A review by misspalah
Warna sari sastera Melayu moden by Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia

dark emotional reflective relaxing tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Dia duduk di situ, di tepi cucuran atap gerai tempat - dia selalu menjual pecalnya. Dia menyandarkan belakang-nya yang letih ke dinding gerai yang tertutup. Suasana sunyi menenangkan hatinya. Seekor lalat hijau mende-ngung, lalu hinggap di hidungnya. Seperti kilat tangannya menepis binatang itu. Berdengung lagi lalat itu melarikan diri. Tiba-tiba dia mencium semacam bau. Dia berasa amat hiba. Hatinya terlalu sayu. Dia percaya tidak lama lagi dia akan mati. Bau maut seperti lekat di hidungnya yang dihinggapi lalat celaka itu. Dia berserah kepada Tuhan. Hatinya telah bersih. Jika mati akan tiba dia sudah bersedia. Semua anak, cucu dan cicitnya berkumpul di rumah sekarang; berkumpul kerana satu sebab sahaja. Tidak sangsi dia dalam hatinya bahawa ketiadaannya akan menyatukan kembali anak cucunya.
  • Nenek by Keris Mas
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The writing is so eloquent, yet it did not distract readers from what each author’s supposed messages. Despite many of prominent Malay authors contributed their piece in the collection, I did not find the book overwhelming with the ‘classics / flowery’ language usage or the subtle context that could be easily misunderstood by the readers. There are elements of politics / law, religion/cultural/ social issues and some highlighted issues which is relevant with Malay Muslim culture tht has been integrated in majority of the short stories in the book. The setting of the Malay community in the setting of the time in this novel (maybe the 70s-80s) is not far from the state of the Malays in 2020s. I will not summarize each story or poetry, but I have listed the content (list of titles and authors) for those who are interested to read this this book. Overall, an enjoyable read! The stories featured might felt simple or brief for some people, but it filled with good messages and values.
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SHORT STORIES:  
  1. "Cetera Hiburan Raya Aidilfitri"
    ABDUL RAHIM KAJAI
  2.   "Nenek" by KERIS MAS
  3.   "Mayat dan Keluarga" by SHAHNON AHMAD
  4.   "Dosa Pejuang" by A. SAMAD SAID
  5.   "Socius Documentum" by ARENA WATI
  6.   "Pertemuan di Kota Kinabalu" by ABDULLAH HUSSAIN
  7.   "Pensel Sebatang" by ALI MAJOD
  8.   "Aku Menemui Wajahku" by S. OTHMAN KELANTAN
  9. "Anak-anak dari Kampung Pasir Pekan" by FATIMAH BUSU
  10.     "Dalam Kabus" by ANWAR RIDHWAN
  11.     "Kasih Sayang" by ANIS
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DRAMA:
  1.   "Sirih Bertepuk Pinang Menari" by NOORDIN HASSAN
  2.   "Tamu di Bukit Kenny" by USMAN AWANG
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POETRY :
1. "Assalamah" by A. GHAFAR IBRAHIM
2. "Tanah Ini Akan Mencintai Aku" by A. LATIFF MOHIDIN
3. "Obor Hemah" by A. SAMAD SAID
  1. "Tak Dapat Kulupakan" by ANIS SABIRIN
5. "Buka Pintumu" by A. WAHAB ALI
  1. “ Sajak Warga Kota" by BAHA ZAIN
  2.   "Angin Waktu" by DHARMAWIJAYA
  3.   "Fatamorgana" by FIRDAUS ABDULLAH
  4.   "Pulang" by JIHATY ABADI
  5.     "Waktu Berdepan Denganmu, Kinabalu" by KEMALA
  6. "Di Pinggir Selat Tebrau Suatu Pagi" by LIM SWEE TIN
  7.     "Antara Siput, Ketam, Ikan dan Seorang Nelayan" by MOECHTAR AWANG
  8.     "Ceretera yang Ketiga Puluh" by MUHAMMAD HJ. SALLEH
  9.     "Nasihat Wang" by PUNGGOK (MUHD. YASSIN MAAMUR)
  10.     "Laut" by RAHMAN SHAARI.
  11.     "Gamelan" by SHAFIE ABU BAKAR
  12.     "Tasik Perdana" by SHAMSUDDIN JAAFAR
  13.     "Ibunda" by SITI ZAINON ISMAIL
  14.     "Satu Bangsa" by SUHAIMI HAJI MUHAMMAD
  15.     "Hidup dan Mati" by T. ALIAS TAIB
  16.     "Guru O Guru" by USMAN AWANG
  17.     "Tanjung Dawai" by ZURINAH HASSAN
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