Pendekar Rimba

by Jaya Ramba

Kebenaran tidak akan tertegak oleh rasa takut; kebenaran juga tidak akan terealisasi tanpa iltizam, tanpa kerjasama, tanpa kebestarian, tanpa kependekaran. Daripada Tuk Monsui yang kehilangan nyawa sampailah kepada Tama Wang, Ulan, Berarek, Derauh, dan lain-lain, masing-masing bertindak dan berjuang dengan satu matlamat-menegakkan kebenaran. Yang diperjuangkan dan ditentang mereka ialah pendukung faham ke-Bruno-an yang asalnya diasaskan oleh Bruno Manser itu. Penentangan itu dilakukan mereka kerana tidak mahu insan Penan ketinggalan jauh dan dilabel sebagai antikemajuan, antipembangunan. Perjuangan itu, kemudiannya, menyerlahkan kebobrokan laku orang yang dipercayai mereka.

Bagaimakah caranya mereka memperlihatkan kependekaran mereka?

231 pages

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Fadillah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Keindahan kampung ini akan menjadi lebih bermakna kalau kemajuan dan pembangunan yang disalurkan kepada kami ialah kemajuan yang menyeluruh, bukan sekadar melepaskan batuk di tangga. Kemajuan itu dapat kami nikmati sepenuhnya, bukan separuh-separuh. Semuanya akan menjadi lebih bermakna kalau kemajuan yang dibawa it bukan kemajuan yang menghancurkan bangsa kami, bukan yang dibawa ole orang yang berniat serong, bling dach tamak, dan gila harta. Kami memang menginginkan kemajuan supaya dapat membebaskan kami daripada kepompong kemiskinan yang sejak sekian lama memandulkan kami sendiri," ujar Derauh, mengungkit ketidakadilan yang berlaku terhadap penghuni di dua buah kampung. "Masalah yang kamu sebut itu sebenarnya hampir sama di mana-mana pun, Derauh." "Tidak juga, Tuan. Ada bangsa yang asalnya seperti kami, kini dapat menikmati kesenangan hidup. Malangnya, bangsa
kami terus kuno kerana kami tidak bersedia untuk berubah. Kami terus ketinggalan kerana perasaan 'ke-Bruno-an' masih marak bernyala dalam diri kami. Inilah silap kami. Tuan tahu, seluruh penduduk di Kampung Benalih ini telah diracuni oleh perasaan Bruno. Kami seperti Bruno," ucap Derauh tapa berselindung lagi.
- Pendekar Rimba by Jaya Ramba
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Over the span of 2 years, i have noticed something similar in ‘Pendekar Rimba by Jaya Ramba’, ‘Long Busang by Jong Chian Lai’ and ‘Bagaimana Anyss naik ke langit by Faisal Tehrani’. They all brought forward a Penan Story and how they were pushed to accept logging project by their state government. Their livelihood and shelter were destroyed and some of their family members were harmed. Then, in a fictional settings but still maintaining an authencity of Penan Story, Both Jaya Ramba and Jong Chian Lai narrated a tale with 2 divided groups in the community. One wanted a development and progress, another one wanted to remain in tradition and practicing ancient customs. One group believe government will provide what is necessary and another is skeptical and can see the motive behind those who claimed that they wanted to assist. In addition to that, i also discovered Marcus Mensel character- a so called environmentalist that has been protesting in a radical manner against the logging project in the ‘Long Busan’ by Jong Chian Lai is actually based on a real person named Bruno Manser that was integrated in the story of Pendekar Rimba by Jaya Ramba. In this story, Jaya Ramba mentioned how Bruno Manser, despite his goals and fight alongside the community, is still an outsider. Jaya Ramba also highlighted that as a community, progress with boundary can be done through his main characters (Tok Monsui, Ulan and Tama Wang) and plot (How having a backstabber in a community ruined the progress and growth that they could’ve had). Jaya Ramba wrote in an eloquence manner yet it was not confusing to understand it. The side characters like Berarek, Derauh, Komando Ilham, Baran Mah, Balan Seli and Fadil helped complete the story with their own purpose. Overall, i would recommend this book especially for today, on Malaysia Day - 16 september 2023 to commemorate the joined day of Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia.