From Neighbours to Strangers:

Dirty Secrets of the Suburbs

A Critical Analysis on Karim Raslans Short Story Neighbours

Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011

Have you heard? Tengku Mizan, that old pervert hes marrying a second wife. Did you see her in the tight one-piece at the dinner party yesterday? No shame, all her lemak-lemak showing everywhere! Raja Karinas youngest son was sent to Tanjung Rambutan! Does the dialogue above sound familiar to you? Do you relish the moments when you read that especially juicy piece of celebrity gossip from URTV and FAMILY? Or are you one of those who like to spend hours spying upon your next door neighbours, then rushing out to tell all your friends about the news you have discovered? If your answer is yes, then you can relate to Datin Sarina, the neighbourhood gossip queen and main character in the short story Neighbours, which was written by acclaimed author and political analyst Karim Raslan. Set in a suburban neighbourhood in modern day Malaysia, Karim Raslans Neighbours is a compelling story about sexuality (more specifically transsexualism) and moral reform. But are taboo topics such as sexuality and transsexualism suitable to be discussed in a Muslim country such as Malaysia? Can Malaysian readers identify with controversial characters such as the Kassims? One reason why Karim Raslan chose to write about transsexualism and moral reflection is probably because these issues were, and still are relevant in todays Malaysian society. First published in Skoob Pacifica Anthologies Volume One and Two (1994) and later in Heroes and other stories (1996), it is interesting to note that, more than 10 years after its publication, we are still facing problems pertaining to the themes mentioned above. One recent case involving a transgendered person, Aleesha Farhana Abdul Aziz @ Mohd Ashraf Hafiz Abdul Aziz is a sad reminder that even today, transsexuals in Malaysia are struggling to be accepted in society (Kaur, 2011). The issue of moral reform in shaping modal citizens (Pembangunan Modal Insan) was also the manifesto of former Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi. By incorporating taboo topics into the world of affluent Malay socialites, Karim Raslan has created a story that reminds us of the

Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011

changing face of modern Malaysian society. In short, it highlights the pressing need for Malaysians to address and be more open to problems pertaining to sexuality and moral reform. Going back to the short story, one notices that the narration in Neighbours is simple and humorous. At the beginning of the story, readers are introduced to Datin Sarina and her legendary persistence in digging out the deepest and darkest of secrets. Her penchant for poking her nose into other peoples business, combined with a selfish persistence and cunning sleuthing abilities, earned her the nickname Radio Sarina among her socialite friends much like the Malaysian Datin version of Americas Perez Hilton and his grossly popular celebrity gossip blog. Her chronic obsession of wanting to know anything and everything about other people is limitless nothing will stop her from finding out the latest dirt, even if it means going against her own resolutions. In any case, her self-restraint almost always disappears when her excitement prompts her to dispense the latest gossip or to spend excessively on another set of diamonds (which will be funded by her husbands bonus). In short, Datin Sarina is exactly the sort of woman everyone loves to hate shes the bored, disillusioned, self-justifying Datin who has too much money and free time for her own good. Before long, however, the Kassims move into the house next door. They, a rich couple from Penang, are the epitome of the new Malay generation a generation that is young, educated (most likely abroad), possess strong individual views about religion, and are also fabulously rich. When Mr. Kassim visits the house for the first time, Datin Sarina immediately forms an infatuation for her attractive new neighbour. Tall, dark and handsome with a smile to die for he appears to be one of the finest specimens of the modern Malay male: from his polite, educated speech to his metrosexual pink shirt that set off his healthy colour. Entranced by his handsome looks, impeccable manners as well as being pleased at the fact that he was a distant relative, Datin Sarina was now very keen on getting acquainted with the Kassims, assuming
Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011

that a person as good-looking and well-brought-up as Mr. Kassim would have an exquisite wife as well. Therefore, under the pretence of watching the sunrise the next morning, Datin Sarina spies on her neighbours master bedroom from the verandah with the hope of seeing her nice Mr. Kassim again. The climax of the story (both literally and in literature terms) is when Datin Sarina accidently witnesses the Kassims making love and realises that Mrs. Kassim is actually a transsexual. Confused, disappointed and outraged with herself for being selfishly nosy and persistent, the story ends with Datin Sarina as a changed person. Symbolically speaking, when Datin Sarina realised that the Kassims (especially Mr. Kassim) were not the people she thought they were, her own perception of life was shattered as well. Her ego, her self-righteousness, her delusions they were all fragmented pieces of a web of lies that she had sown together conveniently for herself. But now that the illusion had been broken down, she realised that she had nothing and was nothing herself; her own emotional and social life was so mundane and unfulfilling, she had been reduced to a parasite that fed on others for her own entertainment. While Datin Sarinas character serves to extol the dangers of gossip as well as a being a moral reminder for readers to be more mindful of their own actions, the Kassims, on the other hand, reflect the issue of transsexualism and homosexualism in Malaysia. The character of Mrs. Kassim is not your typical mak nyah (male to female transsexual) that you might see on the streets. In fact, Mrs. Kassims character is an attempt to break down stereotypes that Malaysians have about transgendered people. The common perception is that transsexuals are non-entities in Malaysia who typically work in the sex industry and rarely appear, or are simply denied existence in the upper-class society due to conflicts with the main religion of the country: Islam. However, In the story, Mrs. Kassim is depicted as a person of high bearing, wealthy (her mother lives in Damansara Heights, an exclusive housing residence in Kuala Lumpur), as well as being married to a lawyer who is of equally high status. With her
Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011

mix of masculine and feminine characteristics, Mrs. Kassim is quite daring about flaunting her sexuality as she walks around the room half-naked without the curtains drawn, oblivious to the fact that Datin Sarina spying on her. In bed, however, she is the dominant one, while Mr. Kassim appears to be grotesquely subserviant and feminine. This reversal of gender roles is part of Karim Raslans signature penchant for black humour. By portraying Mr. Kassim as a completely different person in bed when compared to the masculine and upright appearance he displayed earlier, one is reminded that an individuals real personality might be different than the faade one displays in society. The writing style that Karim Raslan uses for Neighbours is distinct with his trademark sarcasm as he peppers his short story with snide references to the Malay bourgeoisie. Referring to the disillusioned lifestyles of the rich Malay upper-class, Datin Sarina is a perfect example of how rich people lead their empty and selfindulgent lives. One particularly humorous excerpt highlights Datin Sarinas achievement in getting the latest gossip about Tengku Mizans polygamous pursuit.
For example, she had been first to alert the world to Tengku Mizans second wife, an achievement she regarded as equal to her husbands hole in one the year before at the golf club.

Since Neighbours is written in the third person limited point of view, readers see the story through Datin Sarinas frame of mind. It is quite amusing to compare the fanciful illusions that she has about the world around her, which are often ridiculous and in contrast with reality. For example, during Mr. Kassims visit to the house, the pretentious Datin Sarina had imagined that he would be so impressed by her Noritake porcelain (a sign of her distinction and quality) that she even compared herself to a Scarlett O Hara in a land of pygmies.

Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011

Placing the tray down on the small table beside her husband and the visitor, she glanced at Encik Kassim, expecting him to exclaim aloud, Allah, what exquisite porcelain you have, Datin. Could it could it be Noritake? But he didnt, at least not initially. She was unsure that the men noticed her departure.

Another technique used is foreshadowing. One example is the pink shirt worn by Mr. Kassim during his visit. As one reads further between the lines, one might wonder if Karim Raslan had purposely used the colour pink (a feminine colour) to foreshadow Mr. Kassims behaviour in bed. Another interesting

foreshadowing is the religious discussion between Mus and Mr. Kassim. Both of them had expressed views that each Muslim had an individual right to practice the religion according to their own interpretations, and that neither man is personally equipped to criticise another as all were required to show obeisance only to Allah. Despite the fact that Islam strongly prohibits transsexualism and sodomy, this discussion had unwittingly justified Mr. Kassims relationship with his transsexual wife, as they were allowed to live within their own interpretations of the religion as a married couple and carry out a normal relationship.
it is not of interest to me that you or anyone else might drink alcohol, gamble or commit adultery. There is, of course, only one figure to whom we all owe obeisance and that is Allah. I might possess views about your behaviour which I could voice, were I inclined to do so, just as you would be free to reject whatever I have to say. Similarly I am free not to have to act according to your interpretations of the Koran and the Hadiths because interpretations are all that they are, neither wrong nor right, merely differing views pertaining to the same subject Once Mus started it was often difficult to stop him.

Karim Raslans acute use of imagery is also evident in the latter part of the story. He uses visual imagery to full effect to describe the surroundings of Datin Sarinas garden as she sits on the verandah waiting for the sunrise.
By now the light had reached its most perfect moment, lending a bronzed glow to all that it touched and she turned to her garden once again Suddenly she

Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011

felt the soft delicious cool of the breeze that curled its way through the suburbs, kissing her face as it passed by.

As Datin Sarina watches the Kassims making love in the bedroom, readers are apt to mentally visualise the scene as though through the eyes of the Datin herself. This explicit and daring description is enough to make any reader squirm with embarrassment.
Her strokes quickened and she shuddered violently. Encik Kassim walked around the bed until he was standing directly in front of her. Undoing his trousers he nursed his penis into her mouth. Sarina pressed her breast again and shivered.

The visualisation of this scene adds to the shock factor when Mrs. Kassim is revealed to be a transsexual, thus adding an unexpected twist to the resolution of the story and bringing a huge impact on the reader. Conclusively, Neighbours by Karim Raslan is a work of literature that is daring enough to discuss risqu issues such as transsexualism in the Malaysian perspective. The characters in the story, most notably Datin Sarina and the Kassims, reflect a side of Malaysian society that everyone knows about yet is reluctant to discuss. With his sarcasm, witty narration, and sharp imagery, Karim Raslan has single-handedly broken down the stereotypes and forced readers to see Malaysia in a new light. Maybe it is time for Malaysians to heed the message and take a good look at our own lives: the gossip we listen to, the lies we create for ourselves, the stereotypes we form about other people and the way we lead our own lives. It might not be too late to start over and live life to the fullest.

Written by Leong Qing Yi 2011