The question of young and old

Shalizan was my former staff. Seeing from his face, I'm sure he felt younger than his age standing beside the beautiful Thai actress


How about other pensioner friends ? Do you feel "muda" seeing this pic. Taken in one of the Kuala Lumpur kareoke lounges years ago.


Don't worry about your age. Young at heart, may be. Haji Rahman with his "crew"at the end of a concert at Jerudong Park. Jangan marah ya....

Young or old ......
From June and up to now there seem to be endless wedding ceremonies; weeks after weeks of invitations. What would you do while waiting for makan and Bersanding ? Most of the invitees chat-chating with endless topics. I still remember one topic which we raised during this gathering. How do you measure you age ? Of course people say refer to your IC or birth certificate. It stated which year you’re born. But the document is not really reliable. People changed their date of birth to make them older or younger, depending on the need, to make them eligible for certain job. I heard some youth in 60ies claimed they were old just to enroll into the army which required minimum age of 18 years.

My friend, who invited me to this Majlis looked young but he is to become a father in-law. Within one year or so, he will be a grandfather. Is he old or is he still a young man ? This is the thought of my writing in Ole Ole POP this week; broadcast on 6th August 2008. Tune to National FM at 7.45 am.

Many reluctant to go upfront for Majlis Berbedak by telling “orang tetua saja membadaki” (old people only to perform the Berbedak). Yes that is true. Majlis Berbadak is supposed to be performed by older relatives. But these friends forgot, they were already in that category. In a very near future, they would become fathers in law/grandfathers.
Well, the life circle goes on.

“Giliran kitani sudah ni menjadi orang tetua” kata seorang. Sambil bekurapak atu ia menoleh ke arah teman yang menjemput kami ke majlis perkahwinan anaknya. Ia sedang bersalaman dengan tetamu lain.

“Auw, jangan inda sadar” Kawan ani cepat mengiakan “Inda kerasaan setahun ani. Tau-tau karang jadi nini tia member kitani atu.” Ia merujuk kepada kawan yang bersalaman.

“Kita berapa sudah cucu ?” Terdengar pula soalan. Penyoal tahu si teman atu sudah bermenantu.

“Dua” jawabnya ringkas.

“Boleh tahan kita ani eh. Mua lakat lagi cam orang muda. Sebenarnya kitani ani sudah tua. Nganya inda terasa tua” Ia menyatakan realiti sebenar.

“Time kitani sudah ni. Time dapat menantu. Tap tap esok lusa kita pulang bejabat. Kita pulang mengahwinkan anak.” Ia mengajukan pandangan pada sahabat yang termuda dalam kumpulan kami ari atu.

“Aku inda pulang kan mengelak di galar orang tetua atu. Tiga kali ku sudah mengetuai rombongan meminang anak buahku. Maknanya abis sidia sudah mengiktiraf kitani ani sebagai orang tetua.” Ia menjelaskan kedudukan dirinya.

“Ada jua orang mengelak di gelar orang tetua kan ?” Terloncat soalan dari seorang lagi teman.

“Ada. Banyak saja. Kita kan meliat contohnya. Cuba kita liat masa bebadak. Ada yang beriri-irian inda mau ke hadapan.” Si kawan ani terus memberi gambaran.

“Auw banar jua. Ada orang inda mau. Orang tetua saja, katanya. Padahal dirinya sudah layak di kategerikan pada kumpulan orang tetua”

“Kita cam mana ? Bila kan bemanantu ?” Soalan atu nampaknya ditujukan arah kawan yang lagi antadi mendangar saja.

“Kitani ani mengikut saja kemahuan anak-anak kitani. Anakku sudah graduate. Usulnya bekawan-kawan jua sudah. Bila kan kahwin aku inda tau. Tapi mun esok ia mahu kahwin, inda pulang kami melarang. Orang tetua karang ani mana boleh di samakan dengan orang tetua zaman kitani jadi kanak-kanak.” Ia memberi penjelasan panjang.

“Pencen kitani umur 55 taun. Tapi mun sudah umur lima puluh taun atu iktiraf tia diri sudah jadi orang tetua. Buktinya anak sudah basar panjang. Jangan tah lagi gauk. Syukur sudah dipanjangkan umur atu”

Perbualan kami terhenti sebentar kerana kawan kami yang mengundang bersama barisan saudara maranya sudah hampir untuk menjabati kami.

“Terima kasih, terima kasih, ucapnya dengan penuh riang.” Setiba teman yang mengundang menghadapi kami. Tangan kami digenggam erat.

“Selamat menjadi orang tetua”, kedengaran terkeluar dari salah seorang yang bersama kami bekurapak antadi.

Teman yang dijabati menolek ke arah suara itu. Dia hanya senyum saja. Mungkin mengia kan ucapan atu.