Tuan Yah
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Title: Tuan Yah Binti Tuan Kechik
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “My name is Tuan Yah. I am 78 years old. My father’s name is Tuan Kechik and my mother is called Tuan Jah. When I was in my teens, I went to amusement park with my elder brother and sister. I loved to braid my hair and cover my head with blue or yellow scarf. I met one guy, named Yusof and he liked me very much. I was running around the amusement park and he couldn’t take his eyes off me. My younger cousin sister noticed that and told me that he fell in love with me. My cousin sister had got married that time and she went to tell Yusof that I was still single. I felt uneasy after knowing it. Then Yusof dated me to have a walk at the park. We went out and had casual talk. I also liked him too. However, after suffering from leprosy, I seldom went to amusement park. At last, Yusof came to my house to propose to me. I was so nervous and hid in the room. This was because I had patches of vitiligo on my face. When the weather was hot, the affected spots were red in colour and I looked so ugly. I didn’t want to let Yusof to see my face. After suffering from leprosy, I had been very depressed. Last time, people were so scared of leprosy and I really felt inferior. I was admitted to the settlement since I was 20 years old and this disease had forced me to leave my family members. I also lost contact with Yusof since then.”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Tuan Yah
Copyright: Tuan Yah
Title: Climbing The Coconut Tree
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “I came from a small village near the sea in Kelantan and there was a coconut plantation. My father was a coconut candy seller. Since young, I was good at climbing coconut trees. I liked to climb trees with my father and helped him to pluck the coconuts. I have an elder brother, one elder sister and a younger brother but all of them had passed away. Currently I have a nephew who still remembers me and visits me. I am the only Malay in this ward and the rest are Chinese. They have televisions and they watch Chinese channels. I don’t have friend. When I was at the old ward, I had a friend called Sofiah who came from Kelantan too. She worked as a guard. But I heard that she has been transferred by her boss to work at other place. I really wish to go back to my hometown, Kelantan to have a look but it is very inconvenient for me to move around now. It is impossible for me to go back to my hometown anymore. ”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Tuan Yah
Copyright: Tuan Yah
Title: Abdul Rahman Bin Ismail
Year: 2017
Words in the Drawing: “My husband’s name is Abdul Rahman Bin Ismail. He came from Pangkor Island. We met each other here and he was also a leprosy patient. Besides having crooked right hand, he looked healthy physically like normal people. After getting married, we stayed together at the chalet and our chalet no. was 250. My husband was a smart person and he worked diligently. Why I said he was smart? This was because he made friends with Chinese since he was a young kid and they played together. As a result, he was able to speak Cantonese and Hokkien well. He worked as a cleaner at the settlement. He was responsible to clean the streets and collect garbage. His monthly salary was RM31. When someone asked him to chop wood at the forest, he also followed. He was willing to do whatever in order to earn more money. That was why I said he worked extra hard. He loved me very much and didn’t allow me to go out to work. As long as I cooked meals and did housework at home would be sufficient. I felt very happy. I really wished to give birth to a baby but I have infertility problem and my dream wouldn’t come true. We have got married for 4 years and he passed away due to colorectal cancer. How good if we could have children, at least my children could come to visit me when I get older. What a pity!”
Size: 17.5cm X 15.2cm
Location: The Valley of Hope Story Gallery
Owner: Tuan Yah
Copyright: Tuan Yah