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STAFF PICKS: PANGLIMA SALLEH – SELEMPANG MERAH

STAFF PICK MARCH 2020

Name: Ms Suriyana Mohd Noor
Position: Librarian, Resource Development Unit
Book: Panglima Salleh: Selempang Merah
Author: Zaharah Nawawi
Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
Publication Year: 1988
Language: Bahasa Malaysia


Official Synopsis:
Buku ini mengisahkan tentang Panglima Salleh yang terukir dalam sejarah tanahair kerana kepahlawanan menentang pasukan Komunis yang bermaharajalela di kawasan selatan tanahair khususnya di Johor. Peristiwa berdarah yang tragik ini berlaku di sekitar penghujung Perang Dunia Kedua. Nama Panglima Salleh telah menjadi ‘sinonim’ dengan selampang merah kerana di situlah lambang kegagahan dan kepahlawanan beliau. Novel sejarah ini membawa kembali kenang-kenangan kegemilangan dan kepahlawnan bangsa Melayu masa lalu. Semangat perjuangan dan tuntutan keimanan dapat menghapuskan kezaliman dan kemungkaran. Semoga novel ini dapat menimbulkan kembali keutuhan dan ketahanan bangsa Melayu di mata dunia.


Comment:
This novel tells the story of a young man who travelled to trade so that he can provide for his family during the Japanese Occupation. During that period, there were many hardships to endure and overcome, such as the scarcity of food and rocketing inflation. The Japanese surrender in 1945, however, did not immediately mark a return to better days, as the anti-Japanese and communist Malayan People Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) wreaked violence on Malayans who refused to cooperate with them, whether Malays or Chinese. The Malays in the kampungs were often victims of their violent and ruthless attacks, as they sought to establish a communist state in Malaysia. The deaths and destruction they wrought pushed the Malays to form a group, called Pejuang Parang Panjang, to fight communism.


I’m recommending this book because it’s a well-written novel that highlights one man’s determined fight against communism in Johor. The author, Zaharah Nawawi, is also a S.E.A Write Award 1996 winner.


Excerpt:
Petang yang merangkak menangkap senja menyambut ketibaannya dengan seribu berita. Berita berdarah yang sudah menjadi berita lumrah, kedengaran lagi.


“Haji Masmulia mati dibunuh komunis.” Haji Kadri menyampaikan berita. “Bila?” “Tiga hari sudah.” “Di mana?” “Di belakang rumahnya sendiri, dalam sawah padi. Waktu itu dia suami isteri menjaga babi daripada merosakkan padinya. Datang gerombolan komunis, lalu menembak Haji Masmulia di hadapan isterinya. Tapi, orang tua itu tidak mati. Kulit dadanya sampai bersisik macam sarang tebuan, peluru tidak lut juga”


“Kenapa dia dibunuh?” “Tidak siapa yang tahu dengan tepat. Haji Salman adiknya menjangka mungkin ada orang yang mengadukan sesuatu, atau kerana abangnya tidak memberikan sesuatu yang diminta oleh orang dalam.” “Hmmm. Lepas itu?”



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“Panglima Salleh: Selempang Merah” is available at the Perdana Library. If you are interested in reading or borrowing the book, please contact us at 03-88858961 (Library Counter). Do note that the Perdana Library is still closed due to the Movement Control Order.

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