Petronas angkat puisi ‘Jangan Kau Kata’ sempena Hari Kebangsaan

Petronas has recently reintroduced the poem "Jangan Kau Kata," penned by Malaysia's National Laureate, Muhammad Salleh, for their short film to mark Malaysia's 69th Independence Day and Malaysia Day in 2026. The film adaptation of the poem, titled "Jangan Kau Kata," draws inspiration from Salleh's work from 1972. The poem's message emphasizes the importance of not judging a society solely based on external appearances without understanding their culture, lifestyle, and values.

The poem addresses perceptions of a nation as lazy, weak, uncultured, and poor, while highlighting the rich cultural and social life through syair, pantun, wayang kulit, tenunan songket, folk songs, and rural life. The repeated phrase "jangan kau" in the poem serves as a warning against making hasty judgments or stereotypes about others.

The film visualizes Muhammad's poem through various aspects of Malaysian life, such as culture, traditions, and harmonious coexistence. Additionally, it underscores the importance of human values as part of a society's wealth, alongside progress and prosperity. Despite being written over five decades ago, "Jangan Kau Kata" still carries a message relevant to contemporary Malaysian society, emphasizing values such as respecting others, living together, preserving culture, and upholding the legacy of past generations.

The film also encourages viewers to reconsider their perception of Malaysian society and appreciate the values and culture that shaped the nation. Since its debut on Petronas' official YouTube channel on August 26, "Jangan Kau Kata" has garnered over a million views.