How did a Mat Salleh become the Agong?

On 26 April 1994, in an elaborate ceremony at the Istana Negara, Tuanku Simon Mackay was appointed as Malaysia’s 10th Yang DiPertuan Agong.

Huh?

How could a Mat Salleh, a white man, be appointed as Malaysia’s King?

As you’ve already suspected, this never happened.

But, this Merdeka week, I thought it could easily have.

If Vyner Brooke, the 3rd Rajah of Sarawak didn’t abdicate in 1946, he would have continued on as Rajah.

Vyner Brooke, 3rd Rajah of Sarawak

When he died in May 1963, his grandson, Simon Mackay, then only 29, would then have become the 4th Rajah of Sarawak. When Malaysia was formed four months later, he would no doubt have joined the list of nine rulers eligible, in turns, to become the Yang DiPertuan Agong.

Since he was the most junior of the rulers, only becoming Rajah very recently, his position would be at the end of the list after all the other rulers. This means that in 1994, after all the rulers of all the other states have had their turn as Malaysia’s king, the Rajah, then aged 60, would then become the 10th Yang DiPertuan Agong!

Simon Mackay, 10th Yang DiPertuan Agong?

Other than not being a Malay, the other interesting thing is that the Agong is not a muslim. There is nothing though in the Constitution of Malaysia that states that the Agong has to to a muslim. It does, however, declare that the ruler of a state is the head of Islam in his state. I am sure that an exception would be made for Sarawak for otherwise Sarawak would not have joined Malaysia. Or, it is also possible, that the Rajah might have converted to Islam.

So, that’s why, we could easily have had an orang puteh Yang DiPertuan Agong.

But back to real history.

The man who could have been our 10th Yang DiPertuan Agong, Simon Brooke Mackay, is currently a member of the British House of Lords. His title is Baron Tanlaw. You can find out more about him in Wikipedia.

The family still has strong links to Malaysia.

Isn’t our history, and it’s possibilities, interesting?

Want to eat Palm Oil Chocolate?

If you’re a Muslim, you probably shouldn’t be thinking about chocolate right now. It is, after all, the start of Ramadan.

But what about palm oil? Don’t you think it’s a odd ingredient in chocolate? Who, after all, wants to eat palm oil chocolate?

Cadbury’s in Australia didn’t think so. Recently, they substituted cocoa butter for palm oil in their chocolate bars.

Unfortunately for them, they backed down on their decision and went back to cocoa butter.

Why?

1. Consumers didn’t like the new taste
2. Consumers thought palm oil was less healthy than cocoa butter
3. Clearing of the jungle for oil palm plantations was decimating the orang utan population

Cadbury’s decision was consumer driven. Whether or not the reasons were justified, it was the perception that mattered.

On page 42 of my History of Malaysia – A Children’s Encyclopedia I mention that:

The oil palm is a native of West Africa … The tree was introduced in the Malay peninsula in the 1850s but only became a strong export commodity a hundred years later. Malaysia is the largest exporter and producer of palm oil.

[**The encyclopedia is now available on Amazon. and MPH Online]

So this is not good news for the Malaysian economy, particularly palm oil exporters. This decision may seem insignificant, but, whether the reasons are justified or not, it’s the perception that matters.

So, would you eat Palm Oil Chocolate?

This and That

Thank you everyone for your kind condolences. It hasn’t been a good year for our family. My father passed away exactly one year ago. He passed away at KLIA of all places. A rather unique place to leave this world but then again he was a rather unique man who lived live to the full.

They say that the passing of a parent makes one’s mortality seem very real, even closer. Perhaps this has been the case for me, although I’ve always, in my adult life, thought of my own mortality and, as such, have had a yearning to find meaning. Perhaps that is why I write. Why I left the corporate world.

On a lighter, more refreshing, note, I’m delighted to say that History of Malaysia – A Children’s Encyclopedia is now on Amazon. Unfortunately, stock is very limited.

Did I mention that I’m in the current issue of Going Places (the Malaysian Airlines inflight magazine)? Lydia Teh, Robert Raymer and I wrote a story jointly for the Merdeka issue. It’s about a woman who was in a car accident who, after a coma, wakes up many years later. I’m very grateful for the people at Going Places for coming up with this innovative idea.

I’ve been thinking of coming up with some recipes which include that magic ingredient, star anise. But you’ll have to wait for that one!

Return to Happiness …

My brother Mel lost his wife this week.

Amy had lymphoma and deteriorated very quickly. She was only in her 40s. It was an awful shock to all of us. Amy joined our family only a few years ago and it’s a pity I didn’t get to know her well.

A few days before Amy passed away, Mel wrote this on Facebook:

We talk about life, living and smile when we see a baby. We avoid the issue of death and all that it brings…..well yesterday I came face to face with it on the 6th floor of menara timur at the university hospital. The gentleman opposite my wife’s bed went into his last gasps and left us, just like that. That’s life, so make the most of it in a kind and gentle way, thats all we leave behind.

We do avoid the issue of death.

I really didn’t know what to say to Mel when I called him from Australia. No one prepares you on how to properly offer your heartfelt condolences. No one teaches you to be open with your emotion.

And, yes, Mel is right on this one too … we must make the most of life.

It reminds me of the John Lennon song that says “Life is what happens to you whilst you’re busy making other plans.” That is so true. We think about other things, hoping or worrying or complaining or just dreaming, not realising that life is happening right here, right now.

I wish Mel strength to endure through this sad and difficult time. I wish him peace of mind and a return to happiness.

Magic Ingredient to prevent Swine Flu?

What is the key natural ingredient in Tamiflu? A friend who works for a large pharmaceutical company recently gave me the answer.

I was astounded.

Surely it couldn’t be so natural, so simple an ingredient, especially such a readily available one.

And yet the answer, once you thought about it, is not all that surprising …

After all, asprin, which is used to relieve headaches and minor aches and pains, was first obtained from the bark of willow trees and shrubs. Many of us also know that many foods have specific health benefits. Your traditional Chinese medicine shop too will have an array of foods, each to cure a specific malady.

Many believe that the spices used in curries have beneficial health effects. After all, 500 years ago, such spices were worth their weight in gold. And history tells us that wars were fought (the 1511 invasion of Melaka is but one example) to control the spice trade.

The plethora of spices is just amazing and includes cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks, fennel seeds, cloves and asafetida. When we combine them with other natural ingredients like garlic, ginger, chilies and tumeric, then not only to we achieve an awesome flavour but it must, we hopefully think, abound with wonderful health benefits too.

So what is the main natural ingredient in Tamiflu?

It is star anise!

Not a hundred percent convinced, I looked up Wikipedia:

“Shikimic acid, a primary feedstock used to create the anti-flu drug Tamiflu, is produced by most autotrophic organisms, but star anise is the industrial source. In 2005, there was a temporary shortage of star anise due to its use in making Tamiflu. Late in that year, a way was found of making shikimic acid artificially.”

So you might guess that I’ve been cooking more curries lately. Invariably, I slip star anise into the hot oil, not only to give it a wonderful flavour, but also to provide the family with the benefits of Tamiflu. Of course, you need not cook a curry as long as you use this key ingredient … soups, stews, even hot drinks come to mind.

For me, conjuring up a curry is no more than a preventative measure, no different from washing my hands after being out in public spaces, which I hope will work. It’s certainly no substitute for visiting a doctor if you’ve got flu symptoms.

Will you be cooking curry tonight?

-> By the way, MPH Online, in its support for local authors, and are currently offering “History of Malaysia: A Children’s Encyclopedia” at a promotional price of RM61.20 instead of RM68. It also includes a FREE poster.

-> By the way, I am in the current issue of Going Places (the Malaysian Airlines inflight magazine). Lydia Teh, Robert Raymer and I wrote a story jointly for the Merdeka issue. It also mentions my novella “Juriah’s Song”. It was a real pleasure to work with both Lydia and Robert.