Daik Lingga is the capital of the sub-district Lingga, the province of Riau Islands. This youngest sub-district in Indonesia, which is dubbed as “Si Bungsu” (literally means: the youngest),  is also called as “Bunda Tanah Melayu” (the Mother of the Malayan land). Daik Lingga is one of the historical cities in Indonesia. Long time ago, Daik was the center of Riau-Lingga Empire for almost a hundred years. During this period, there were some kings who ruled the Empire. According to the historical record, some of the ruling kings were Sultan Abdurrahman Syah (1812 – 1832), Sultan Muhammad Syah (1832 – 1841), Sultan Muhammad Muzafar Syah (1841 – 1867), Sultan Badrul Alam Syah II (1857 – 1883), and Sultan Abdurrahman Muazzam Syah (1883 – 1911).

According to the folk lore spreading among the people in Daik Lingga, the Empire was famous  and a prosperous one when the authority was in the hand of the  Sultan Abdurrahman Muazzam Syah. At that time, his ruling area was very wide. His people lived in peace, had a tranquil life, were hard workers and discipline, and were obedient to their king. If they heard the drum sounded, all of the people would come in throng to the palace to accept an order from the King to do works for their country. The people worked in mutual corporation and helped each other in every work, and therefore Daik city looked so busy and developed rapidly.

It is said that a village named Panggak Darat happened to exist not very far from the center of the Empire. There lived a martial-art teacher who had only one student in this area. The teacher‘s name was Apek Huang Tai, and the student‘s was Mahmud. Mahmud. He was a brilliant and discipline student, so his teacher, Apek Huang Tai, loved him so much. There were no secrets on the martial-art that he had that he didn‘t pass on  to Mahmud. After there was nothing left of the martial-art knowledge to give to Mahmud, Apek Huang Tai then told his beloved student to not use for them for bad intention. Mahmud had to be more patient and mustn‘t fight against the defenseless people. As he gained all of the knowledge, of course there was much temptation ahead for violating them. Could Mahmud obey his teacher‘s instruction? What were the consequences if Mahmud violates the teacher‘s instruction? Do you want to know? The story is as follows!

***

It is told that once upon time, in Daik Lingga area was founded an Empire that named Daik-Lingga. This empire was led by a Sultan who was very wise, his name was Sultan Abdurrahman. His people lived in peace, tranquility, and were hard workers and obedient to the King. If they heard the sound of a drum, all of them would come in throng to the palace for obeying the king‘s words.

At that time, not very far from the center of the Empire, there was a village which was known as Panggak Darat. There was a plantation area which was located on Tunggul Angus hill at that village. At the hill lived an Apek[1] who was named Apek Huang Tai, which means tornado. He was addressed with that name because of his expertise in martial art. Apek Huang Tai didn‘t live alone, he was accompanied by his student Mahmud who was a brilliant one and always obeyed his teacher. Because of that, Apek Huang Tai loved him so much and treated him like his own child. Although regarded as an own child, Mahmud still called his teacher  “Apek”.

After a few times learned under the guidance of  Apek Huang Tai, Mahmud‘s time to learn the martial art finally came to its end. Now, Mahmud had become a strong teenager. All of the secrets of the martial art that his teacher had were already passed on to him. There were no more that Apek Huang Tai didn‘t teach him. The teacher felt happy because there was someone who would continue all of the martial-art secrets. However, before Mahmud left him, Apek Huang Tai told to Mahmud, his beloved student:

“My son, I had taught all of the secrets of the martial art that I have to you. But, I must warn you not to use the knowledge you have for bad intentions. You mustn‘t hit or harm the powerless. On the contrary, you must use the knowledge to help the weak. You can use your martial art knowledge to defense yourself from someone who puts you in harm. This is my only message for you. Believe me my Son! If you always remember my words, you will be safe wherever you go. But, you will put yourself in danger when you break them”, Apek Huang Tai said to Mahmud.

“Yes, Pek! I will obey all of your words”, Mahmud answered while giving  a respect to his teacher. “Pek, thank you so much for teaching me the martial-art. I can‘t repay your kindness. But, just for my thankfulness; I have an area of durian from my parents. I will give you a half of it for your daily needs. You are now an old man, so it is unnecessary to work hard anymore. I hope Apek will accept this present”, Mahmud affixed.

 The atmosphere became more soulful as Mahmud prepared to leave his teacher. With tears, the teacher answered,”Alright, My son! I will accept your present”. Hearing that, Mahmud soon shook his teacher hands. No longer able to hold back his tears he cried and hugged the beloved teacher.

After saying goodbye, Mahmud left his teacher alone at Tunggul Angus Hill to continue his trip for trading. As a peraih (trader), he traded from one place to another place by boat. Finally, he arrived at Palembang.

At that time, there was a general who was so famous with his strength, titled as Ayam Berkokok (crowing cock) in the Palembang Empire. He was entitled so because every morning he crowed like a cock looking for an opponent. It is said, there was no one who could beat his ability, in Palembang or other countries.

When Mahmud arrived at Palembang, he heard a crow. Just for joking, he answered the crow from his boat. He didn‘t know who was crowing and what that crow meant. Suddenly, a guard of the Empire came after him.

“Hei, you who are on the boat! Who crowed?” the guard asked.

“Mahmud, Sir!” Mahmud‘s friend who accompanied him trading answered.

“Do you know what the crow means?”

“No, Sir!” Mahmud answered.

“You need to know that it‘s  not a cock, but the General of Palembang Empire looking for an opponent. Those who answered the crow must fight against the General” the guard explained.

Hearing the explanation, Mahmud‘s face became pale. He felt so scared and regretful. Then Mahmud was carried to Sultan Palembang. “Hai, Youngster! Because you had answered my General crow, so you must fight him until dead”, Sultan Palembang said. Mahmud was becoming more scared hearing the Sultan‘s words. But, nothing could be done, it was to late . He couldn‘t turn back time. “This is my doom. But, before I die, I will fight the general as best as I can”, Mahmud said to himself. “Maybe this is the time I must use the martial-art trick which Apek taught  me”, he talked to himself again.

The day after, the fight between Mahmud versus the General Ayam Berkokok was held. The arena was crowded by people who wanted to see the yell fight. In the middle of the arena, there was Mahmud standing facing the General Ayam Berkokok. But, before the instruction given, the jury announced that the one who lost the fight would be punished, and the winner would get a present from the Sultan.

After the announcement, the instruction was gave as start of the fight. General Ayam Berkokok seemed show his opener trick lively, and then made a strong and burly stance. Meanwhile Mahmud looked so relax, although in his heart he felt so peevish looking the general deed. He assured that he could beat his opponent. “If the three branches Daik mount is truly having a sorcerer power, I can win this fight exactly”.

After Mahmud just suppressing, suddenly General Ayam Berkokok attacked him. With a little avoiding movement, Mahmud could avoid the general‘s punch. The general attacked Mahmud as many times as he shrieks because his attack could be broke by Mahmud. After the fight continued in  a few times, General Ayam Berkokok became peevish, because all of his attack could be broke by Mahmud. Then he used his pledge trick. Looking it, Mahmud became careful. At this time Mahmud mustn‘t careless, even a little.

Meanwhile, General Ayam Berkokok was ready to kill Mahmud. Furiously, he attacked Mahmud with his pledge trick. But, Mahmud could break the trick easily. Now, Mahmud know how far the general‘s ability. It seemed that the general had no tricks left. Mahmud didn‘t miss the chance. Mahmud stroked back and gave his tremendous punches. The general screamed because he was beaten by Mahmud‘s punches. He just received a few punches, the general felt down to the ground. When he just woke up, Mahmud gave him another punch so he felt down again until he couldn‘t make a move anymore. Seeing his general powerless, Sultan became worry. While people who were watching the fight cheered and greeted Mahmud winning.

Then, Sultan kept his promise. He hired Mahmud as general to replace General Ayam Berkokok. Then Mahmud became famous with his no comparison strength. But, it made Mahmud became boastful, selfish, and evil. He felt that he was the most strong and brawny, so everything that he did no one brave thwarts him, even Sultan Palembang. All women, concubines, and inangs that there in the palace been acted improperly by him. Even Sultan had no bravery to dare Mahmud‘s act which was become out of control. Because he couldn‘t compromise Mahmud‘s act anymore, Sultan wanted to search for someone who could beat Mahmud. But, there was no one could do that.

Then there was an issue that Mahmud‘s teacher whose name Apek Huang Tai was still alive in Daik Lingga. So, Sultan ordered his staffs to invite Apek to Palembang for persuading and reminding Mahmud. Apek Huang Tai was so angry and regretted for teaching Mahmud the secrets of the martial-art. Now he felt that he had a duty to remind Mahmud. If he didn‘t, his name as a teacher would turn bad.

Apek Huang Tai had known Mahmud‘s martial-art ability. So, before he met and fight against his student, firstly he made a trap on a bridge which were made of two pieces wood, near the palace. He cut the under side of the both pieces half part, so when Mahmud walked on it, surely he would fall into the ditch, and it was the time for Apek to attack him until he felt.

After all what he planned were done, Apek Huang Tai soon met Mahmud in his palace. At the time, Mahmud was sitting, rounded by his concubines, happily. Seeing his teacher, then Mahmud said hello to his teacher,” I, Pek! When are you coming from Daik? What do you want? You need money? Here I give you money  and go back to Daik!”. Heard that, Apek Huang Tai answered,” My son, I come here to meet you. I really miss you, son! Let‘s back to Daik, it is better for you  than you do evil act in this palace. Do you remember my advice? I want you become a good person, son!”

Hearing his teacher answer, Mahmud became angry. “Hei, you old man! Don‘t you know, I‘m the General of the Palembang Empire. Now, I have the authority in this palace. No one can thwart me, even you as my previous teacher. If you want to be safe, just go back to Daik. But if you don‘t, it means that you deliver your soul here”, Mahmud threatened his teacher.

Apek felt so sad hearing what his student said. He didn‘t expect if his beloved student would be disaffected. “Mud, My son! Come on. Let‘s go back to Daik. I don‘t want you to resist the Sultan. I have taught you to be a good person, like helping people, haven‘t I?, Apek Huang Tai tried to remind his disciple Mahmud.

Feeling being dictated, Mahmud was in the climax of his rage. “Hei, Pek! Don‘t treat me like that. Do you want me to punish you here?” Mahmud threatened.

Seeing Mahmud‘s attitude, Apek Huang Tai lost his patience. “Mud, if you don‘t go back, I will force you to,” Apek Huang Tai said. “Try if you can!” Mahmud mounted words against his teacher.

When Apek just step forward, Mahmud ran out the palace. Apparently, he really wanted to fight against his teacher. The teacher followed him outside. Then happened the fight between teacher and student. The fight was watched by people from the palace, including Sultan Palembang. They attacked each other violently. The teacher and his student had the same trick and movement. All of those who were watching the fight became spellbound. There was no sound that heard except the punch, backlash and breath snorts bumped power. But, the teacher had a problem, he was too old. Meanwhile, the student was still young, brilliant and courageous that didn‘t show even a little trouble.

Just in a little while, Apek Huang Tai‘s punches became weaker, and his breath became snatches. At the same time he remembered his bridge which had been appeared. Slowly, he moved backward to the bridge. When they arrived on the bridge, Apek Huang Tai attacked Mahmud with all of his ability until Mahmud pressed and tread the bridge. Finally, with strong and hard move, the bridge was broke and both of them fall into the ditch. At this time, Mahmud had sufficient time to send a punch to his teacher, and at the same time the teacher could injure Mahmud until he died.

It was the end of the fight between the teacher and the student, both of them died in the ditch.

***

The story above delivers two moral messages. One the most important moral message for the  people of Panggak Darat, the district Lingga, is especially for the martial-art teachers that as a martial-art teacher not to teach all of the martial-art secrets to the students, even the beloved one. It is to avoid things that we don‘t want. Like what Apek Huang Tai experienced in the story above, who taught all of his martial-art secrets to his student, Mahmud, that turned Mahmud became vainglorious and disobedient to his teacher. As the result, he killed his teacher with his own hands.

It was because the student didn‘t pay attention to his teacher words. If the student paid attention to his teacher‘s words, of course he would be safe. An Malayan old poetry said that a son or student shall always pays attention to his parents or teacher‘s advice wherever s(h)e goes. The below is for instance:

peliharalah petuah amanah ini
pahatkan olehmu di dalam hati
kalau jaga dijadikan tongkat
kalau tidur dijadikan selimut
kalau berjalan jadikan pakaian

kalau anak hidup di kampung
utamakan sifat tolong menolong

kalau anak hidup di negeri
utamakan sifat kasih mengasihi

kalau anak hidup berbangsa
utamakan sifat rasa merasa

kalau anak hidup berkaum
utamakan sifat semakan seminum

kalau anak hidup beramai
bertenggang rasa berbaik niat

kalau anak di rantau orang
fahami betul pantang dan larang

Embrace these words,

Craft them in your heart.
Use them as a stick when you are awake,
As a blanket when you are asleep,
And as a cloth to cover you when you walk.

When are in a land,
Be willing to give a hand.

When are in a foreign country,
Have heart for love for others.

When are as a nation,
Open heart for a union.

When are in a family,
Have heart for unity.

When are among others,
Be tolerant and have good intention.

When are not in the native nation,
Understand the prohibition. 

 

Sources:

• The story is summarized from: “Cerita Rakyat Daerah Riau” (a collection of folk lore from Riau), a Project of Local Culture. 1981. Jakarta: The project of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs in publishing books on Indonesian‘s national and local literature.
• Effendy, tenas. 2006. Tunjuk Ajar Melayu. Yogyakarta: the Center or the Improvement of Malayan Cultures in association with the AdiCita Karya Nusa.
• Anonymous. “Daik Lingga: Daik as the ex-center of the Kingdom of Riau Lingga”.  (http://www.ismusurizan.com/daik-lingga, accessed on December, 1. 2007).

(TL/MA/ter/16/01-08)

Tranlated from Indonesian version by (MA)

---

Insert your comment here :