JAN 17 ― What is so dumb about Najib Razak’s “kangkung” comment that nobody seems to recognize or point out is this.

While personally I like kangkung masak pedas, kangkung is hardly the “prince” of vegetables.

On the contrary.

It is the lowest form of vegetable life in the cultural or “food prestige” hierarchy.

It is ― meaning that it is seen as ― the meanest and most meagre.

As the vegetable of and for those who can afford nothing better, fancier.

Other religions and cultures speak in a certain context of the “bread of affliction” and degradation.

In the same way, in the Malay world kangkung is the vegetable of poverty, humiliation and abasement.

It is demeaned and demeaning. As are those who, lacking other affordable alternatives, must eat it regularly and often, as a staple.

It is “sayur hina.”

In a world where all other vegetables are “poetry,” it is a sole word of plain (dietary) prose.

When the starving French mobs demanded bread in 1789, Marie Antoinette is famously (and supposedly) said to have responded:

“Well, if they have no bread, if plain loaf-bread is beyond their means and reach, they should eat brioches (meaning fancy bread rolls or cakes)!”

That was dumb.

But the kangkung remark is dumber.

It is the opposite.

He is saying, in effect, well, if you cannot afford ever more expensive asparagus or broccoli or kailan or any other vegetable or food of style and quality and social prestige, “go eat kangkung!”

Whether intended or not, that is his message.

That is just plain dumb.

Dumber than Marie Antoinette...

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.