Help the 'sosah' or wallop them? PSM's charm offensive hits dialect hurdle

 

A PSM election poster aimed at winning over Negeri Sembilan voters through the use of the local dialect has attracted attention for the wrong reasons after some interpreted a term in its slogan as having a more violent meaning.

The poster introducing the party’s candidate for the Rahang state seat, Tinagaran Subramaniam, which was uploaded on PSM’s Facebook page, featured the slogan “Lomah dibelo, sosah dibantu” - intended to mean “defend the weak, and help those in hardship”.

However, Facebook users pointed out that “sosah” carries a different meaning, referring to hitting, beating, or whipping someone.

According to them, the Malay word for hardship, “susah”, is pronounced and spelt similarly in the Negeri Sembilan dialect.

Responding to the criticism, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan said the wording was chosen after consulting party members from Negeri Sembilan.

PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan

He said the slogan was adopted only after discussions with members from the state to ensure the words used were accurate.

“Before we used the slogan, we did discuss it. They told us the word could carry both meanings depending on the context. In the context of this slogan, it means ‘susah’ (hardship). It can be pronounced as ‘sosah’, ‘susoh’, and so on.

“I’m from Perak. This explanation came from those who are from Negeri Sembilan,” he told Malaysiakini.

‘It doesn’t mean what you think it means’

However, comedian and actor Ebby Yus, who hails from Negeri Sembilan, insisted that “sosah” in the local dialect means “to hit” or “to wallop”.

“I think the person who wrote this isn’t Malay or isn’t from Negeri Sembilan. Or perhaps they simply made a mistake,” he told Malaysiakini.

The Batu Kikir native added that the word “susah” does not change in the Negeri Sembilan dialect.

“If you say ‘sosah’, it takes on a different meaning. ‘Lomah dibelo, sosah dibantu’ -  if ‘sosah’ means ‘to hit’, then does the slogan mean ‘Protect the weak, help those who beat people up’?

“It doesn’t make sense. I don’t know which Negeri Sembilan people he spoke to,” he added.

Tinagaran, 49, who is also a tuition teacher, previously contested the Rembau parliamentary seat in the 2023 general election but lost to BN deputy president Mohamad Hasan by a majority of 19,897 votes, after polling 779 votes in a four-cornered contest.

The Election Commission has set the Negeri Sembilan election for Aug 1. - Mkini