Fourth Finalist of Beyond P. Ramlee Project

As Wee Remembered; Era of Enigma
By Wadi

Wee asked mom: “who is singing this song mom?”
Mom said: “ooh, that’s Sudirman”.
Wee murmured: “Ooooh”.
At the age of ten, Wee slightly comprehended.

During the childhood years, Wee remembered the way and manner mom and auntie fanatically bought cassettes of Sudirman. It was the thick doubled stereotype, having quite familiar faces, besides Uji Rashid and Hail Amir and Noor Kumalasari, it was this man; Sudirman.


As Wee grew up, where most of his early years, in Muar Johor, he started to flip over the old URTV magazines and also some of the ceased publication; Variapop. Between these two entertainment tit bits, he adored Sudirman’s caricature. The reflections of the cartoons were so natural and carried some blissful meanings. He remembered why mom and auntie loved this man. Most of which were Sudirman’s personal experience with many artiste within Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. At times, with politicians and public figure too.

Wee almost fought with his eldest sister, Inoi, most of the times, just to make sure he would be the first one reading the newly bought URTV first. But, in most incidents, Inoi won the bit.

Starting to know Sudirman as early as 10 was not that too serious and enthusiastic for Wee. Rather, he spent his childish time playing and running around at his hometown in Sungai Raya, Muar. He played “masak-masak” with his girl friends, “kahwin-kawin”, “perang-perang” and “pondok-pondok” behind grandma’s Dusun with his childhood friends. During the fruit season, it was the best time. He voluntarily offered grandma a hand pick the “durians” and plucked the mangosteens, “rambutans”, “pulasan” and “duku”. During the fruit season, his same aged friend, Najib joined the pursuit, together with his relative, Mamang, whom sometimes, dropped by from Jorak, Bukit Pasir, so that they could also taste the fresh fruits in the Dusun naturally.

While they were happily joining grandma, Wee remembered that Najib and Mamang occasionally sang these songs: “Aku Anak Muda” and “Lagu Anak Desa”. Wee asked them; that sounds so familiar, whose song were that? Both synchronously said; “Hey, it’s so shameful if you don’t know these songs!” It’s Sudirman.

Wee murmured: “Oooh”.

And Najib and Mamang said: “You should have known this song as you were quite frequent in Kuala Lumpur”.

Wee chose to remain silent and continued picking a leftover Durian that was eaten by a squirrel.

Suddenly grandma shouted from far: “Wee, could you take a parang for me please!” Enthusiastically Wee said: “Yeah sure”. He ran, and left Najib and Mamang.

After the age of 11, Wee grew up in Kuala Lumpur; most of the time. And he began to know Sudirman bit by bit. The obvious one about this man was the Chow Kit Road concert. During the weekend, he followed mom to Chow Kit wet market and carrying the bought items. On that one day, the road was closed due to a concert preparation. Mom drove all the way long from Ampang and she had to be in the massive traffic jam, almost three hours due to that. But mom did not show any sign of condemnation.

Wee asked mom: “What happen mummy?”
Mom said: “Ooh, it’s about Sudirman”.
Wee murmured: “Oooh”.

It was the similar answers that Wee murmured; ooooh and ooooh.

Wanting to know more about Sudirman, Wee started to seriously reading and listening to his lyrics and songs. No wonder this man possesses the enigma.

Wee was first attracted to read the news how Sudirman cared about Atai, his nephew. Wee also remembered reading about how close Atai and Sudirman were. And inspiringly, when this icon used to read law in the University of Malaya and chambered. He practised law for couple of years and turned himself to be a superstar. At the age of fifteen, Wee had some piecemeal of answers of who is Sudirman and his accomplishments.

It was sometime in middle 80s that Sudirman marked Malaysia’s name; by clinching the Best Asia Performer at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He triumphed over Leslie Cheung of Hong Kong and Anita Sarawak of Singapore. Then, it was during the Muzik-Muzik’s era, where he won the best performer on his elegantly performed song; “Merisik Khabar”. Wee also liked the songs of “Sampaikan Salam”, “Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini” and “Balik Kampung”.

As a teenager, Wee’s knowledge on Sudirman had improved by leaps and bonds. Whenever he met Mamang and Najib in Muar, he shared with them how happening this icon was in Kuala Lumpur. They listened jealously. But, for Wee, the knowledge that he had gained were mostly from his own readings and analysis. Alas, without his real life experience.

Wee remembered that 1980s to the opening of 1990s were Sudirman’s era of enigma.

Wee grew up with his songs. Wee cried listening to his songs. Wee slept with his songs. And Wee wrote the lyrics when he fought with his siblings or being beaten by mom due to his pranks and naughtiness.

One of the greatest editions of URTV was when featuring Sudirman in a Malaysian flag costume. It was so nationalistic. Wee also remembered how Sudirman’s business ventured created his own series of products bearing “Sudir” as its brand. His name was put on a special by the editor of Malaysia Business Magazine front cover due to his business venture. In that interval, he was interviewed by the media and performed philanthropic activities.

Mom, auntie and Inoi shared the same emotion and expression on Sudirman. To add the list, grandma was also a silent admirer of Sudirman, though she preferred P Ramlee’s movies and songs of her era; but whenever there was a live telecast from RTM on Sudirman, she would switch the channel to the latter. But, Wee could not recall other specific memories to chart that as they had their own personal collections of their own and fantasies.

Wee remembered during his childhood years, grandma would bring him along to wedding functions in Muar, or they called it as “Rewang”. It’s a Javanese term. Wee played with some of his childhood friends while awaiting grandma to finish the “Rewang” session. It was during that time, Sudirman’s songs were played. There were also local Muar bands that sang his songs.

Wee also remembered that his uncles; both Uncle Zack and Uncle Yahyah who quite often, sang, “Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini’. And his auntie, singing “Sampaikan Salam” in the bathroom for hours when they were, in love, with someone.

Mom’s favourite; “Merisik Khabar” was her favourite-personal-anthem in the kitchen, when preparing food for her smart and naughty children. Sudirman’s songs cured her emotion. Occasionally.

Now, after yester years, everyone has had grown up. Dad had passed away, Mon is ageing, Auntie is married with four kids. Inoi is married with 2 kinds. Grandmother had passed away. Uncle Yahyah and Uncle Zack were married with two and three growing adults; where Uncle Yahyah who is practising polygamy. Mamang and Najib now are in their early 30s. As for Wee, he is attempting his headway of potential accomplishments. Heartfelt fully, he hopes that Sudirman should be given an era of enigma through a dedicated gallery. Though Wikipedia has the facts, though the relatives and closest family of late Sudirman said; let the best gallery would be in their thoughts, Wee hope that this icon’s legacy could be a model to present and future aspiring artiste. Truly, Sudirman’s songs and showmanship transcend the generations.

“We need to chart down an era of enigma for Sudirman”. That was late Dad’s utterance when watching his performance through Hiburan Minggu Ini. But nobody was interested to take it to another level. The legacy of Sudirman is still now prevalent besides the songs and his long lists of camaraderie and accolades. He is beyond than a typical artiste. A writer, a cartoonist, a businessman, a lawyer by profession, a performer, a philanthropists and actor – an enigma of his era. Al-fatihah.

p/s: The picture of Anak Muda cover album is taken from tapa legend on Flickr.