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Name Matric Number Nur Syaahidah binti Mohd Redzuan 149198 Nur Ashikin binti Mohamed Ramzan 146137 Sivanesh Raj Sarvesvaran 148368 Illamathi Varatharaj 149850 Nurul Afifah binti Azaha 145893.

Audio Recording 7 Dec 2021 at 3:09:47 PM. The Weight of our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Contrasting the attitude of major characters in the novel with respect to the theme of nation building.

A fictional story but based on an actual historical events that took place in Malaysia. Tackles themes like mental health, racism, trauma and nation-building. In chapter 4, Auntie Bee who happens to be in the same cinema as Melati, rescued her. The character of Auntie Bee who never saw any difference in Malays, Chinese and Indians just that everyone is human had been portrayed very well to the readers. Auntie Bee’s character contributes to the example of nation-building attitude. In contrast to Frankie, who was fuelled with hatred and desire to revenge. In chapter 4, Frankie despise the idea of his mother bringing Melati, a Malay girl to their home. Frankie labelled the Malays are lazy which shows the example of ‘casual racism’. . As Malaysians, we should be willing to hold up the sky together, no matter the forces that try to drive us apart. This is our country, our home..

Audio Recording 7 Dec 2021 at 3:11:09 PM. The Weight of our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Contrasting the attitude of major characters in the novel with respect to the theme of nation building.

This novel shows how casual racism comments happen in everyday life that divide Malays and Chinese. In chapter 2, they heard rumours people were throwing pig’s flesh at people’s houses as an insult to Muslim Malay. In chapter 4, Frankie sniffs and said "Who asked them to be so lazy” retorts Malay as lazy. Contrast with Frankie’s father who has been understanding and forgiving, the character's attitude is being described in Chapter 11. Another casual racism, be seen from the racist comment from Saffiyah’s father where he claimed that Chinese people are communist. However, the casual racism comment is paired with observation of the major character’s attitude which is when Melati note that her best friend’s father always thinks that Chinese people are communist even when they are not. Arjunan Narayanan and Kamarulnizam Abdullah in Keselamatan Nasional Malaysia (2013), “the incident of May 13, 1969 communal crisis was a turning point in Malaysia‘s political system. “It had changed “the structure of Malaysia’s race relations”..

Audio Recording 7 Dec 2021 at 3:12:05 PM. The Weight of our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Contrasting the attitude of major characters in the novel with respect to the theme of nation building.

Nurul Afifah Binti Azaha / 145893. T he novel's depiction of racism and race relations transcends a Malaysian setting. The Weight of Our Sky is a narrative about how, in times of crisis, people will put their differences aside – even if those differences are what fuel animosity and dread – and band together to aid one another. Auntie Bee helped Melati despite coming from different background. Frankie hates Malays and accused their kind for being the cause of the riot. Andrew is kind and compassionate. I t is about how the Malaysian people are more than this tragedy; they are diverse, resilient, multifaceted, compassionate, and resourceful..

Audio Recording 7 Dec 2021 at 3:12:52 PM. The Weight of our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Contrasting the attitude of major characters in the novel with respect to the theme of nation building.

The novel ‘The Weight on Our Sky’, Hanna appeals to humanity by having the Malay Muslim Melati's life saved by a Christian Chinese family, who are split on how they feel about the rioting. The book's agony and realism were heightened by the intimate depiction of Melati's OCD episodes. This contrast between two best friends in this story exist because of the trauma that the riots caused and obviously shaped who they were. The guilt of not being able to be there when the father passed and leaving her best friend in the middle of riot haunts her forever. Differences on how everyone perceives this May 13, because everyone has their very own different story attached to this event that can possibly bring all of us together as a nation if we put some effort to it. Frankie is Auntie Bee’s son in this story. Though they are a family, they have different views on the riot and especially towards the Malays. Many factors as to why a person reacts the way they do. Trauma can’t always be used as a pass to do or say whatever they want. The contrast between the attitudes of these main characters should be not taken lightly but to discuss about and taken seriously.

Audio Recording 7 Dec 2021 at 3:21:47 PM. The Weight of our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Contrasting the attitude of major characters in the novel with respect to the theme of nation building.

References Association for Asian Studies (2020, Apr 29). The Weight of Our Sky retrieved from https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-weight-of-our-sky/ News Straits Times (2019,May 21). May 13 and societal insecurity retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/490145/may-13-and-societal-insecurity.