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Slave
Orang Asli sangat sinonim dengan hamba. Dunia perhambaan penuh dengan perasaan tidak puas hati. Khianat. Dendam dan air mata tidak akan menjadi penawar segala duka. Mereka dilayan secara tidak berperikemanusiaan, diancam, diburu, dibunuh seperti anjing tiada bercawat ekornya.
Hamba ialah abdi, orang bawahan, orang suruhan. Hamba ialah orang yang dimiliki oleh orang lain dan terpaksa bekerja untuk pemiliknya. Hamba ialah sebuah novel yang mendekatkan kita untuk menyelami penderitaan hidup sebagai hamba yang dimiliki oleh tuannya.
Hamba ialah abdi, orang bawahan, orang suruhan. Hamba ialah orang yang dimiliki oleh orang lain dan terpaksa bekerja untuk pemiliknya. Hamba ialah sebuah novel yang mendekatkan kita untuk menyelami penderitaan hidup sebagai hamba yang dimiliki oleh tuannya.
261 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 4, 2018
Ah, pengakhirannya meruntun jiwa!
Sungguhpun Hamba adalah sebuah novel, namun ianya mencerminkan kehidupan masyarakat di Tanah Melayu pada awal kurun ke-19. Kehidupan golongan pembesar di Tanah Melayu khususnya di Perak, tentang adat dan budaya buruk pembesar yang menyimpan dan menjual beli hamba dan menghisap serta menjual candu.
Hakikat yang pahit mesti ditelan oleh anak Melayu pada masa kini, adalah menerima fakta bahawa adat menyimpan dan menjual-beli hamba pembesar Melayu terdahulu sangat terkutuk! Hamba pada ketika itu terbahagi pada dua golongan, hamba berhutang (orang Melayu) dan hamba abdi.
Golongan hamba abdi pada ketika itu diperoleh dengan menculik orang asli yang tinggalnya di dalam hutan. Mereka diculik tidak kira usia dari semuda 5 tahun sehingga setua lewat 50-an tidak kira lelaki mahupun perempuan. Kehidupan sebagai hamba abdi ketika itu sangat teruk, mereka dilayan seperti binatang, kaki mereka dirantai besi, dikerah bekerja dari pagi hingga ke petang, hanya diberi makan sekepal nasi bersama ikan masin sekali sehari.
Lagi terkutuk, hamba perempuan dijadikan gundik pembesar, peneman pembesar menghisap candu dan tempat mereka melampiaskan nafsu, tidak cukup dengan itu, mereka dijadikan pelacur kepada pembesar lain dan pedagang dan pelombong cina dan hasil melacur dikaut oleh pembesar ini tadi! Merdeka bagi hamba abdi bermaksud dua jalan; melarikan diri dan cuba sedaya untuk kekal hidup tidak ditangkap kembali atau merdeka di alam abadi, bilamana roh meninggalkan jasad.
Apabila orang Inggeris menjajah Tanah Melayu, dan menyahhapuskan sistem perhambaan ianya merupakan episod hitam bagi orang Melayu, terutama pembesar dan sultan. Mereka kehilangan tenaga kerahan dan sumber pendapatan. Tetapi bagi golongan hamba abdi, ini merupakan titik mulanya sejarah kemerdekaan bagi mereka.
Sungguhpun Hamba adalah sebuah novel, namun ianya mencerminkan kehidupan masyarakat di Tanah Melayu pada awal kurun ke-19. Kehidupan golongan pembesar di Tanah Melayu khususnya di Perak, tentang adat dan budaya buruk pembesar yang menyimpan dan menjual beli hamba dan menghisap serta menjual candu.
Hakikat yang pahit mesti ditelan oleh anak Melayu pada masa kini, adalah menerima fakta bahawa adat menyimpan dan menjual-beli hamba pembesar Melayu terdahulu sangat terkutuk! Hamba pada ketika itu terbahagi pada dua golongan, hamba berhutang (orang Melayu) dan hamba abdi.
Golongan hamba abdi pada ketika itu diperoleh dengan menculik orang asli yang tinggalnya di dalam hutan. Mereka diculik tidak kira usia dari semuda 5 tahun sehingga setua lewat 50-an tidak kira lelaki mahupun perempuan. Kehidupan sebagai hamba abdi ketika itu sangat teruk, mereka dilayan seperti binatang, kaki mereka dirantai besi, dikerah bekerja dari pagi hingga ke petang, hanya diberi makan sekepal nasi bersama ikan masin sekali sehari.
Lagi terkutuk, hamba perempuan dijadikan gundik pembesar, peneman pembesar menghisap candu dan tempat mereka melampiaskan nafsu, tidak cukup dengan itu, mereka dijadikan pelacur kepada pembesar lain dan pedagang dan pelombong cina dan hasil melacur dikaut oleh pembesar ini tadi! Merdeka bagi hamba abdi bermaksud dua jalan; melarikan diri dan cuba sedaya untuk kekal hidup tidak ditangkap kembali atau merdeka di alam abadi, bilamana roh meninggalkan jasad.
Apabila orang Inggeris menjajah Tanah Melayu, dan menyahhapuskan sistem perhambaan ianya merupakan episod hitam bagi orang Melayu, terutama pembesar dan sultan. Mereka kehilangan tenaga kerahan dan sumber pendapatan. Tetapi bagi golongan hamba abdi, ini merupakan titik mulanya sejarah kemerdekaan bagi mereka.
March 3, 2022
“Cerita di luar bangsal memanglah hebat, Orang inggeris mula campur tangan mentadbir negeri Perak. Melarang adat pembesar menyimpan hamba. Kata pembesar pula menyimpan hamba satu dari adat Melayu. Orang Inggeris jangan campur tangan. Kata orang inggeris pula perbuatan menyimpan hamba salah. Itulah cerita dari luar, Hakikat sebenarnya Bujal masih menjadi hamba abdi”.
- Hamba by Akiya (Mahat Anak China)
.
.
Funny how history stated the fact that J.W.W birch was assassinated due to his interference on Islamic Teaching, Malay customs and Royal matters but glossed over that one of the customs that will be banned is Slavery. The irony of this assassination that it was done by Seputum which is also a slave. While some text highlighted it is due to slavery, none were written in details manner particularly how it affected indigenous people or ‘Orang Asli’. The Sangkil was known to be the one that attacked and enslaved the Orang Asli. Orang Asli escaped from the being caught by moving from one place to another. There was even a war known as the Perang Sangkil that was fought between the Malay and Orang Asli in 1870. Slavery is widely practiced back then by the royal families , ministers / chiefs and wealthy merchants but the book highlighted that it is more than a class difference, it is indeed ENSLAVEMENT as some were kidnapped from their home, some were forced into prostitution / sexual slavery and some were sold whenever the masters felt like it. Lower class Malays also were forced to being a slave but they were usually out of debt bondage or voluntary servitude but Orang Asli faced the worst treatment under the name of Slavery. The book started with Bujal’s point of view that was still longing for freedom. He was kidnapped from the forest nearby his house and being sold to Engku Kahar’s family. Bujal came from an indigenous tribe known as Semai People in Malaysia. Bujal has endured relentless beatings, countless insults and pretty much inhumane treatment from his master. He saw how Kunyit died for stealing Banana from his master’s orchard. He witnessed how Kundur tried to run but was caught after 5 days and eventually died after being punished. He also observed how his former lovers, Miyah and Bulan (a slave like he is) were taken as a bed companion by his master but they were also being forced to sleep with his master’s business partner or loyal followers. Bujal recognised that even you were guaranteed protection from your master, that doesn’t mean you were entirely safe from other people’s torment. This happened to Yok Iba Family. He killed himself after his wife and daughter were being raped by Datuk Panglima Hitam and his followers. Despite the warning from Engku Kahar that His family should not be disturbed, it fell on deaf ears. The only decent character in this story is Engku Wati. She likes Bujal for who he is without thinking about status or class. However, being a woman at that time - there’s nothing she can do. Her involvement with Bujal may cost their lives to the certain extent Both played a dangerous game by being in love with each other. The plot is linear and the writing is straightforward. The focus of the story is on the cruelty of slavery but we also have the struggle of power between the chiefs, the Britsh interference on local customs and the opium business with Chinese traders in it. The only issue that i had with this book is the editing error. Bunga and Bulan was used interchangeably to refer to the same person. It took me a while to convince myself that they are the same person. 280 pages actually can be trimmed down to at least 200 as the book repeated the same things over and over again on the difference between indentured slaves and slaves. Bujal kept on muttering the comparison of Majid and him due to this single fact - that Majid at least has possibility to be free once he paid all his debt. Bujal will never have that chance. Overall, a highly recommended book - for we Malays have to acknowledge that this is the dark part of our history and it exists. Now i am off to find ‘Perang Sangkil’ written by the same author.
- Hamba by Akiya (Mahat Anak China)
.
.
Funny how history stated the fact that J.W.W birch was assassinated due to his interference on Islamic Teaching, Malay customs and Royal matters but glossed over that one of the customs that will be banned is Slavery. The irony of this assassination that it was done by Seputum which is also a slave. While some text highlighted it is due to slavery, none were written in details manner particularly how it affected indigenous people or ‘Orang Asli’. The Sangkil was known to be the one that attacked and enslaved the Orang Asli. Orang Asli escaped from the being caught by moving from one place to another. There was even a war known as the Perang Sangkil that was fought between the Malay and Orang Asli in 1870. Slavery is widely practiced back then by the royal families , ministers / chiefs and wealthy merchants but the book highlighted that it is more than a class difference, it is indeed ENSLAVEMENT as some were kidnapped from their home, some were forced into prostitution / sexual slavery and some were sold whenever the masters felt like it. Lower class Malays also were forced to being a slave but they were usually out of debt bondage or voluntary servitude but Orang Asli faced the worst treatment under the name of Slavery. The book started with Bujal’s point of view that was still longing for freedom. He was kidnapped from the forest nearby his house and being sold to Engku Kahar’s family. Bujal came from an indigenous tribe known as Semai People in Malaysia. Bujal has endured relentless beatings, countless insults and pretty much inhumane treatment from his master. He saw how Kunyit died for stealing Banana from his master’s orchard. He witnessed how Kundur tried to run but was caught after 5 days and eventually died after being punished. He also observed how his former lovers, Miyah and Bulan (a slave like he is) were taken as a bed companion by his master but they were also being forced to sleep with his master’s business partner or loyal followers. Bujal recognised that even you were guaranteed protection from your master, that doesn’t mean you were entirely safe from other people’s torment. This happened to Yok Iba Family. He killed himself after his wife and daughter were being raped by Datuk Panglima Hitam and his followers. Despite the warning from Engku Kahar that His family should not be disturbed, it fell on deaf ears. The only decent character in this story is Engku Wati. She likes Bujal for who he is without thinking about status or class. However, being a woman at that time - there’s nothing she can do. Her involvement with Bujal may cost their lives to the certain extent Both played a dangerous game by being in love with each other. The plot is linear and the writing is straightforward. The focus of the story is on the cruelty of slavery but we also have the struggle of power between the chiefs, the Britsh interference on local customs and the opium business with Chinese traders in it. The only issue that i had with this book is the editing error. Bunga and Bulan was used interchangeably to refer to the same person. It took me a while to convince myself that they are the same person. 280 pages actually can be trimmed down to at least 200 as the book repeated the same things over and over again on the difference between indentured slaves and slaves. Bujal kept on muttering the comparison of Majid and him due to this single fact - that Majid at least has possibility to be free once he paid all his debt. Bujal will never have that chance. Overall, a highly recommended book - for we Malays have to acknowledge that this is the dark part of our history and it exists. Now i am off to find ‘Perang Sangkil’ written by the same author.
February 6, 2021
5/5 untuk jalan cerita.
3/5 untuk buku ini.
Novel ni macam tak disunting dan kesalahan ejaan banyak sangat. Nama watak pun mula2 mengelirukan. Bunga dgn Bulan. Saya simpulkan, Bunga dan Bulan adalah orang yang sama.
Secara peribadi saya agak tidak selesa membaca novel ini kerana begitu banyak kekejaman yang diterima oleh para hamba abdi di dalam novel ini. Saya hampir-hampir tidak percaya betapa teruk dan kejamnya layanan yang diterima oleh hamba abdi dan cara bagaimana mereka dijadikan hamba abdi. Penulis dengan jayanya mengisahkan memgenai kehidupan perhambaan yang terpaksa dilalui oleh Orang Asal yang diculik dan dipaksa menjadi hamba pembesar/orang kaya di negeri Perak dimana mempunyai hamba abdi merupakan salah satu adat orang Melayu Perak pada waktu itu sebelum Residen Pertama Negeri Perak, J.W.W. Birch memansuhkan mengharamkan adat memakai dan memiliki hamba.
Bagi saya, membaca novel ini menyedarkan saya akan realiti perhambaan yang pernah terjadi suatu masa dahulu di Tanah Melayu dengan lebih jelas dan nyata.
Worth reading!
3/5 untuk buku ini.
Novel ni macam tak disunting dan kesalahan ejaan banyak sangat. Nama watak pun mula2 mengelirukan. Bunga dgn Bulan. Saya simpulkan, Bunga dan Bulan adalah orang yang sama.
Secara peribadi saya agak tidak selesa membaca novel ini kerana begitu banyak kekejaman yang diterima oleh para hamba abdi di dalam novel ini. Saya hampir-hampir tidak percaya betapa teruk dan kejamnya layanan yang diterima oleh hamba abdi dan cara bagaimana mereka dijadikan hamba abdi. Penulis dengan jayanya mengisahkan memgenai kehidupan perhambaan yang terpaksa dilalui oleh Orang Asal yang diculik dan dipaksa menjadi hamba pembesar/orang kaya di negeri Perak dimana mempunyai hamba abdi merupakan salah satu adat orang Melayu Perak pada waktu itu sebelum Residen Pertama Negeri Perak, J.W.W. Birch memansuhkan mengharamkan adat memakai dan memiliki hamba.
Bagi saya, membaca novel ini menyedarkan saya akan realiti perhambaan yang pernah terjadi suatu masa dahulu di Tanah Melayu dengan lebih jelas dan nyata.
Worth reading!
June 22, 2025
Hamba (slave in Malay) is certainly an eye-opening book. The fate of the orang Asli in Malaysia never gets brought up in public discourse, or taught in schools, so I’m glad that there is a book like this to shed light on such a deeply-buried issue
My one complaint is the writing style which seemed a bit juvenile, but I read the English version, so I’m not sure if it was the translation was imperfect..but I have no doubt that if I had read the original Malay version, I would have appreciated the book even more
My one complaint is the writing style which seemed a bit juvenile, but I read the English version, so I’m not sure if it was the translation was imperfect..but I have no doubt that if I had read the original Malay version, I would have appreciated the book even more
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews