Anwar’s poetry on betrayal lights the cyberspace on fire; it is a Sastera war with a slant towards politics

 

IT IS said that there is no greater pain than the pain of betrayal, since it came from a person we trust.

That said, the subtle yet insidious effect of betrayal is best expressed by the subtlety of poetry as seen in a post by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“Burung merbah terbang sekawan, Guruh berdentum membelah awan, Berbeza langkah, jangan putus kawan, Selagi muafakat, kita sehaluan,” was what he wrote on the post on X.

Anwar did not elaborate on the meaning of the poem but the message is clear.

In the post, Anwar also shared photographs from the Cabinet meeting, attended by, among others, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who appeared relaxed, cordial and in good spirits. 

The post comes at a time when national attention is focused on the relationship between PH and BN, as both coalitions navigate the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign. 

Even more interesting was the fact that the poem also triggered netizens to reply with poems of their own.

Here are some of the choice poems for your consideration:

Whether Anwar intended the pantun as a call for unity, a gentle reminder to coalition partners or simply a reflection on the realities of governing together, it has clearly struck a chord online.

As campaigning intensifies and political rhetoric grows sharper, every word from the Prime Minister is likely to be dissected for hidden meanings. 

For now, however, it is the rakyat who have had the final say, responding not with anger or lengthy political arguments, but with verses that reflect Malaysia’s enduring love for wit, wordplay and the timeless art of the pantun.— Focus Malaysia