Could Be Better

From Tots to Teens, StarMag

I'VE just received a copy of the latest compilation of folktales from this region -- Myths and Legends of Malaysia and Singapore by Ralph Modder and Asishah Ahmed (Horizen Books, 129 pages, ISBN: 978-9810831004)

It's encouraging to see more and more writers and publishers producing such anthologies. I don't believe there can be too many books of folktales. These stories bear infinite tellings and re-tellings, should be reinterpreted, reconstructed and deconstructed, and kept interesting and relevant to each generation.  Although their origins are oral, they are too precious a record of our past not to be preserved in more permanent, traceable form.

While it's great that quite a number of these collections are now available, I am disappointed in the way these books have been produced. I have yet to see a local anthology of folktales that satisfies on all counts. At times the writing is weak. Often the stories do not seem to have been edited or proofread. The illustrations too are frequently of inferior quality.

This latest compilation suffers from lack of coherence. Is it a story book? Is it a book of trivia? Is it a record of historical sites? It's a little of every thing, really.

Take the chapter on that very popular legend of the Puteri Guning Ledang. It begins with the historical and geographical background of the mountain in question. There are then a couple of paragraphs on the different versions of the legend of the princess. This is followed by an account of the most popular version, which features the legendary Malay warrior Hang Tuah. The chapter ends with a brief description of the various popular princess-based myths circulated amongst the inhabitants Tangkak (the small town at the foot of Gunung Ledang) and also some words on the moutain as a tourist destination.

The illustrations are also inconsistent. There are pen and pencil sketches, photographs and maps (all uncredited). I am reminded of my primary school Tawarikh text book, which was illustrated in a similar variety of media.

I’m curious as to whether Modder and Aeishah presented the publisher with the completed book, or whether they were commissioned by Horizon Books to compile these stories. Either way, Myths and Legends could have done with more planning and editing. Those responsible for the finished product do not seem to have had a very clear idea of the sort of book they wanted to produce.

One way this book could be improved upon is by the presentation of all its contents in story form. Perhaps the writers could choose to record just one version of each myth or legend. Any historical references should be either woven seamlessly into the story, or added in the form of an appendix.

The illustrations used should do justice to these fascinating tales. Presently, the drawings look amateurish and hastily executed. The faces of the characters are indistinguishable, one from the other, and this seem to point to the artist’s or artists’ lack of understanding of and involvement in the story, not to mention a simple lack of regard.

I did find this book very interesting and useful in introducing me to stories I had not heard of before, and also to alternate and more complete versions of better-known tales (for example, Mahsuri, Si Badang, Raja Bersiung).

Where possible, it would have been helpful if more details of the sources of these stories were included. As it stands, the backcover blurb merely states that the legends are based on the “Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) and other historical resources”.

I hope to see more collections of local folktales. I also hope that they will reflect an increased awareness of the importance of preserving these wonderful stories in a more coherent, comprehensive and visually-pleasing manner.