ASPEK DAN PENILAIAN KESEJAHTERAAN SUBJEKTIF: KEBAHAGIAAN, KEGEMBIRAAN, KEPUASAN DAN KUALITI HIDUP

Subjective well-being is the self-assessment of happiness, pleasure, satisfaction and quality of life, measured specifically and holistically. The assessment of subjective well-being is varied based on the area of focus of the researcher. Events that occur over some time also could affect an individual’s evaluation. Various factors assess well-being, such as character, love, wisdom, excitement and experiences leading to a good life. The evaluation of the positive and negative effects also affects the subjects’ emotions and mood during a study. Earlier studies showed that well-being is not merely related to income and ownership, but issues on health, activities, personality, emotions, mood, family, environment and various other factors. Therefore, this article aims to discuss aspects, assessment methods, theories and progress based on articles, books and research related to subjective well-being. This study utilises the literature review approach to collect data on subjective well-being. The finding shows that the level of subjective well-being is diverse and dynamic, and not limited to certain aspects and factors that could affect humans. Keywords: subjective well-being; self-assessment; happiness; life satisfaction; quality of life.

TEKS UBAT BEDIL: PENGETAHUAN TEKSTUAL TENTANG UBAT BEDIL MELAYU

The knowledge of firearms is one of the genres found in Malay manuscripts. However, gunpowder texts documented in such manuscripts have been largely elusive. This article aims to bridge the widening knowledge gap by presenting several textual evidence on the Malay tradition of using gunpowder. Using the philological research method, this article presents the transliteration of two texts found. Additionally, this paper intends to discuss content related to instructive and quantitative discourses. Therefore, this study is expected to provide a clearer picture of the textual dynamics of gunpowder knowledge to highlight the importance of the texts. Subsequently a discussion on the aforementioned manuscripts where specific gunpowder mixtures were explicitly stated will be considered as a concerted effort to enhance the understanding of Malay gun technology and facilitate in-depth discussions on various aspects of the traditional texts associated with the transmission of traditional knowledge, particularly in the form of quantitative or numerical descriptions. Keywords: Malay manuscripts, gunpowder text, traditional knowledge, textual dynamics, instructive and quantitative texts.

WANITA CANTIK DAN KEJATUHAN PEMERINTAHAN HEBAT DALAM FILEM “TUN FATIMAH” (1962)

Beautiful women have often been associated with great men of authority and governance in various kingdoms. However, according to scholars, the beautiful female subject also serves as a domineering figure that monopolises the man himself. She can also be a contributing factor towards the downfall of an empire and the world of the man she exists in. For instance, this phenomenon occurred during certain Chinese dynasties. Hence, this research, using the film titled “Tun Fatimah” (1962), focuses on studying and analysing the relationship between the beauty of Tun Fatimah – the daughter of the “Dato‟ Bendahara” of Malacca and the wife of Tun Ali – and the creation of a “sultan” (king), who was still a bachelor and governed tyrannically. Subsequently, history witnessed the king‟s downfall as a ruler in the larger context of the Malay World. It also led to fissures within the great Malaccan sultanate. This research utilises a qualitative approach, focusing on the detailed textual-narrative analysis of the film, supported by the epistemology of desire. Findings show that Tun Fatimah‟s beauty, which was befitting as queen for the Malaccan sultanate, is the main factor in contributing to the libido imbalance of the king and the weakness of hegemonic masculinity in the empire. The imbalance triggered the king‟s irrationality as shown through his emotions such as the thirst for vengeance, anger, jealousy, guilt and regret. In conclusion, the factors proved they did contribute fully to creating a tyrannical Malaccan king.

SONGKET MELAYU: SERUMPUN BANGSA SESANTUN BUDAYA

History has shown that the “songket” is in a class of its own in the socio-culture of Malays in the Malay Archipelago. Fundamentally, “songket” and its wearing have been the symbol of acceptance and the collective instillation of cultural values. The textile was created based on cross- and multi-cultural elements that have long been established and further assimilated into society today. Therefore, this study aims to trace the beginnings and roles of the royal institutions in spreading this heritage art between Malaysia and Indonesia, specifically for “songket” Terengganu and Riau. The research focuses on the similarities based on acculturation and assimilation of culture. This study is critical as a form of knowledge documentation for both countries, which share similar connections and homogenous values. The research employs the qualitative approach, with a focus on observation and conducting interviews. A secondary study is also conducted to analyse the historical and socio-cultural aspects involved. Interview subjects from both countries were chosen based on specific fields and locations. Each finding leads and adds to the existing body of knowledge. Since issues on the Malay World usually take on a broader outlook, the implications of the study can contribute to the ethnic group itself, especially the scholars, weavers, cultural activists, art historians and the community at large. Based on the quality and uniqueness of the “songket”, there is no doubt that the textile should be acknowledged as one of the greatest heritage art, saturated with civil values and symbols of the finesse of the Malays.

CABARAN HIDUP PENGHIDAP HIV DALAM KALANGAN WANITA

The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been detected for almost 40 years, beginning in the 1980s and still remains a global health issue. HIV-positive infections can now be detected in almost all countries, including Malaysia. The cross-border, complex, dynamic and unpredictable nature of HIV makes the epidemic a global issue and not simply a domestic issue of any particular country. The changing trends of infection are also causing fear to many as more cases are being detected among individuals not involved in risky activities, such as drug abuse and prostitution among women and teenagers. Consequently, the challenges faced by persons with HIV are different for every segment. Specifically, HIV-positive women (PHW) have also been found to face more severe consequences than their male counterparts due to factors such as inequality of power and opportunities and gender differences. This study is conducted to examine the challenges and their effects to understanding what PHWs face. A qualitative study conducted on 20 PHWs found various challenges faced by these women, such as unstable health; being stigmatised and discriminated against; and negatively labelled by family members and members of society in various situations. The challenges faced by the PHWs indirectly affect many aspects of their lives, such as receiving insufficient social support; denied rights and opportunities to seek treatment and employment; barred from community activities; inability to make decisions; and always being in a state of grief, frustration and stress. Therefore, support is desperately needed by the PHW to rebuild their lives.

PELESTARIAN BAHASA MELAYU SEBAGAI BAHASA IBUNDA DI SINGAPURA

The latest statistics from the Department of Statistics in Singapore (2020) shows that more Malay families speak English at home. However, this trend is common across all ethnic groups in Singapore. Over the five decades of independence and enforcement of the bilingualism policy, the Malay language, which is the National Language and language commonly spoken in Malay households, is gradually being replaced with English. Other statistics reveal that the Malay language, which is the mother tongue of the majority of the Malays, is used less frequently, even from the early years of socialisation in a Malay household and the exposure of Malay only begins at the preschool level (Maliki, 2020). There is an assumption that, as long as the government maintains the Malay language in the education system through language learning in Singaporean schools, the bilingual policy will continue to maintain the usage of vernacular language. This development is likely to create more issues towards learning and teaching the Malay language as a mother tongue. Hence, this study utilises the approach of the sociology of language to discuss the reasons and impact of the language shift in efforts to preserve the status of the Malay language among the Singapore Malays.

PERUBAHAN FONOLOGI DALAM BAHASA DUANO DAN BAHASA MELAYU

The Orang Asli, who are considered minorities in Malaysia, is divided into three groups – the Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malays. Each group has its language used during oral communication. The Duano language is one of the indigenous languages under the Proto-Malay group. The language is classified under the Austronesian family of languages, similar to the Malay language. The Duano language is the language of the indigenous people who dwell in the state of Johor. Based on the scale presented by EGIDS in “Ethnologue” (2021), the Duano language is at risk of becoming moribund. Researchers also found that deep comparative studies of the phonological systems to be limited. Hence, this paper aims to examine the process of phonological changes in the Duano language by comparing it with the Standard Malay Language (BMS). This study utilises the upstream fieldwork approach, supported by conducting interviews, observations, recordings and note-taking. The structural theory was applied during analysis, whereby the Duano and BMS cognates were transcribed phonemically and classified under specific sub-systems. They were then analysed using a qualitative comparative perspective to examine the phonological differences that had occurred. Results showed that the Duano language had undergone phonological changes, such as phoneme alignment, glottalisation, monophthongisation and delineation. In conclusion, the phonological changes indicated an independent evolutionary process for both languages in a particular environment, eventually forming a distinct phonological innovation.

ISU KETUANAN MELAYU DI MALAYSIA

This article discusses an important political concept in Malaysia, that is the political supremacy of the Malays. The Malays supremacy was resulted from a social contract between the native Malays, on one part, and the Indian and Chinese immigrants, on the other part, during the negotiation concerning the independent of Persekutuan Tanah Melayu before 1957. It was said in the contract the native Malays slackened the prerequisites for the citizenship of the Persekutuan Tanah Melayu for the Chinese and Indian immigrants, while the Chinese and the Indian immigrants admitted a dominant position of the Malays in political administration. However, after the Persekutuan Tanah Melayu changed into Malaysia in 1963, the Chinese and the Indians begin to be disloyal to the social contract. They wanted equal right among all Malaysian citizens. By using archaeological dan ethnohistorical approaches, I will trace the origins of the concept of native supremacy in the Malay Nusantara sosiocultural context. Secondly, I will discuss the challenges facing the concept after Malay Land occupied by the British colonialist, particularly after the 1960es. The concept of “native sovereignity” is called beschikkingsrecht in Dutch language. It was invented by a Dutch expert of customary law, van Vollenhoven, in 1909 (ter Haar 1962). The concept of “native sovereignity” was originally aimed to remind the neighbour villagers or the foreigners when they passed on, or open a rice field, in a new area. They had to ask permission to the master of the land. Therefore, for the sake of harmonious social life, all ethnic groups in todays Malaysia, especially the new immigrants from different cultural background, it is suggested to learn and comprehend basic concepts in traditional native Malays customary law. Keywords: native Malays, ethnicity, native sovereignity, beschikkingsrecht, Will of the Malay Kings.

REKONSTRUKSI STRUKTUR TARIAN POJA BERIDENTITIKAN MASYARAKAT BUGIS DI NEGERI SELANGOR

The development and creation of the traditional Selangor Buginese “Poja” dance in 1988 is a heritage art that has undergone dance reconstruction. The reconstruction is linked to the “Pakurru Sumange” dance in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Kaeppler’s approach to reconstruction (2007) shows that symbols in the “Poja” dance function as a representation of the Buginese community. The study is also based on the theory of creation and tradition by Hobsbawm (1983) and Shill (1981) to understand the relationship between the two aspects of dance involving the traditions of the Bugis community in Selangor. In conclusion, both processes detail the dance’s development, therefore allowing its identity to be linked to the Bugis community in Selangor.

PERANAN DAN SUMBANGAN NIK RAHIMAH NIK IDRIS DALAM BIDANG SULAMAN KELINGKAN

The ‘kelingkan’ embroidery is a traditional Malay art passed on from generation to generation. The art received the highest recognition from female nobility and aristocrats who wore it to important events in olden times. However, the art of embroidering ‘kelingkan’ faces extinction due to a decrease in demand from the community because of its high cost and shortage of skilled ‘kelingkan’ embroiderers. Moreover, there is a lack of reference materials and documentation of ‘kelingkan’; hence it is not widely known today. This paper, therefore, aimed to introduce a prominent ‘kelingkan’ practitioner from Kelantan named Nik Rahimah Nik Idris. The research delved into her role and contribution towards ‘kelingkan’ embroidery, specifically in Kelantan and Malaysia in general. Researchers conducted a literature review and then fieldwork to interview ‘kelingkan’ embroiderers. The results were then evaluated through content analysis. Findings showed that Nik Rahimah is indeed an important figure in the art of ‘kelingkan’ as she was a royal embroiderer, ‘kelingkan’ demonstrator, expert and promoter of the art in Malaysia and abroad. As such, she has made a significant contribution in upholding and preserving the art of ‘kelingkan’ embroidery. Keywords: role, embroiderer, kelingkan, Kelantan.