Something new to the UN comes.
9/28/03
Hazidi Abdul Hamid
Yesterday, Dr. Mahathir of Malaysia presented Mr. Annan with a handcrafted tepak sireh at the United Nation. The media reported that Dr. Mahathir had informed Mr. Annan that the ornate box was a symbol of peace and diplomacy, which, of course, was accurate. The media also reported that the box will be placed on display on the third floor of the United Nations Building in New York.
This also implies that the tepak is does not contain what it should nor will it be doing what it really should, that is play an active part in negotiations and discussions. The tepak sireh should sit on a tray beside some sireh leaves and in the box there should be a number of things like areca nuts, kapor sireh (a shellfish shell based paste), a kacip (a slicer for the areca nut) and a gobek (a cylindrical mortal and pestle set used to "chew" the mixture for elder users). Other condiments would also be included like cloves and other spices. I believe that the UN would benefit from adopting the practice of using the tepak sireh in negotiations. Al the very least it would be very interesting to watch. A typical day of negotiations at the UN, should they decide to adopt the traditional Malay diplomacy protocol would go something like this. Say for example, Mr. Annan will be expecting Mr. Bush, Mr. Sharon and Mr. Arafat on that day.
Firstly the arrival of each of the leaders will be accompanied by a chorus of kompang (a handheld drum played in groups). The arriving leader, for example Mr. Bush, would alight from his car to be greeted by a representative of Mr. Annan. At the foot of the stairs of to the UN building, Mr. Bush will take off his shoes and wash his feet using the water in a tempayan (large container) with a cedok (a kind of ladle). He then climbs up the stairs to enter the building. There will be several CIA men left at the foot of the stairs to guard his shoes from being stolen.
Upon entering the building, Mr. Bush will be greeted by Mr. Annan with the two handed jabat salam led to a dais where they will sit cross legged to chat and catch up on old times while waiting for the rest to arrive. Once all the leaders have arrived, they will be led into the balai bersidang (old term – meeting room). Here they will sit on the floor on hand-woven tikar mengkuang (palm leave mats) with "people" sitting just behind them to the right and left.
Before negotiations begin, the tray bearing the tepak sireh and sireh leaves will be brought out accompanied by a tray of tea and perhaps some kuehs (Malay cakes and sweets). As the tuan rumah (host) Mr. Annan will then offer the tepak sireh to the most senior visitor, seniority may be regarded in terms of age or status. Say for example, he offers it to Mr. Bush first because they are after all in the US.
Mr. Bush will then take a sireh leaf or two, smear a little kapor on the leave, cut a small slice of the areca nut and place the slice on the leaves, and perhaps some other condiments available. He then folds the mixture in the leaves. He should then hold on to the packet while offering the tray to the next person. When everyone has a packet, the tray may be offered to their "people" but that is not often necessary. Together they will then place the packet in their mouth and chew slowly, as you would chew gum. Negotiations may now begin.
As the negotiations progress, the leaders will be offered a spittoon each because chewing the sireh will cause saliva to accumulate but they must not swallow because they it can be intoxicating. Some sireh have perfected the art of spitting out a jet of red fluid (saliva becomes red due to chemical reactions of the ingredient) instead of the usual lump. In some occasions, particularly among close friends and more rustic folks, an impromptu splitting competition would happen with the contestants going for distance and accuracy. If this happens, it would be a sign that world peace was on its way.
The are many reasons for this custom but I suspect it has something to do with the talk: it is harder to talk while chewing the sireh mixture and so people are likely to be more contemplative and less likely to blurt out unwanted things.
Finally the negotiations end. Before leaving, the participants will be served with rice which will be serves on kain seperah which is laid out on the mat. They eat cross legged with their rice plates before them. Accompaniments will be served in deeper plates placed around the center of the seperah. They eat with heir hands, so before tucking in, a servant will come with a container and a teapot of water for them to wash their hands. They eat with their hands from their plates but use spoons to take the accompaniments from the center serving.
After the meal, the hand wash will be brought out again and coffee will be served. Also brought out as desert is the tepak sireh again but this time, there will be tobacco and tiny squares of dried palm leaves for the rokok daun (traditional leaf cigarettes). This signals the end of the occasion. They will then take their leave or stay for a chat depending on their schedules.
Mr. Bush exists the building accompanied by Mr. Annan. Mr. Bush then would stop at the foot of the stairs to put on his shoes. The car is brought round and he leaves.
Perhaps, the UN will be a much better place if they decide to follow this custom. Perhaps they should.
9/28/03
Hazidi Abdul Hamid
Yesterday, Dr. Mahathir of Malaysia presented Mr. Annan with a handcrafted tepak sireh at the United Nation. The media reported that Dr. Mahathir had informed Mr. Annan that the ornate box was a symbol of peace and diplomacy, which, of course, was accurate. The media also reported that the box will be placed on display on the third floor of the United Nations Building in New York.
This also implies that the tepak is does not contain what it should nor will it be doing what it really should, that is play an active part in negotiations and discussions. The tepak sireh should sit on a tray beside some sireh leaves and in the box there should be a number of things like areca nuts, kapor sireh (a shellfish shell based paste), a kacip (a slicer for the areca nut) and a gobek (a cylindrical mortal and pestle set used to "chew" the mixture for elder users). Other condiments would also be included like cloves and other spices. I believe that the UN would benefit from adopting the practice of using the tepak sireh in negotiations. Al the very least it would be very interesting to watch. A typical day of negotiations at the UN, should they decide to adopt the traditional Malay diplomacy protocol would go something like this. Say for example, Mr. Annan will be expecting Mr. Bush, Mr. Sharon and Mr. Arafat on that day.
Firstly the arrival of each of the leaders will be accompanied by a chorus of kompang (a handheld drum played in groups). The arriving leader, for example Mr. Bush, would alight from his car to be greeted by a representative of Mr. Annan. At the foot of the stairs of to the UN building, Mr. Bush will take off his shoes and wash his feet using the water in a tempayan (large container) with a cedok (a kind of ladle). He then climbs up the stairs to enter the building. There will be several CIA men left at the foot of the stairs to guard his shoes from being stolen.
Upon entering the building, Mr. Bush will be greeted by Mr. Annan with the two handed jabat salam led to a dais where they will sit cross legged to chat and catch up on old times while waiting for the rest to arrive. Once all the leaders have arrived, they will be led into the balai bersidang (old term – meeting room). Here they will sit on the floor on hand-woven tikar mengkuang (palm leave mats) with "people" sitting just behind them to the right and left.
Before negotiations begin, the tray bearing the tepak sireh and sireh leaves will be brought out accompanied by a tray of tea and perhaps some kuehs (Malay cakes and sweets). As the tuan rumah (host) Mr. Annan will then offer the tepak sireh to the most senior visitor, seniority may be regarded in terms of age or status. Say for example, he offers it to Mr. Bush first because they are after all in the US.
Mr. Bush will then take a sireh leaf or two, smear a little kapor on the leave, cut a small slice of the areca nut and place the slice on the leaves, and perhaps some other condiments available. He then folds the mixture in the leaves. He should then hold on to the packet while offering the tray to the next person. When everyone has a packet, the tray may be offered to their "people" but that is not often necessary. Together they will then place the packet in their mouth and chew slowly, as you would chew gum. Negotiations may now begin.
As the negotiations progress, the leaders will be offered a spittoon each because chewing the sireh will cause saliva to accumulate but they must not swallow because they it can be intoxicating. Some sireh have perfected the art of spitting out a jet of red fluid (saliva becomes red due to chemical reactions of the ingredient) instead of the usual lump. In some occasions, particularly among close friends and more rustic folks, an impromptu splitting competition would happen with the contestants going for distance and accuracy. If this happens, it would be a sign that world peace was on its way.
The are many reasons for this custom but I suspect it has something to do with the talk: it is harder to talk while chewing the sireh mixture and so people are likely to be more contemplative and less likely to blurt out unwanted things.
Finally the negotiations end. Before leaving, the participants will be served with rice which will be serves on kain seperah which is laid out on the mat. They eat cross legged with their rice plates before them. Accompaniments will be served in deeper plates placed around the center of the seperah. They eat with heir hands, so before tucking in, a servant will come with a container and a teapot of water for them to wash their hands. They eat with their hands from their plates but use spoons to take the accompaniments from the center serving.
After the meal, the hand wash will be brought out again and coffee will be served. Also brought out as desert is the tepak sireh again but this time, there will be tobacco and tiny squares of dried palm leaves for the rokok daun (traditional leaf cigarettes). This signals the end of the occasion. They will then take their leave or stay for a chat depending on their schedules.
Mr. Bush exists the building accompanied by Mr. Annan. Mr. Bush then would stop at the foot of the stairs to put on his shoes. The car is brought round and he leaves.
Perhaps, the UN will be a much better place if they decide to follow this custom. Perhaps they should.
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