By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH — National icon and legendary cartoonist, Seniman Negara Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, better known as Datuk Lat, was deeply touched when his beloved creation, The Kampung Boy, was brought to life on stage at the JKKN Perak Auditorium from November 14 to 16.
Speaking at a press conference after the theatre’s preview last night, Datuk Lat expressed pride and gratitude that his iconic work, inspired nearly half a century ago, has been given a new life through a soulful stage performance.
“I draw for the people and the nation. For over 50 years, I’ve connected with Malaysians through silent sketches — only lines and expressions. But tonight, those stories come alive on stage, complete with meaningful, funny, and heartfelt dialogues,” he said.
He added that the performance rekindles the nostalgia of village life, a timeless symbol of Malaysian identity.
Although The Kampung Boy was inspired by his real-life experiences growing up in the countryside, Datuk Lat explained that elements of fiction were also woven in to make the story more engaging.
“I was born and raised in a kampung before moving to Sungai Rokam. Some of the stories are true, while others are added to capture the spirit of that era,” he said, joking that the Lat portrayed on stage is “not quite as round as the real one.”
Datuk Lat also reminisced about producing the 26-episode Kampung Boy animated series with production teams from the Philippines and the United States in the 1990s, a project that became one of Malaysia’s most successful international animations.
Reflecting on the stage adaptation, he praised the production team for their creative effort in presenting The Kampung Boy as a lively and nostalgic performance.
“As a cartoonist, I can only tell stories through images. But on stage, these characters speak, laugh, and cry, bringing back memories I once lived through,” he shared.
He also invited the public to catch the performance and join the special “Ate Moh Nyembang” session with him on November 16 at 2.30 pm at JKKN Perak.
The Kampung Boy theatre adaptation celebrates not only a cherished artistic work but also honours the remarkable journey of a national artist who has brought Malaysia’s village culture and identity to the world stage.
