Lat at the opening of Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah.— filepic
A VIVID memory for famed cartoonist Lat of Aug 31, 1957, was of his father and his friends driving to Kuala Lumpur to join in the momentous event marking the country’s independence.
Lat, whose real name is Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, recalled that when he was a young boy of six his father travelled from Pahang to join in the celebrations at Stadium Merdeka.
“We were living in the army camp in Mentakab as my father was a clerk with the Fifth Malay Regiment.
“At the time I didn’t fully understand the significance of that moment as I was just a young boy.
“Although I did not go, I knew everyone was happy and it was a very important moment.”
Now 72 years old, the artist, known for his uncanny ability to capture the essence of the multiracial Malaysian life, got a chance to revisit the army camp where he had lived.
Lat said he was fortunate to be able to make the trip back in early August.
A sculpture of Lat’s cartoon character at Jalan Raja Chulan in Kuala Lumpur. — Filepic
“It was a trip I had been planning for years. Even during my visit there I shared stories with the army folk about living there and about National Day in 1957.
“It was a sentimental journey for me as I have love for that place.”
Lat said his career as a newsman in Kuala Lumpur had painted a clearer picture for him on the significance of National Day and Malaysia Day.
“It was nice to see families watching the parade in Kuala Lumpur and kids sitting on parents’ shoulders,” he said
Lat, who was recently bestowed the title of Seniman Diraja (Royal Artist) by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, hopes Malaysians will mark Malaysia Day in some way.
He hopes the people will go out and celebrate the occasion, especially the youth.
“We are Malaysians and we are happy and proud of our country.”
Lat, who was born in 1951 in Kota Bharu, Batu Gajah in Perak, gained his nickname from the Malay word bulat (round), which referred to his rounded cheeks.
At 11, he designed the cover of his school magazine Suara Pasir Puteh.
His early works included Tiga Sekawan Menangkap Pencuri (Three Friends Catch Thieves) in 1964 and Karya Tua Keladi that was published in a Singaporean magazine called Majalah Filem in 1966.
He also had a comic series called Keluarga Mamat that was first published in 1968 and continued for 26 years in Berita Minggu.
In 1974, his comic Bersunat (Circumcision) was published in Hong Kong.
The publication led to him being appointed as a cartoonist in a national English daily where he had a special column called ‘Scenes of Malaysian Life’.
His caricatures captured the realities of living in a multiracial society, including its harmonious aspects.
Artworks of the iconic cartoonist is now showcased at Galeri Rumah Lat (Lat House Gallery) in Batu Gajah.
The gallery, launched by Sultan Nazrin Shah, is housed in a traditional Malay Perak Limas house, which features five roofs.
It consists of several sections such as two exhibition areas, a Lat exhibition area, Lat art garden, souvenir shop, cafe and an office.
