you that even at my age, 75, when I meet her, I will bow down ever so slightly, kiss her hand in greeting to show my love and respect for her. And I know she will smile, reach out to touch my head, and then scoop me in her arms and ask me if things are ok with me and my family.

That, my friends, is one of the memories that I cherish in the seven decades, plus five, of my life. In that small act of kissing the hands of my aunties and uncles, so much is conveyed between us without being said. That very act, every time it is done, makes stronger the bond between us, the love and respect we have for each other, and most important of all, the understanding that we are there for each other and can depend on one another in our hour of need and wants.

How things have changed today.

Today the very act that we Malays had once reserved for our elders and those we respect and love, have been degraded, devalued, and degenerated into one of showing obedience to politicians who can make you rich and politically powerful. The act of kissing the hands of corrupt and undeserving politicians is despicable. The act of kissing and bowing to Royals who are also corrupt is also despicable. It sickens me to see Malays rushing to kiss the hand of that convicted felon and his obnoxious wife. This hand-kissing act is repeated over and over again as we see these smug, corrupt politicians being greeted by their hangers-on, nauseatingly much too often.

If you want to see what is wrong with the Malays today…this simple, but once meaningful gesture of hand kissing, tells you all that you need to know of what the Malays have become. Today, it has now become an act that no self-respecting Malay should any longer do to those not deserving of it. You should not kiss the hands of convicted felons, corrupt politicians, and arrogant and obnoxious Malays who do not deserve our respect. Maybe by not doing so, it will send a message to those corrupt and arrogant politicians and Royals that the Malays have had enough of their despicable behaviors that have shamed us Malays, maybe, beyond redemption.

Enough said.

Hussein Hamid

27th February 2022

Melbourne.