Buah Kepayang

"Sayang-sayang buah kepayang, dimakan mabuk dibuang sayang".

A person is facing a decision: to eat or not to eat this fruit by the scientific name of trichosanthes tricuspidata. If he eats it, it will intoxicate him ; if he discards it, it will be a waste of food.

Kepayang tree is as tall as a durian tree. The fruits measuring between 15 - 17 cm, is said to resemble bread fruit. There are about 6 - 8 seeds inside. The seeds turn black after soaking.

I suspect the dilemma whether to eat or to throw kepayang arises from the hard work involved in preparing it into an appetizing dish. One of the techniques is to soak the fruit in water for a week. Next you either boil or roast it. Then you can slice, marinate with salt and turmeric and, fry the fruit.

MUJI Mohamad of Jerantut selling crispy buttery and black kepayang slices in condense milk cans for RM2 each - Utusan Malaysia archives, May 26, 2009.

The soaking and boiling/roasting is necessary to get rid the bitterness and toxin. Kepayang when taken raw, is intoxicating - as indicated by the saying at the onset.

Oh...I would love to dip a blowpipe missile with kepayang poison to shoot those shameful Malaysian drivers who use one car to take up parking lots for two, reserving the worst for those who occupy the parking lot for the disable. ( Snake eyes* )

Too bad...I myself have never seen a kepayang which used to be in found in abundance in the forest reserve around Sungai Tembeling. Sharing the fate of forest products, it is becoming scarce these days. So scarce that, it is feared the younger generation will not know kepayang and the Malay saying associated with it...until they have to check a kamus for the meaning...( start flipping pages )

"Umpama buah kepayang, dimakan mabuk dibuang sayang ( peribahasa ) sesuatu yang disayangi tetapi merosakkan." - explanation from our honourable National Language authority, karyanet.com.my

Apparently the saying above meant something that you like but it is detrimental. Another reference book* also states that synonymous sayings are:

"Nak ditelan termengkelan, nak diluah tak keluar."

"Digenggam takut mati, dilepaskan takut terbang."

"Ditelan mati emak, diluah mati bapa."

*Dipetik daripada halaman 15 " Ace Ahead Kertas Model Cemerlang PMR Bahasa Malaysia oleh Aki Muhammad, terbitan Cemerlang Publications Sdn. Bhd.

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