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DATUK MOHAMMAD NOR KHALID @ LAT
Cartoonist Lat is a kampung boy with a cosmopolitan worldview. Not only do his works transcend racial, political and class barriers at home, they are also well-liked abroad, writes RIDZWAN A. RAHIM.
Some of the most enduring scenes drawn by cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid (or Lat) can be found in his book, Town Boy.
One is when Mat visits his new friend Frankie to listen to records. People understand the scene, even though the dialogue between Frankie and his family is in Mandarin. But if you have always wondered what the Chinese characters mean, here is the translation.
"Mama, he wants to listen to some music," says Frankie.
"Before you listen to music, you have to eat first," says mama.
"Ah Seng, go and buy a pau, " Frankie tells his brother.
Later, as Ah Seng hands over the pau to Mat, he tells his brother: "The shape of his head is similar to the pau."
Another scene in the book has a proud-looking boy, Lingam, playing in the school brass band during sports day. Lingam's father says in Tamil: "Good! Good! Our Lingam. He's doing well. Everyone's watching him."
The next thing we know, Lingam's samping drops to his...