03/10/2026

SATURDAY | OCT 3, 2026

COMMUNITY 7

Book chronicles 100-day intellectual journey across 15 countries KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah recently officiated at the launch of “Kembara Dunia: 100 Hari, 40 Syarahan, 15 Negara”, authored by respected scholar Prof Emeritus Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang. global society. “My travels around the world gave me a deeper understanding of the dynamics and mechanisms of change that have enabled small nations such as Qatar, Norway and the Netherlands to nurture citizens with a broad outlook and a global mindset.

KOTA BHARU: The lights go down, and a white screen fills with moving shadows. Behind it, the tok dalang (puppeteer) guides carved puppets that bow, fight and dance in silhouette, accompanied by a traditional Malay ensemble and the voice of a storyteller. Audiences never see the colourful puppets themselves, only sharply defined shadows that bring tales such as Hikayat Seri Rama to life. Yet the puppets are far from simple props. Each is crafted with care, often by artisans who are also tok dalang . Kelantan wayang kulit practitioner Kang Boon Ann, also known as Che Ann, said the puppets carry floral motifs and delicate patterns that audiences never see, and that making them demands intense concentration. Che Ann, a Peranakan Chinese, is one of the few people in Kelantan still actively preserving the shadow puppet theatre show, an art form more closely linked with the Malay community. His wife and two children also perform under the Sri Cindayu Wayang Kulit Association. Che Ann, 58, fell for the puppets at age seven and has spent more than three decades making them, while also serving as tok dalang of the Published by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Press, the book chronicles the author’s intellectual journey across 15 countries, including Japan, Germany and the United States, from April 16 to July 26, 2025. Beyond a travel account, the book captures the author’s encounters, observations and reflections, offering readers a broader perspective on knowledge, research, higher education and societal development across the countries he visited. Zaini, in his speech at the launch, said the journey saw him deliver 40 lectures and engage with more than 1,000 people through formal and informal sessions at various locations. “Throughout the journey, I had the opportunity to discuss, explore and reflect on various important issues, particularly those concerning career and contributions, education, development, leadership, sustainability and the future of

“They have achieved a high level of development in specific areas and have even gained influence in regional geopolitics,” he said. Meanwhile, UTM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim said the publication underscored the role of intellectual mobility in connecting knowledge networks across borders. “In an increasingly interconnected world, universities must nurture scholars who are not only knowledgeable but also broad minded, capable of engaging in cross-cultural dialogue and confident enough to showcase Malaysia’s wealth of knowledge to the world.” The ceremony was also attended by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, UTM Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar and about 500 guests. Zaini, who is also Malaysian Qualifications Agency chairman, has held key leadership positions in

Sultan Nazrin flanked by Saarani (left) and Zaini during the book launch. – BERNAMAPIC

academia and government, serving as UTM vice-chancellor from 2008 to 2013 and later as secretary-general in several ministries with portfolios spanning Higher Education,

Environment, Water, Energy, Green Technology, Human Resources and Health. His contributions have earned him the 2009 Merdeka Award and the

National Engineering Icon 2025 award, while his extensive portfolio of works includes more than 300 scientific articles, 2,000 general articles and 58 books. – Bernama

Kelantan puppet maker keeps wayang kulit craft alive

o Peranakan Chinese master practitioner creates traditional props by hand and also teaches technique to novices

these should not be broken. Seri Rama’s puppet, for example, must be green, while his younger brother Laksamana is red. He said there are more than 100 characters in wayang kulit , and that the art reflects human life, with rulers and commoners, old and young, heroes and villains. Secondary characters allow more freedom with colours, but traditional motifs must still be respected. While demand for performances has been slow, the market for puppets is healthier. Through steady publicity, including live puppet making demonstrations on his digital platforms, Che Ann receives regular orders. The best-sellers depict Seri Rama, Sita Dewi, Hanuman Kera Putih and Rawana. Buyers are mostly collectors or people seeking distinctive decorations, and some orders come from Singapore and Switzerland. Large, intricate pieces sell for about RM600 each, while others cost RM300 to RM550. He knows similar handmade puppets could fetch more than RM1,000 in places like Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, but keeps his prices affordable so the heritage art stays within reach of people from all walks of life. Filling orders is getting harder because of a scarcity of good cowhide. Today’s cattle, he said, are

association. At his workshop in Kok Lanas, he told Bernama that the puppets are the soul of every performance. He uses cowhide, which he says is soft and suits the main characters. Goat hide, in his view, is too thin except for small supporting figures, while buffalo hide is too thick. Preferably fresh, the hide is first dried in the sun. In very hot weather, this takes about a month. The hair is then removed by hand and the character is sketched on the surface. The hardest stage follows. With only nails of different sizes and a metal hammer, Che Ann punches thousands of holes to form intricate patterns. These pock marks let light through, so the puppet’s face, clothing and accessories appear in detail on the screen. One slip can spoil the whole design. Machines can speed up the punching, he said, but cannot match hand skills. The time needed depends on complexity. He can finish three simple characters, such as villagers or attendants, in a day. A principal figure like Seri Rama, or an elaborate piece such as a banyan tree or palace, can take up to a week. For Che Ann, preserving the tradition means following the rules set by earlier generations of tok dalang . Every character has its own identity and philosophy, he said, and

Puppets made without preservatives can last decades if kept away from moisture. – BERNAMAPIC

carving puppets died with him. He therefore runs puppet-making workshops at schools and universities, and at events organised by cultural agencies. Through these efforts, more people are coming to see wayang kulit as an appealing heritage craft, not just puppets moving behind a piece of cloth. His approach is to let people learn the craft by showing how the puppets are made. Once they try hammering the nails themselves, he said, they begin to appreciate and love the art form. As long as his hands can hold the hammer and his eyes stay sharp enough to guide each strike, Che Ann intends to keep carving, with every hole punched a small assurance that Kelantan’s wayang kulit will survive for generations.

mostly raised on commercial feed, so their hides are fattier, less firm and duller when dried. This makes punching harder and paint absorption uneven. Grass-fed cattle of the past, he said, gave cleaner, brighter hides. Hides from local breeds are also harder to find as larger imported breeds such as Charolais now dominate the market, and their hides are too thick. A single piece of local cowhide can take a month to obtain. Puppets made without preservatives can last decades if kept away from moisture. Damp storage is their biggest enemy, he said, so during the monsoon season, they must be taken out and dried again to prevent mould. Che Ann believes his decades of work would be wasted if the skill of

Che Ann said the puppets carry floral motifs and delicate patterns that audiences never see. – BERNAMAPIC