Weekend comedy: The Bomoh Diploma
April 5th, 2009 gier Posted in Mentera Moden, Rant | 10 Comments »
It’s a Sunday evening, on the arse-end of the weekend. Are you enjoys?
Some of you are normal people, with family and stuff like that. So you probably try not to read the comics, on paper form or online. But the weekend edition of the comics also contain as much comedy as the weekday ones.
This weekend, we were treated with a piece of news which touches on one of the pet subjects here at mentera.org: Mystic beliefs and the charlatans who propagate them.
In the online version of the mainstream comic, The Star, we chanced upon an article titled: “University to offer Islamic Medical Course“. What is an Islamic Medical Course, you ask? Well, according to the article, and we shit you not, “The aim was to train Malay healers in the true teachings of Islam and to avoid “syrik and khurafat” (polytheism) practices in some Malay-Muslim communities.” That’s according to the Director of the Ministry of Health’s Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) Division.
The director went on to say that, “the graduates, who would be certified registered practitioners, would be self-employed to treat “santau” (a kind of deadly poison coupled with magical incantations) and other spiritual problems.”
Quite.
Further, “they might also be employed in selected government institutions in the future.”
And why not, eh?
It’s a two and a half year Diploma course. So, if I took the course myself, and passed, I can then pass you a name card like this:
Gier Mentera, (Dipl. Bomohlogy, University of Ontahmano)
Bomoh, Graduan Bumiputera
Pemegang Diploma Kursus Pembomohan
Pakar dalam memulihkan Santau, Rasukan Jin, Kayap, Pukau, Melatah,
dan Lain-lain Penyakit Rohani, Jasmani dan Seksologi.
Kelulusan diiktiraf Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia.
That would surely make you feel more confident, as I feel you up, chant mumbo-jumbo, spit on your face, read random verses from the Holy Book and so on. After all, I’d have a diploma to back me up, and one of my teachers would be Harun Din!
The Star was so excited by this news, they published it twice online, with different headlines. Here’s the other one: “Course on Islamic healing“.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health has a Traditional and Complementary Medicine Division. And we wonder why we’re doing shit at Science and Maths?
April 8th, 2009 at 15:27
Good Move…….Malaysia can become the center of Bomology. Hey! somebody got to do it…….
May 25th, 2009 at 13:38
Blog ape nie.. mcm sampah.. seriously Dude. Mcm mana aku bleh tersangkut kat Blog sampah mcm nie..mentaliti blog nie tersangatlah rendah.
May 28th, 2009 at 14:14
Its sad…..when somebody’s mind have become so short and retarded that they do not have any sense of humour. Anything that is beyond their understand become a garbage!
June 16th, 2009 at 16:14
Hey I really really like this post. I find you hilarious!! Harry Potter went to school didn’t he? so why shouldn’t we bomohs?
After all, there are many con bomohs out there, might as well you know who are the real ones by well “Kelulusan diiktiraf Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia.”
So why are you learning science and maths you ask? you still need them even in the bomoh practice.. The wiser you are, the more you attract clients. After all seeking help from such mediums as bomohs is not only limited to the ignorant but also the ones living in town.
And by then, I think bomohs will need to have license to continue their practice and the goverment ministry of education will make plenty more of money!!
July 28th, 2009 at 12:58
Bro… kau ni masih islam ke dah murtad? Kalau dah murtad then takyah la aku nak cakap apa dah… tapi kalau masih Islam, gini…
Bomoh & Islamic medicine lain la bro… lu cakap macam lu tau ja… check la dulu… hampeh… Yg lu kutuk tu bomoh melayu yg karut marut… Islamic medicine lain lah bro… not a bad idea lu amik course tu bro…
July 28th, 2009 at 13:31
It’s when I receive comments from the likes of djinn and meon that I feel that life is worth living. It gives me a mission in life. A mission to continue writing stuff and expose the shallow, and puerile essence of so many of us in our poor, multi-racist, blighted country.
I like.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:03
Thot’ the Ministry of Health’s Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) Division has been preoccupied with the Chinese sinseh medicines and even overwhelming the bulk of the former buildings of MOH in KL and to mention the fund from the Minister. This isn’t weekend comedy. Such a waste and abuse!
Why don’t you write and highlight about this which really has happened rather than hog on something you don’t really understand and putting words that may be offensive to others. Islamic healing vs bomoh are two different entities. If you think Malaysia is a poor, multi-racist & blighted country full of shallow-minded population as you put it then move on and go elsewhere.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:20
Many people become bomoh to make money by cast spell (magic) using syaitan jin and hantu to rasuk or possess you. Your boss don’t like you and want you to resign from work, your mother in-law or wife want to queen control you, or somebody want to “bawa lari you”, they will seek these bomo. They can be bomoh jawa, sakai, siam etc. Jin will disturb your mind and feeling, enter your body and disturb certain part of you organ.You are sick but no modern medicine can detect your sickness. But in long run, you can be physically sick and part of your organ can be destroyed by jin and hantu. They can cause hell of sickness and pain. And there are good bomoh who solely work to cure you from these work of jin and syaitan.They will cause them to leave your body. In most cases, if there are somedody who are envy and jeolous of you and want to destroy you by using bomoh, it is quite difficult to cure. But all happens with the consent of Allah. No creatures are powerful to make things happens without His consent.
March 23rd, 2010 at 18:15
Science & Math are not exclusive domains of modern medicine. You are inferring that a student of Islamic medicine will inevitably flop as a science & math student / was already a failure. Why so jaded?
Apa salahnya belajar ilmu perubatan Islam? It’s an alternative to people seeking treatment for illnesses of the body and sometimes mind and soul. Western medicine has been to remove the symptom & not the cause. My daily dose of Zyrtec proves my point.
I bother reading your posting because occasionally there are some pretty smart articles. But please don’t fall into the trap of the Melayu PJ sindrom, which I associate with marginally smart Malays, opinionated bordering on egotistical and is embarassed to admit that there are things that fall beyond the scope of his comprehension.
June 28th, 2010 at 8:32
Assalamualaikum,
Accidently come across this site. Agree with djin and oreng Malay. You my dear friend need to thingk hard about yourself….islamic medicine, bomoh (good/bad ones inclusive),traditional medicines, modern medicines, chinese medicines,indian etc..are all knowledges based on different ideas and hence practices..pick your choice..more better..but dont condemn and belittle things that are beyond your own knowledge.learn to respect others and only then you CAN be respected. Modern does not mean rejecting Islamic values and ‘old ideas’.. God Luck and May Allh bless you.