Puteri Gunung Ledang

1)      State one of the many Malay idioms (peribahasa) spoken in the film. What is the meaning of that idiom? How would you use it in real life?

ANS: In this film, the Malay idioms “bagai minyak yang penuh” had shown in the film. It means when doing something, we must be careful. Besides, it also means a treat or takes care someone with caution. In real life, I will use this idiom to make sure my work is safe and complete once I started to work.

2)      During Raja Ahmad’s coronation, what was the item gifted to him by the Sultan? What is the reason such gift?

ANS: The gift was gifted by the Sultan is a Malay dagger which called Keris. It means he was the heir to the sultanate of Malacca. It also a symbol for the royal family of the Malacca.

3)      Name Laksamana Tuah’s keris. In the film, what did Tuah ask the bendahara to return to the sultan?

ANS: Taming Sari keris is the name of the Tuah’s keris. The treasurer was asked by Tuah to return the dagger and his belonging to the sultan.

4)      In your best guess, what could be the basis of the conflict between Majapahit and Demak? Do you see similar conflict still happening in present time Malaysia? Please elaborate.

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5)      State TWO of the seven Gusti Putri’s conditions to matrimony.

ANS:   i)         Seven jars (tempayan) of the tears of virgins

            ii )        One bowl of blood from his fondest and only son, Prince Ahmad.

            iii)        Seven jars (tempayan) of the juice of young betel nuts 

            iv)        Seven trays (dulang) of the hearts of mosquitoes;

            v)         Another bridge made of pure silver from Mount Ledang to Malacca

            vi)        A bridge made of pure gold from Malacca to Mount Ledang

            vii)       Seven trays (dulang) of the hearts of the germs

6)      What was Gusti Putri’s curse?

ANS: The curse for Gusti Putri is she will die by coughing blood after the next morning sunrise.

7)      To prove that you are indeed a true Malaysia, identify one location the film was set in. And in which scene?

ANS: The location to show I’m indeed a true Malaysian is Cameron Highland which is the place for Haung Tuah to meet to meet up with Puteri Gunung Ledang.

8)      In one scene, Gusti Putri said “Saya ingin merdeka.” What did MERDEKA mean in the film then and in Malaysia now?

ANS: In the film, the word “merdeka” said by Gusti Putri is mean she wants freedom. Free to choose her own life, follow what she wants to be, what she wants to go but not arranged by other people. Nowadays, the word “merdeka” is mean independent. For Malaysia, this word means Malaysia is free from the control of British since the year 1957.

9)      Briefly tell us what is the most common narrative/story about Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat?

ANS: Hang Jebat was Hang Tuah closest childhood companion and also his best “brother” although they are not a real brother. However, Hang Tuah was quilted dead sentence by the Sultan due to falsely accused but Hang Tuah was saved by the executioner. After that, Hang Jebat was decided revenge to the Sultan due to the death sentence of Hang Tuah. After knowing Hang Tuah was not dead, Sultan asks him to kill Hang Jebat and eventually Hang Jebat was killed by Hang Tuah.

10)  The Hang Tuah-Hang Jebat conflict captures the tension between loyalty to the state (authority) and loyalty to friendship. How is the tension of loyalty being represented in Puteri Gunung Ledang?

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11)  Name two examples of the tension of loyalty in real Malaysian politics or history.

ANS: There is few example of the tension of loyalty in Malaysia. One of the examples is Tun Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahatir bin Mohammad was the member of UMNO and he was a “loyal” member when he still a prime minister. After he retired, his motive started to change and cooperated with DAP to fight with UMNO due to his heir Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak was failed to do his job well. The second example is Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA) is very loyal to UMNO. It says it is loyal to the Chinese resident in Malaysia, will help Chinese society to fight with their need but eventually, nothing happen. This kind of “loyalty” is just a shit for the Chinese society because every time we need them to strive for us, they will just do nothing but they will say they already help us to contest.

12)  If you have to recommend this film to a friend who has not seen it, what would you say to him or her in about 50 words?

ANS: I will not advise my friend to watch this film because the story is too “complicated” due to the loyalty of Hang Tuah. It will make us very confused when we doing any decision. Besides, it was the real history and it also appears in komsas mean Malay literature. It was taught in secondary school. For those who had concentrated in the class will know the whole story of Puteri Gunung Ledang. Therefore, I will not suggest my friend watch this film except they want to see the story with visual.