344.LAT BARES IT ALL IN THE MUSICAL…was there and you should too

Promised Dato' LAT, the iconic Malaysian Cartoonist, that I would definitely make time to watch the musical on his life. So yesterday the whole family and I trooped to Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur to watch 'LAT Kampung Boy, the Musical'.

There was a huge crowd outside the theatre and I was pretty happy that the show received overwhelming support even for the afternoon show. The tickets were reasonably priced but the programme books were missing. Perhaps the tickets prices could have been increased to cover the cost of programme books which are necessary to follow the story lines and sequences.

The musical revealed quite substantial facets of LAT's untold stories which he kept to himself all this while.

All in all, the musical was refreshing and entertaining. Awie was exceptional as LAT and Atilia played the part of Faezah, Lat's wife, very well indeed.

The star of show without doubt was Omar Abdullah. He was just pure magic as Pak Samad Ismail, the Managing editor of NST.

I would definitely recommend the show to friends…

Throughout the show, I was wondering about the props and the settings which was rather subdued in comparison to Puteri Gunung Ledang, Lantai T. Pinky or Cuci-cuci.

Perhaps the article by HADI, LAT's youngest son on the musical in today's the New Straits Times extracted below may provide the appropriate answers.

I STILL remember that evening when Harith Iskander and Hans Isaac came to our house in Ipoh.

It was during Ramadan. I found out from Hans that they wanted to do a musical about my father, Datuk Mohd Noor Khalid, fondly known as Lat. Of course, my father knew about this project earlier, but he kept it under wraps. He hadn't told me anything about it before Hans did.

We broke fast together. Hans and Harith asked me and my siblings a few questions about my father.

They were doing a research on him, so they could construct his character on stage more accurately. I just kept quiet at the dinner table, playing with the ice cubes in my air sirap and let my siblings do the answering.

I was excited to see a projection of my father on stage. It was a little difficult at first to imagine that Malaysia's famous rock star Awie would be playing my father.

I know my father as a person who is somewhat shy, but confident. His goofy smile, which I believe runs in the family, is his signature and no one else could imitate that.

I was sceptical whether Awie was suitable to play my father as I couldn't imagine him doing the "Lat smile". But they both share similar personality and image.

When my father was young, he was a blues rocker in terms of image -- his hair, his attitude and his love for rock music. I remember seeing a picture of him and thought, "this guy looks like he doesn't have a job".

His hair was long and messy, and he was wearing a black jacket. Although the photograph wasn't really clear, I could tell that the jeans he wore was worn out.

There was a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. His picture can be easily described as "Bob Dylan wannabe". It was then I realised that Awie was actually suitable to play my father.

On March 16, my family and I went to Istana Budaya to watch Kampung Boy the Musical for the opening night. The show opened with a montage of Lat's cartoons followed by the story of Lat as a boy, which is a reflection of his graphic novel Kampung Boy.

Later in the show, the young Lat exited the stage and introduced the audience to the adult Lat played by Awie.

When Awie entered the stage, he was greeted by thunderous applause. I couldn't help smiling and laughing at his hairdo, which was identical to my father's. His attire was also similar to my father's style.

Awie, as Lat, then started talking and ranting about city life. He puts one hand in his pocket and the other to occasionally scratch his hair, just the way my father used to do.

He also stood and carried the attitude like a typical kampung rocker. It felt as if I was looking at my father's photograph as a young man coming to life.

Faezah, my mother, was in the spotlight for the first time. Her character was played by songstress Atilia, who carried out a remarkable performance.

And for the first time, we were told the story of how Lat met Faezah. It was a very awkward moment for me as my parents never discussed their love life with us. But watching it on stage was a treat.

I enjoyed every bit of awkwardness that I felt as I watched the projection of how my father fell in love with my mother.

The musical focused on Lat's dilemma and the sacrifices he had to make to fulfil his dream as a professional cartoonist.

To achieve his dream, he had to leave his kampung and focus on his career. It showed how he faced his problems living in the city and his complications with my mother.

My father would've never told anyone about his problems, but the musical revealed them. It showed his emotional struggles, which he never would have shared with anyone other than his family.

The audience of Kampung Boy the Musical were lucky enough to experience and see the other side of Lat that was previously kept close to himself.

The musical was not as grand as the critically-acclaimed P. Ramlee the Musical or Puteri Gunung Ledang, but we all know that my father wouldn't want it that way.

The musical stayed true to his personality and that of his work, which is humble and down-to-earth.

At the end of the show, me, my brother Haris, sister Nur Ain, and my parents went back to our hotel rooms. We talked about the musical and laughed at the funny details.

When my brother, Haris, and I were about to leave the room, we congratulated our father.

Not because the musical was a success and we enjoyed it, but for the fact that he was bold enough to reveal his fragility through the musical. Kampung Boy truly is about the other side of Lat

Yes, that is LAT that I know, a simple, modest and very humble man…

341. LAT KAMPUNG BOY, THE MUSICAL…WHAT’S NEXT?

Received a call from LAT on Wednesday. We talked about his coming 'LAT KAMPUNG BOY, The Musical' to be staged at the Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya (National Theater) on March 16^th to April 3^rd 2011.

He was pretty excited yet cautious and nervous about the public response. I told him that everything should be fine. I also told him that I have watched Awie performed on stage in 'Cuci2 the Musical' and the actor/singer performance was superb then. I'm sure he will perform just as credible as LAT in 'Lat Kampung Boy, the musical'.

A lot of people are anxiously waiting for the show. In fact, our whole family and the whole gang of his Ipoh buddies are going down to Kuala Lumpur to lend support. Was told by LAT, our friend, Rizal Pakeeza is trying to make arrangements to ferry the Ipoh contingent.

What's next? That was the question lingering in my mind. Yes, after the musical, what is the next project line up for LAT, the iconic world-famed cartoonist?

This man has done a fantastic job in putting Perak, his home state and Malaysia on the world map, yet not much was given back by the state to honour his works. I'm still praying for the best to come…

If only LAT exists in Europe or USA, his work would have filled a museum and deserved the creation of a theme park.

As if reading my mind, he voluntarily explained that he was having a meeting with a top Perak state executive councilor the next day to kick start his long stalled pet project...let us just called it, LAT's signature project.

The rest…well, it is privy between two good friends.

335. GALLERY DEDICATED TO LAT

iPOH (MALAYSIA):The Ipoh City Council has decided to pay tribute to the “original Kampung Boy” - cartoonist Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, who grew up in Kota Baru, on the outskirt of the city.

Mayor Datuk Roshidi Hashim said “Galleri Kartunis Lat” would be promoted as one of the city’s 10 icons but declined to reveal the location of the gallery except to say that it would be run by a non-governmental organisation.

“We chose Datuk Lat for his overwhelming contribution to the growth of the cartoon industry and in making Kampung Boy one of the most loved characters worldwide,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the Ipoh Council’s full board meeting here yesterday, Roshidi said it would give its full support to the NGO to ensure that the project takes off.

Roshidi said the council would leave it to Lat to decide if he wanted to put his drawings of Kampung Boy in the gallery.

“It (Kampung Boy) is after all his right,” he said.

(Taken from www.thestar.com.my)

317. UPDATE ON 'KAMPONG BOY' THE MUSICAL

Met my friend, Dato' Lat at the Surau this evening for the Maghrib prayers. Caught up  with him on his latest projects after the prayers... was informed that 'Kampong Boy' might not be able to be stage this year.

The project could hit the stage in March next year.

I told him, irrespective of the performance date, please keep me informed. Our family enjoys theatrical performances once in a while whenever we can spare the time together. The whole family except Muzill was at Istana Budaya recently to watch 'CUCI-CUCI' the Musical. Unfortunately we missed the date on the 'MAHATHIR'.

What a fantastic show 'CUCI-CUCI' turnout to be. The spontaneous dialogues was just hilarious and satirical...

312. KAMPONG BOY to hit theatre as musical in December

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 – Having been translated into various languages and adapted as animation, the well-loved local cartoon strip ‘Kampung Boy’ is set to scale greater heights.

It will hit the theatre as a musical for a world-class stage in December this year. 

Needless to say, its creator, iconic cartoonist  Dato' Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, is elated.

While he finds it difficult to believe that his work would be made into a musical, the man views it as an appreciation of his works.

“I am grateful that the Kampung Boy cartoon still continues... even the animation is still around and I have plans with Astro to have an animation series in the future,” added Lat.

He advised budding cartoonists interested in animation to be creative and find different ways to feature the Malaysian culture.

“Even on low budget, creative ideas would assure the work reaches the foreign market without the need to imitate Western ways.”

Meanwhile, the musical is a joint project between the Malaysian National Institute of Translation (ITNM) and Tall Order Theater Production.

It will not only bring the famous cartoon to the stage, but it will also feature the 1Malaysia concept.

INTM communication, marketing and sales department manager Zinitulniza Abdul Kadir said, Kampung Boy was chosen to be made into a musical, based on its storyline which depicted Malaysian communities and cultures.

“The Kampung Boy books have been translated into 15 languages and we feel it’s a good way to promote our culture.

“Upon request from Lat himself, the musical will also include the 1 Malaysia concept, not just in terms of its crew but also its actors who will consist of various races.

“This is why, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak agreed to be a patron,” she told reporters after launching the Malaysia Book Lovers Seminar 2010 here today.

To be staged in Bahasa Melayu, Zinitulniza said the musical would include the ups and downs of Lat’s life as cartoonist, scenes from his cartoon works and his new ideas, which would be presented in a way to captivate the audience. – Bernama

289. LAT DRAWS CROWD AT USM, PENANG

The iconic Malaysian Cartoonist, Dato Mohd Nor Khalid better known as LAT, was the star attraction at the Smart Art and Science Carnival held yesterday at the University of Science Malaysia in Penang.

The four-day carnival was officially opened by the University Board of Directors Chairman, Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Zawawi Ismail.

Those present yesterday relished their opportunity to be photographed with LAT.

LAT with other dignitaries were taken on a tour of the exhibition at the Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery.

Perhaps not many people are aware that LAT is very active in community services through his involvement in a Perak based NGO, The Keledang Club.

 Last month LAT was present at the club's programme "1,500 Perak Students with the Malaysian Astronaut" where Dato' Dr Sheikh Muszaphar delivered his motivational talk in Ipoh, Perak.

DECEMBER- A MONTH OF WEDDING RECEPTIONS IN MALAYSIA

My wife and I attended four wedding receptions yesterday. The month of December is loaded with wedding invitations and receptions. Perhaps due to the school semester break or the good weather, or combination of many other factors, the invitations just keep rolling in. We appreciate receiving all those invitations though sometimes it’s hard to attend all if there are too many at different localities far apart on the same day.

We rushed through to oblige all the four invitations yesterday, three occasions during the day and one at night.

The night occasion was grand and splendid. It was the first Malay wedding held at the recently completed, elegantly decorated banquet hall at the Royal Perak Golf Club, Ipoh Perak Malaysia.

It was the reception of our good friends’ eldest daughter’s wedding. Saudara Haji Zamin and Puan Noraini’s daughter, Noor Zafina, an electrical engineer wedded another fellow engineer, Mohd Suffian and RPGC was chosen as the venue for the wedding reception as it was close by to their house.

Members of Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang turned up in full force to lend support to Hj Zamin, a past president of the club.

The grand reception attended by nearly 700 guest mainly close friends and acquaintances including their immediate neighbour, the Malaysian Cartoonist icon, Dato’ LAT and his wife.

The bride and bridegroom looked stunning in western attire on the dais during the Bersanding ceremony.

Guests were also entertained by a ‘silat gayong’ or traditional Malay martial arts demonstrations and traditional Malay dance performances.

Congratulations to Hj Zamin and Hjh Noraini on this special occasion.

To Noor Zafina and Mohd Suffian, SELAMAT PENGANTIN BARU, wishing you both a blissful life as a married couple and may you both be blessed with smart and healthy children.

MENUNAIKAN IBADAH QURBAN OLEH KELAB BAKTI GUNUNG KELEDANG

Bertempat di rumah Sdr Haji Mustapha Mohamad(Chubby) di Taman Manorama, Fair Park, Ipoh, ahli-ahli Kelab Keledang telah menunaikan ibadah qurban pada hari Sabtu, hari raya kedua lalu. Seawal jam 7.00 pagi, ahli-ahli dan keluarga telah mula berkumpul di rumah beliau di pinggir Sungai Kinta, tempat bangau acap berterbangan.

Selepas sarapan pagi, Ustaz Suffian daripada JAKIM memulakan acara pagi dengan tazkirah ringkas untuk ahli-ahli dan keluarga serta sahabat handai mengenai fadhilat qurban.

Sebanyak 3 ekor lembu yang ditempah khas dari Ladang Gopeng dijangka tiba jam 7.00 pagi untuk sembelihan jam 8.00 pagi.

Sarapan sudah, tazkirah pun sudah tapi lembu-lembu tak juga kelihatan. Tukang-tukang sembilih dah naik resah maklumlah ada diantaranya yang mempunyai tugas sembelihan di tempat lain. Setiap panggilan yang dibuat kepada taukeh lembu di sambut dengan ayat sama," On the way, on the way."

Panas pagi mula terasa. Alhamdulillah jam 9.05 pagi, lori membawa lembu tiba. Lega teramat bila bayang lori dan lembu memhampiri tempat penyembelihan. Maklumlah dah menunggu agak lama.

Proses sembelihan agak lancar. Daging-daging dapat diagihkan kepada yang berhak pada jam 12.00 tengahari.

Daging-daging daripada lembu qurban Dato' Lat diagih-agihkan kepada penduduk-penduduk Islam di perkampungan Orang Asli Daerah Tapah, Daerah Kinta dan Daerah Parit termasuk Kampong Suak Padi dan Gelong Batu.

Daging-daging daripada dua ekor lembu qurban Sdr Razali Khalid dan ahli-ahli lain di agihkan kepada Rumah-rumah Anak Yatim Bait Al-amin, Darus Salam dan Budi Mulia, Daerah Kinta serta ibu-ibu tunggal dan pihak-pihak yang berhak.

Syukur ramai ahli yang hadir memberi sokongan tenaga dan sokongan moral. Turut serta anak-anak kecil yang tidak ketinggalan dengan telatah masing-masing.

Sicilik Aulya, anak Sdr Presiden dan Adik Firdaus, anak Sdr Razali Khalid turut membantu mengagihkan air mineral kepada petugas-petugas.

Satu program yang berjaya dilaksanakan oleh ahli-ahli sendiri dengan bantuan rakan-rakan. Biasanya ahli-ahli melakukan qurban dengan menyerahkan lembu kepada masjid atau surau untuk dilaksanakan.

Terima kasih yang tidak terhingga kepada tuan rumah,Sdr Haji Mustapha, Kak Ani dan keluarga, semua ahli kelab yang melaksanakan qurban, ahli yang berkorban masa dan tenaga untuk hadir, petugas-petugas JAKIM dan wakil-wakil daripada masyarakat Orang Asli.

Semoga program sebegini dapat diteruskan lagi di tahun-tahun hadapan.

LAT’S RESTAURANT IN NUSAJAYA, JOHOR

Eat your hearts out, Perak!

 Khazanah Malaysia in collaboration with Dato' Lat will be opening a Restaurant serving local dishes in Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia, Johor. The restaurant 'LAT CAFE' to be modelled on Lat's famous cartoon character of Kampung Boy, is part of a massive new indoor theme park covering an area of 5,575 sq m costing RM350 millions. The announcement was made by Khazanah Malaysia over the weekend after the signing ceremony on Saturday.

Actually we got wind of the proposed restaurant much earlier.

Kelab Keledang of which Dato' Lat is a very valuable member has been pushing and sounding very loud to the Perak state government for umpteen years but alas...

Despite the little setback, we are optimistic that Perak Government can still play a major role in getting the bigger part of LATHOUSE or KAMPONG LAT to be located somewhere in Perak. It's better late than never.

Come on Zambry and the gang, you guys have lots and lots of catching up to do!

SEKALUNG TAHNIAH KEPADA LAT, Ikon 1Malaysia Perak

Sdr LAT atau Mohd Nor Khalid, sahabat saya dan ahli Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang, diangkat sebagai salah seorang daripada enam orang ikon 1Malaysia dari Perak.

Memang wajar dan sesuai sangat jika dilihat daripada kerja-kerja beliau yang melampaui batas-batas kaum, agama, bahasa dan bangsa. Hasil kerja beliau yang amat bermutu tinggi pun telah dialih bahasakan ke dalam pelbagai bahasa termasuk Inggeris, Jepun, Perancis, German, Belanda dan yang terakhir dalam bahasa Thai.

Watak ikon ini penting supaya masyarakat terutama anak-anak cepat memahami sesuatu konsep.

Bagi saya, hebatnya konsep 1Malaysia ni barangkali sebagai peringatan terutama kepada politikus picisan yang masih mendendang lagu-lagu racist, rabun kadangkala buta dengan keperluan hidup bersepaduan antara berbilang kaum, agama dan bahasa di kalangan masyarakat majmuk di Malaysia.

Kita, masyarakat jam dan duit lama memang tidak ada masalah sejak dulu, kini dan selamanya. Interaksi, networking dan urusniaga berjalan se antario Malaysia di kalangan pelbagai kaum dalam masyarakat. Begitu juga majoriti rakyat Malaysia yang cintakan perpaduan.

Namun amat berbangga dengan hasil kerja Sdr LAT konsisten bertemakan kesepaduan ummah kerukunan hidup rakyat Malaysia.

Semoga Allah mengurniakan saudara dan keluarga, kesejahteraan dan kesihatan yang baik.

P/s

Cuma teringatkan hasrat dan cadangan Sdr LAT untuk membina 'Kampung LAT' sebuah theme park ala Disney Land, di kampung asalnya, Kota Baru, Gopeng. Cadangan projek yang disuarakan sejak zaman Tajol Rosli menjadi Menteri Besar sehinggalah sekarang masih tersadai dalam kertas perancangan dalam jabatan Kerajaan Negeri Perak.

Saya sendiri pernah suarakan semula cadangan projek Kampung LAT, secara peribadi semasa DS Ir Nizar menjadi Menteri Besar Perak.

Alangkah bijaknya jika DS Dr Zambry, selaku MB sekarang lebih peka dan dapat menggerakkan segera dengan terancang projek sehebat 'Kampung LAT' ala Disneyland yang mampu menjadi projek fokal pelancongan Perak.

Kesian Perak kalau lambat, tentu pasti negeri lain rembat...udah mula berbau pun.

Salam

dma 

SEKITAR PELANCARAN FIRST DAY COVER DATO’ LAT

Jam 10.14 pagi tadi bertempat di Pejabat Pos Besar Ipoh, Dato' Lat, kartunis terbilang telah melancarkan First Day Cover dan siri setem pos lukisan beliau. Ramai pengumpul-pengumpul setem dari seluruh negeri Perak dan peminat- peminat beliau hadir.

Sdr Dato' Azumu bin Haji Tak selaku Presiden Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang turut hadir ditemani oleh ahli-ahli Kelab seperti Tan Sri Ahmad Azizuddin, Dato' Seri Tajol Rosli. Dato' Mansor Ahmad, Dato' Dr Anwar Hassan sebagai tanda sokongan kepada usaha Dato' Lat yang juga seorang ahli Kelab Keledang yang aktif dalam kerja-kerja kebajikan.

Pelancaran pagi ini adalah susulan daripada majlis pelancaran di Kuala Lumpur. Seperti kata Dato' Lat, pelancaran First Day Cover perlu juga dibuat di Perak, negeri kelahiran beliau.

Satu wajah yang tetap tidak pernah ketinggalan dalam kartun-kartun lukisan Lat ialah watak nyonya berkaca mata dan berambut sarang tebuan. Watak tersebut sebenarnya ialah Cikgu Hew Chai Kee, guru bahasa Inggeris Lat semasa menuntut di Sekolah Menengah Anderson, Ipoh.

Pagi tadi Cikgu Hew yang masih segak ,walau pun tanpa hairdo sarang tebuan, turut hadir meraikan majlis.