Netizens share nostalgic throwback to bombastic Malay words they once used in SPM essays to sound intellectual
DURING school days, many believed that adding bombastic language and fancy vocabulary would earn extra marks in essay writing.
Amid the SPM season, Malaysians are sharing nostalgic memories of the “bombastic” Malay words they once proudly used in their karangan essays, laughing at how they once felt like top-tier writers.
In a Threads post, Muhammad recalled writing “anjakan paradigma” and feeling like the renowned Malay novelist A. Samad Said.
Ruzanna Yusof joked, “Adding ‘dewasa ini’ made me feel like I could send my essay to Dewan Pustaka’s magazine.”
Meanwhile, Milly shared that she loved using ‘dasawarsa ini’, which made her feel like a seasoned columnist, Astora Jabat.
Adding humour to the thread, Firdaus said essays about social issues would always turn into a “blame game”.
“The causes of social problems must always be blamed on peer influence, busy parents, and the impact of films and entertainment,” he added.
Fatin Hazwani reminded everyone of the classic conclusion line: “In conclusion, parents, the community, and teachers must work together to reduce such issues.”
Other frequently mentioned phrases included ‘era globalisasi’, ‘kemelut ekonomi’, ‘alaf baru’ and ‘natijahnya’.
Proving the 90s and early 2000s trend, one user said that mentioning keywords such as 2G technology, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made students sound “aware of real-world and national issues.”
