Malay-Chinese literature was examined by Salmon
(1985:30). According to him, in 1852 during the
Netherlands Indies there were around 1165 Chinese
residents aged 12 years and over. The closeness of
the Chinese people and Malay ethnic group made
them acculturated.
Basically, Wayang Cecak in the Riau islands was
adapted from the Chinese puppet show. The
interraction between Malay and Chinese cultures has
been going on for a long time. Salmon (1985:30)
quoted
"... ada satoe njonja Tionghoa dengan anak
prampocannja, golongan orang baek-baek tapi
miskin, jang biasa tjari penghiopenan dengan trima
oepah menjanji dan mendongeng. Beberapa njonja
biasa patoengan aken ondang itoe iboe dan anak di
salah satoe roemah boeat dengerkan rame-rame
marika poenja dongengan dan njanjian, jang
biasanja diberikoetkan djoega dengan taboengan
gambang ... Banjak njonja-njonja Tionghoa jang
pande berpantoen lantaran soedah biasa denger
wajang tjokek jang meramekan pesta-pesta jang
mempoenjai stock besar dari segala machem
pantoenan..." (Claudine Salmon, 1985:30)
“There was a Chinese woman with her daughter
from a good but poor family. They earned their
living by singing and story-telling. Some hostesses
would collect some money to invite the mother and
daughter to sing songs and narrate folklores in one
of the houses. This occasion would be accompanied
by gambang musical instrument.... Many Chinese
mistresses could recite the poems because they had
been familiar with the Wayang Cecak that was
performed in big parties with a lot of poetry
reading….” (Claudine Salmon, 1985:30)
Wayang Cecak as the product of aculturation
existed in the past and was developed in the Riau
regions, especially in Penyengat island. Even though
Wayang Cecak is now no longer performed, its
traces are still aparent in the public memory. The
process of tracing back was conducted by
intervieweing several live-show spectators.
According to Mr. Ibrahim and Mr. Adenan from
Daik Lingga (as conveyed by Yoan Sutrisna, 2016),
the puppets were made of cloth. These dolls were
small in size, about 7.8 inches or 20 cm. Cotton was
inserted into the dolls to shape them in proportion.
This puppet was played at night with a kerosene
lamp and was played on a portable mini stage. This
puppet show told well-known stories from the old
Malay poems, such as Siti Zubaidah, Selendang
Delima, and the story of King Haj and the Chinese
Captain.
The information about the dolls made of cloth
and stuffed with cotton was justified by Mrs. Zainab,
wife of Raja Hamzah, the owner of the Indrasakti
Foundation in Penyengat Island. The same
information was affirmed by Mr. Ibrahim Jantan, a
cultural observer of Penyengat island.
Another trail that deserves attention is the
collection of around 50 puppets in the Setiadarma
Mask House in Bali. The most interesting
information of the puppet show tells that the puppet
show was originated from the Hok Kian province in
China with the name of Wayang Kaet or Mu Euw
Shi. These puppets have become the collection of
the Mask and Puppet House of Setiadarma, in
Sukawati, Gianjar, since 2010. Wayang Gaek (Mu
Euw Shi) performs folklores that are popular among
Chinese descents living in Tanjungpinang, Riau
Islands, and the surrounding areas. Those dolls were
obtained from antique dealers. The question which
follows is whether Wayang Cecak has something to
do with Wayang Kaet.
The public memory of the Wayang Cecak was
also traced through four different works that might
have been inspired by Wayang Cecak, but with
different performances. First, the theatrical puppet
performance of Yoan Sutrisna (2013). This young
artist works in cooperation with the Sabda Bunian
community and Sanggar Lembayung to make a
puppet show made of cardboard paper. The story
played was taken from a fragment of “Raja Haji
Fisabilillah against the Dutch collonial” at
Tanjungpinang City Art Council.
Second, the dance “Lenggang Cecak”
choreographed by Hasnizar Hood. This dance was
played by 8 people with a duration of 10 minutes.
This dance was performed at the Riau Island Art
Council. Third, the “Senandung Perce” dance
created by Azmi Mahmud. This performance was
played by 10 young men. According to the
choreographer, this dance was created based on his
memory of the Wayang Cecak. The fourth, a novelet
by Hasan Junus (2005) entitled “Pengantin Boneka”
deicted clearly about the Wayang Cecak puppet
show. The play played “Amuk si Biring Kuning,” a
Malay legend that tells about the origin of mermaids.
This novelet becomes the most complete records of
Wayang Cecak.
In this paper there are also some important things
about the dalang or the puppeters. One of them is
Salamah who lives in a small island (Referred to as
Penyengat island). Her father became a widower
after her mother passed away on the day when she
was born. Her father gave her the name Salamah
which means ‘female carrier of peace.’ Salamah’s