‘Then there was Hang Tuah, now Hang Samseng’


By Nigel Aw | 3:19PM May 23, 2012
Malaysiakini

During the glorious days of the Malacca sultanate, the legendary warrior Hang Tuah, leading his four other ‘Hang’ companions, stood out as a symbol of pride for the Malay kingdom.

But in modern Malacca, ‘Hang Samseng’ (gangster) have emerged, lamented Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said, in reference to the violence targeting his colleague Ambiga Sreenevasan in Merlimau, Malacca, last Saturday.

“When Ambiga was going to Merlimau… There were around 200 gangsters waiting there. Ambiga was invited by PAS to explain Bersih’s struggle. This is democracy.

“But before she could arrive, our friends there called and asked her not to come because there already were gangsters in the land of Hang Tuah.

“Think about it, in the land of Hang Tuah, there is ‘Hang Samseng’,” added the national laureate, fondly known as Pak Samad.

While Hang Tuah is highly regarded in Malay culture, Pak Samad, 77, described the ‘Hang Samseng’ as an “embarrassment”.

“I feel ashamed. This is not the way we strengthen our democracy, more than 50 years after we achieved independence… (they should) choose a better way” he said in an interview yesterday.

Last Saturday, a hi-tea event which was supposed to feature Ambiga was blocked by protesters and two DAP state assemblypersons, Khoo Poay Tiong and Tey Kok Kiew, were pelted with eggs and stones as they were leaving.

The incident damaged several vehicles, including Tey’s, which was left with severe denting, a punctured tyre and a broken side mirror.

Perkasa and Umno have admitted to being part of the protest but have both denied that they were responsible for the subsequent violence.

‘Is shaking butts our culture?’

The Merlimau violence was preceded by a series of bizarre protests outside Ambiga’s house in Kuala Lumpur, including a ‘butt exercise’ which made the international news headlines.

This, Pak Samad sarcastically suggested, appears to have become a new culture.

“We have achieved independence for more than 50 years, and our culture and manners appear to be butts. And then they hired gangsters to paint outside people’s house. Is this our culture?” he asked.

Last Tuesday, a group of army veterans shook their posterior in front of Ambiga’s house in protest against what they said was the smearing of the country’s name by Ambiga, who they described as an “enemy of the nation”.

Five days before that, a group of traders set up stalls and served free burgers, including beef burgers, outside the house of Ambiga, who is a Hindu and vegetarian.

On Monday, a group of traders painted yellow lots for trading along the road outside Ambiga’s house in preparation of a ‘mini market’ they plan to set up tomorrow and Friday.

The bustle outside her house comes as a series of counter-protests by traders claiming they had suffered losses during the Bersih 3.0 protest in Kuala Lumpur last month.

VIDEO | 1.50 mins

  1. #1 by monsterball on Friday, 25 May 2012 - 4:44 pm

    Hang Tuah defended the country and he Sultan.
    Hang Samseng defend the likes of Mahathir…Najib and the strings of rouges and thieves.

  2. #2 by undertaker888 on Friday, 25 May 2012 - 5:59 pm

    The leader is Hang Najis
    The guy pulling behind the scene is Hang bumi Pura-pura Kerala
    The guy directing the dirty works is Hang Katak ‘him
    The guys doing the dirty works are Hang Rempits

    For the rest of us we will Hang Depa by the throats come election day.

  3. #3 by sheriff singh on Saturday, 26 May 2012 - 1:54 am

    Hang Tuah was a loyal Chinese.

    Hang Samseng (you / they) were illegal petty traders and butts off.

  4. #4 by Winston on Saturday, 26 May 2012 - 1:47 pm

    When the PR takes over Putrajaya, it will be hang Samsengs.
    The type where a judge puts on his black robes to pronounce the Samsengs be taken to a place of execution and hanged by the neck until dead.

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