A mother's joy

Legacy of The Malay Manuscript

The knowledge and wisdom preserved in the ancient Malay manuscripts are astounding, and the manuscripts themselves are priceless works of art, writes ninotaziz

The Malay Manuscripts are hand-written records from the 16th Century, or even earlier, produced by the royal scribes of the Malay Sultanates. These were works of exquisite beauty and are priceless. Among the most famous works are the Sulalatus Sulatin and Hikayat Hang Tuah, both recognised by Unesco today as Masterpieces of the World and are kept as a heritage legacy of Malaysia.

Read more in the NST:  Legacy of the Malay manuscripts 

ninotaziz, author, poet and story-teller believes that legends are the memories of our ancient civilisations.

Hang Tuah: The Man and The Myth

Once a revered hero, today Hang Tuah's legacy is marred by controversy, writes ninotaziz

WHAT do you think of Hang Tuah? Did he exist?

There have been many conjecture and analysis, claims and suppositions made about the existence of legendary hero, Hang Tuah. On TV, Facebook and on the streets of Malacca, many ask the same question.

More importantly, what is the relevance of Hang Tuah for us today?

There was a time when Hang Tuah was as real in our mind as the greatest heroes of the world. And foremost for us, he was a Malaysian hero. Until recently, he was all but erased from our subconscious. At best, the man was embroiled in a quagmire of controversy. From his strict loyalty to the Sultan to the background of his ancestry, all these become subject of debate, contention and sadly at times, derision. It is an inexplicable phenomenon that when many cultures revere their legends and heroes, many in Malaysia decide to abandon theirs. Why this is so proves to be as interesting as the question of Hang Tuah’s existence, if not more so.

Read more: HERITAGE: Hang Tuah: The Man and The Myth 

ninotaziz, author, poet and story-teller believes that legends are the memories of our ancient civilisations.

Love Stories from the Chinese Opera

The ancient theatre tradition of the Chinese Opera has always captivated ninotaziz

MALAYSIA has a strong tradition of dance and drama theatre, which has existed for hundreds of years. The Makyong, wayang kulit and the Bangsawan were among the arts sustained through many generations. It is no wonder then that the Chinese Opera fits in so well in our gamut of artistic heritage. In fact, like all good theatre, if one looks closely, we would be able to see that what makes excellent Chinese Opera is much the same as what would make a truly memorable Makyong performance.

Read more: Love stories from Chinese Opera in the Sunday Life & Times - New Straits Times 


ninotaziz, author, poet and story-teller believes that legends are the memories of our ancient civilisations.

In the Sunday Times: The Psyche of The Malay Hikayat

It is a national treasure that needs to be cherished and returned to prominence, writes ninotaziz

Inilah warta orang dahulukala
Cerita dibawa air yang hilir
Angin yang lalu
Dan burung yang terbang...

*Once, an ancient story was whispered... upon even more ancient winds...Hikayat Malim Deman

FROM time immemorial, our people have travelled into the unknown in search of knowledge. To be the universal man, one must face hardship and travel the world.

How do we know this? Such journeys are, almost always, the basis of all Malay Hikayat. It is evident in our culture, the literature, the taboos and our legends and folklore, a constant assimilation and acceptance of foreign cultures unlike anywhere else in the world.

Read more: HERITAGE: Psyche of the Malay Hikayat in the Sunday Life & Times - New Straits Times 


ninotaziz, author, poet and story-teller believes that legends are the memories of our ancient civilisations.