PERAK’s Sultan Nazrin Shah today made famed cartoonist Lat, whose real name is Mohd Nor Khalid, the royal artist (seniman diraja). 

Sultan Nazrin said the honour was given in recognition of Lat’s significant role and contributions to the country.

The sultan announced the award in his address during the opening ceremony of Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah today.

He said he hopes the treasures on display at Lat House Gallery can inspire the people, especially young Malaysians. 

Sultan Nazrin said the legacy of such a great artist should be preserved for the younger generation, and wants the gallery to become a treasure trove to all. 

“May Lat House Gallery remain a symbol of the great achievement of an artist, whom God blessed with extraordinary talent.”

Sultan Nazrin said through simple sketches, Lat managed to highlight the truths of living in a society of different races, religions, cultures and languages.

“Lat sees these differences as a national asset and treasure of immense value and chooses to emphasise the shared experiences of these multi-ethnic members of society” in his depictions of wedding ceremonies, festive celebrations, schooling years, getting caught in traffic crawls, enjoying food at restaurants, and more, the ruler said.

“His work carries a clear message that people of diverse backgrounds instinctively live in peace and harmony with the spirit of mutual respect. Diverse people do not harbour prejudices towards one another due to their differences in race, religious beliefs, cultural practices, and language proficiency.

“Lat House Gallery displays the history, twists and turns of an artist’s journey, recording the various achievements of a ‘kampung’ (village) boy who became a ‘town boy’, and who now stands proud among internationally renowned artists,” said Sultan Nazrin.

“Lat remains a humble village boy, embodying the paddy plant – the more it grows, the lower it bends. May God grant Lat the best of health to continue his work,” he said.

The ruler said Lat’s observation of life’s vibrance is reflected in his popular works “Kampung Boy” and “Town Boy”, which are examples of his detailed observations on issues in rural and urban life. 

“Lat stands out within Malaysia’s cartooning scene, his contribution and involvement elevating him as an intelligent and ingenious cartoonist of unique character.

“His simple sketches perfected through experience have placed Lat’s works in a class of their own, garnering various international awards and accolades, which in turn, have brought glory to the nation,” he said.

Sultan Nazrin said Lat’s works touch on the lives of ordinary people such as bus and taxi drivers, traffic policemen, Customs and Immigration officers, doctors and nurses, judges and lawyers, sports figures, and national leaders, covering issues on local, national and international fronts.

“Behind humorous caricatures and snappy dialogue lie serious philosophy and messages, witty sarcasm, questions, and advice, all conveyed with wisdom and intellectual acuity that invited neither conflict nor hostility,” said Sultan Nazrin.

Lat was keenly interested in comics published in Utusan Melayu and Utusan Zaman since he was a child. 

Among his early works are “Karya Tua Keladi” published in Majalah Filem in Singapore in 1966, and the “Keluarga Si Mamat” comic series first published in 1968 and ran for 26 years in Berita Minggu. – Bernama, July 8, 2023.