Salina tells a story of a Malay society, who is still deep in its traditional beliefs, in a small village called Kampung Kambing, Singapore, after the Second World War. It portrays poverty, social decay and a personal battle of a person to safeguard her dignity in the midst of poverty in a Malay society in Singapore. Although these conflicts are not new in the Malay literature, Samad managed to display his art of writing via dialogues and personality of the characters in Salina. He portrays that the human born as Salina is the real human, unlike others who are soul-less puppets whose life behind the facade is filled with hypocrisy and lies.

      In Salina, Salina is the main character of the novel who works as a prostitute, a job scorned by the Malay society. She is born rich but the war robs the family and properties away from her. She falls poor, chooses to live in Kampong Kambing and works as a prostitute to earn a living. However, despite being a prostitute, she has a generous heart. Salina always helps her neighbours in Kampung Kambing and has Hilmy as her neighbour, whom she treats as a brother. 

      Salina lives with Abdul Fakar, whom she keeps as his man. Although she loves Abdul Fakar all her heart, Abdul Fakar is unhappy and always picks fight with her. Abdul Fakar also does not work and financially relies on Salina. Despite relying on Salina, he is ungrateful and womanises, which drives Salina miserable and sad. Salina loves Abdul Fakar very much as he looks similar to Yusuf, her old flame who perishes in the war.

One day, Razman, Abdul Fakar’s friend when he was a sailor came to the brothel where Salina works. He asks Salina about her tumultuous life with Abdul Fakar lately. Then, Razman advises her to leave Abdul Fakar and not rot with him. Razman manages to make Salina realise her mistakes. Especially after Abdul Fakar hits her when he brings another woman, Madulara, into their home, of which after the incidence Salina is evicted from their house.

       Desperate, Salina follows Mek Kalsum to run away to Kelantan, a place far away from Singapore. Mek Kalsum so happens wants to go back home to Kelantan as her mother is ill. When her mother is well that Mek Kalsum returns to Singapore but Salina decides to remain in Malaysia and work in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

        Abdul Fakar regrets his behaviour towards Salina and realises Salina’s true love but she makes her mind to live in Kuala Lumpur. Abdul Fakar sees that he has actually lost her, decides to return to his old life as a sailor.

        Which only won him a consolation price in a competition organised by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, a body governing publication and literary in Malaysia, Samad spoke on immoral issues and against the Islamic beliefs. His bravery to write on something against the society’s beliefs had gained him fame. Salina was written in 1958 when he was just 23 years old.

My View :

Sad , sad , and very disepointed . Loaded with the reality of life that is difficult to understand, because we do not suffer it . People has been easy to judge , because we do not understand the situation of some people , mental or physical condition . Even contemptuous of a prostitute in the eyes of society, but what is stored in her heart , what we know everything ? Really, no one but God to punish improper . True, for this life it is not easy , all sorts of problems from every corner of life.