Hang Tuah the diplomat & the "kangkung"....

The media social had been unabated with flood of "kangkung" issue, thanks to the "not so bright" statement by the YAB PM in Kemaman in saying that the "rakyat" had not been fair to the government when criticising about the goods price hike when he was made to know that the price of "kangkung" had actually went down. It was a PR disaster for the YAB PM as he was faced with loads of criticism and cynical responses from the "rakyat" as a result of that statement.  One netizen even said "Sedih rasa ada PM macam ni ... "

I wonder whether the YAB PM and/or his advisors had ever heard of how Hang Tuah had shrewdly used "kangkung" as a diplomatic/PR tool when he was appointed as the leader of the Keling mission to China.The narration goes like this:

Hang Tuah was sent by Raja Keling, Kisna Rayan for a diplomatic mission to China. When he arrived in China, despite several times Hang Tuah present himself before the Emperor of China, he aws not able to catch a glimpse of the King's countenance as the Emperor sat on a throne placed in the jaws of a golden dragon. On one occasion, the Emperor invited Hang Tuah for feast at the palace and Hang Tuah informed the China's Four Minister that: " If My Lords wish to prepare us a dinner, our nobles and lords eat neither fish nor meat. All of them, without exception, eat only vegetables, shoots of plant and fruits. These are the ingredients of the curries they cook. The vegetables are left uncut, so that they are long. That is how we eat."

When the dinner was ready, food was served to Hang Tuah. He cleansed his hands and ate,by picking up the long vegetable ("kangkung") with a pair of golden chopsticks and raised it to his forehead. He put the uncut "kangkung" into his mouth, while stealing a look at the Chinese Emperor who was sitting in the jaws of the golden dragon. This was indeed a taboo to the Chinese and upon seeing Hang Tuah's shrewd move, they were ready with drawn swords to execute Hang Tuah. However, the Emperor prevented them and said: Heralds, do not execute him. He is a wise man who wishes to serve his Master; it is difficult to find such a servant and warrior the like of the Laksamana.".

Hang Tuah's diplomatic mission was a success and he returned to Benua Keling with enormous gifts from the Chinese Emperor to Raja Keling, Krisna Rayan.


Talking about diplomatic relationship with China vis a vis how Hang Tuah used a "backyard" tool i.e. "kangkung" as a diplomatic tool, in the early 1970s the US President, Richard Nixon used "ping pong" as a way to pave diplomatic relattionship with China. Ironically, the late father of the current YAB PM, Tuan Razak had also emulate Richard Nixon's move by sending a personal letter to the Chinese leader in 1974 via the Malaysian ping pong team's visit to China. The immediate result of Tuan Razak's brilliant move was that he managed to won the hearts of the Chinese electorates and won a land slide victory in the GE in that year.

The above shows how even simple things such as "kangkung" or "ping ping" could be used to one's advantage if it is used well with a little bit of wisdom. However, if it is used in an unwise manner, it would be disastrous with the whole nation making a mockery out of it.

Let's wait the the damage control when there is a new product called "SK1M", Skim Kangkung 1 Malaysia ..... Oh no!! Please spare me .....

Till we meet again!!!!