Message in ‘Guli Guli’ even more relevant today

MORE than 40 years ago, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing satirised Malaysian life from the vantage point of building unity and often political oddities of politicians.

He characterised stereotypes of the Malaysians with artistic skill, hyperbole and satire with quick strokes of the pen and summed up complex situations in powerful images that explained everything.

The cartoon series are now compiled into a collectors’ edition – Guli Guli – which means marbles in the Malay language.

The humble cartoons Lim created brought about togetherness and understanding that made sense all those years ago and are still relevant today, in fact more than ever.

His clever and humourously crafted cartoon strips question the country’s narrative on race issues and the quirks and traits of the ordinary man.

The cartoon strips are seen as building cohesion among the races and promoting acceptance of the country’s multi-cultural diversity.

For example, the portrayal of unity was seen through three characters who represent the Malay, Chinese and Indian. The characters – the amateur philosopher Bakar, fence-sitter Ah Boo and dreamer Muthu – often disagree with one another. But the bond among them reflected the spirit of 1Malaysia.

Then there are issues that are close to the Malaysians such as the general elections. Although the political situation 30 years ago was far different, the social messages and the pecularities are still applicable in today’s Malaysia.

Called ABU, the cartoon strips which initially appeared in the Eastern Sun newspaper became Malaysia’s first local daily cartoon series.

In 1982, Guli Guli strips were featured on billboards all over the country, carrying goodwill messages for all Malaysians.

To this day, Guli Guli is remembered for its unique representation of Malaysia’s ethnic eccentricities.