THE sun finally breaks free from the grip of the gloomy days, casting a fierce, unrelenting light across the land. I'm on the road, navigating an unfamiliar path guided by the ever-faithful Waze, when a small glitch throws a wrench into my plans.
An unexpected leak in the air-conditioning valve leaves me drenched in sweat, but I press on, undeterred by the stifling heat. My destination: the home of Professor Dr Muhammad Haji Salleh, one of Malaysia's most distinguished literary figures, a towering figure in the poetry universe, and an expert on the epic story of Hang Tuah.
When I arrive, the Taiping-born Muhammad greets me with the warmth and hospitality that he's become known for. He ushers me into his humble abode and, noticing my discomfort, promptly switches on a fan to help cool me down. It is a small, thoughtful gesture, yet it speaks volumes about the man himself — someone who has a way of making people feel at ease, no matter how chaotic the world outside.
In the days leading up to my visit, there had been much discussion about the origins of Hang Tuah, the legendary warrior whose name has become synonymous with valour and loyalty in the Malay culture.
Naturally, I thought of Muhammad, whose work on Hang Tuah is revered in literary circles. He isn't just a scholar; but he's also a living repository of the story's evolving narrative; a man who has dedicated much of his life to bringing Hang Tuah and other Malay literary treasures into the global spotlight.
UNEXPECTED TURN
As we settle down to chat, I note that Muhammad's voice carries with it the quiet authority of someone who had spent decades immersed in literature. He speaks with clarity and passion about his childhood in Sungai Acheh, a small village in the south of Nibong Tebal, Penang, where his father worked as a trader.
Like most boys in the village, he spent his days fishing, cycling and playing games amidst the sprawling padi fields. Life, he recalls with a smile, was simple, the people warm-hearted, and the pleasures of youth uncomplicated.
In the background, an old radio hums softly. It's a square, portable model, possibly more than 20 years old, an artifact from his student days in Leiden, Holland. The radio serenades us with nostalgic Malay songs, a rather fitting soundtrack to a conversation that would soon take us through the layers of his extraordinary life.
Awarded the title of National Literary Officer in 1991, I learn that Muhammad's early academic journey took an unexpected turn when, as a young boy, his headmaster recommended him for admission to the Anglo-Chinese school in his area, despite the fact that he had no idea why he was chosen. He chuckles as he recounts the irony of it all — he and the headmaster's daughter had both been accepted, but not once did he ever have the chance to walk her to school.
His life took another significant turn when, at the age of 16, he moved to Bukit Mertajam, Penang, to live with his mother, after his father's business faced hardships. It was there, in a time when newspapers were a luxury, that he was presented with an opportunity to enrol in the illustrious Malay College Kuala Kangsar, a decision that would shape his future in ways he couldn't have imagined.
A few years later, he found himself at the Malayan Teachers' Training College in Brinsford Lodge, in Wolverhampton, England, where his passion for creative writing truly began to take flight.
AFFAIR WITH POETRY
Although it was his first time abroad, Muhammad felt surprisingly at ease, despite the biting cold that he hadn't quite anticipated. Having read extensively in English and watched countless films, he had already built a vivid picture of what to expect from the foreign land.
England, with its rich literary heritage, reminded him of the works of Shakespeare, John Donne and Joseph Conrad — masters whose words had shaped his own literary sensibilities. Fearless in his creative pursuits, he wrote fluently in both Malay and English, two languages that were closest to his heart. As for food, they never felt homesick, thanks to Polish cooks who had been taught to prepare Malaysian dishes, always ensuring that rice was included as the essential staple.
His profound love for hitch hiking took him to some of the greatest cities in Europe, once with a friend and another, by himself, mostly staying in youth hostels. He found the world to be a safe place and met with kindness in most of the places he visited.
Incidentally, Muhammad's first big literary achievement came when he won the Wise and Butler scholarships for his writing, which carried the prize money of RM70, despite still being in Form Four. It was a proud moment for the young man.
But the joke of the day was that he had to buy cucur badak for his fellow classmates as a treat for achieving such a rare feat for a Malaysian. It created a huge dent in his pocket, with each kuih costing 10 sen.
It was during his time in England that Muhammad began his lifelong love affair with poetry. He admired its compactness — the ability to convey the deepest emotions and ideas using the fewest words possible. For him, poetry wasn't just an art form; it was also a way of life.
His path soon led him to the revered poet Datuk Usman Awang, head of literature at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (the government body responsible for coordinating the use of the Malay language and Malay language literature in Malaysia) who recognised his dual proficiency in both English and Malay.
Usman, poet, playwright, novelist and Malaysian National Laureate (1983) became a mentor, guiding Muhammad through the world of poetry and translation. Together, they worked on translating Malay poetry into English, and soon, Muhammad was sought after for translation projects across the country.
LOVE FOR HANG TUAH
But it was his work on Hikayat Hang Tuah, a major literary project that would span a decade, that truly defined his career. Muhammad's groundbreaking translation of the Hikayat Hang Tuah sought to uncover the true origins of the legendary warrior, challenging long-held beliefs about his birthplace.
Through meticulous research and travels to places like the Riau Archipelago, he uncovered evidence that Hang Tuah was likely born among the Orang Laut people of Singkep, part of the Riau Archipelago. The man, it seemed, was as much a product of the sea as the sea was of him.
Muhammad wrote a remarkable 150 poems dedicated to Hang Tuah, a feat that speaks of his deep commitment to the legend. His extensive research took him far beyond books and archives, leading him to the field where he engaged in insightful conversations with people across various regions to uncover new perspectives.
He even travelled to Sungai Duyong in the Riau Archipelago, accompanied by several Indonesian scholars, to explore further. Along the way, he encountered claims that Hang Tuah was also an ancestor of the Sultanate of Deli in Medan, Indonesia.
This painstaking journey of discovery proved to be both challenging and enriching, as he learned that the legend of Hang Tuah had reached as far as the southern Philippines, where local inhabitants knew of his story.
But the translation of Hang Tuah was more than just a literal rendering of the Malay text. It was a deeply immersive experience — one that allowed him to meet colourful characters, some of whom even claimed to be descendants of Hang Tuah himself.
LITERARY ACHIEVEMENT
His research also took him to Leiden University in The Hague, where he had the opportunity to compare notes with other scholars studying the legend. There, in the university's library, he found one of the oldest known Hang Tuah manuscripts, dating back to 1758.
In his opinion, Hang Tuah could be considered a truly global figure, a man who had travelled to many lands and understood the cultures and languages of the world. At the heart of the legend was the revered Taming Sari kris, a weapon believed to grant its wielder invincibility — an enduring symbol of the warrior's power.
At the age of 82, Muhammad's work on Hang Tuah stands as one of the great literary achievements of his career, a culmination of a lifetime spent exploring language, history and identity. His translation of the Hikayat Hang Tuah is not just a linguistic feat; it is also a bridge between cultures, a testament to his belief in the power of literature to transcend borders.
The 82-year-old's remarkable career spans over six decades and has earned him numerous accolades, including the country's highest literary honour, the National Literary Award, in 1991. His legacy as a poet, translator, and literary scholar is firmly cemented, but it is his unwavering dedication to the preservation and exploration of Malay culture — embodied in his lifelong work on Hang Tuah — that will ensure his place in the pantheon of literary greats.
Tan Bok Hooi has a postgraduate degree in particle physics. An author of six books (Malay and English), he established LIVEFREE, a consulting company focused in healthcare with emphasis on talent acquisition and consultancy.
Travel local and get to know hidden gems with Klook discount code.