ANN/THE STAR – Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand’s central banks have established three bilateral memoranda of understanding (MoUs). These MoUs create a collaborative framework to boost bilateral transactions using local currencies among the nations.

In a shared announcement, the central banks of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand revealed an expansion of the framework’s scope. This expansion encompasses additional cross-border transactions beyond trade and direct investment, with a gradual implementation approach.

These agreements will also align with cross-border payment initiatives, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in local currency settlements.

“The MoUs are set to strengthen cross-border economic activities, enhance regional financial market stability, and deepen local currency markets in the three countries,” said the statement.

The MoUs supersede the MoUs on local currency settlement framework signed between the three central banks on August 27, 2015, and December 23, 2016.

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, Bank Negara Governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour and Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput signed the documents on the sidelines of the Asean Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in Jakarta.

ANN/THE DAILY STAR – Heartbreak is a bundle of emotions; full of angst, misery and bitterness. While it may feel like the end of the world to some, to others it is ultimate betrayal; rejecting love. It can be tough to get over habits that you shared, smells that reminds you of good days but most importantly, you have to stop and feel the beginning of something much better.

Psychologists emphasises that ‘grief is complicated’ and when it comes to the dealings of the heart there is no way around it; healing a broken heart takes time. You cannot compare yourself to anyone as everyone heals differently. Time is your true friend. Not to let time heal your wounds while you writhe in self-pity or allow your emotions to engulf you, but to move with time. Move forward with what should be your topmost priority, you.

During this period of heightened emotional discrepancy, you are most likely to forget yourself. Among it all, give yourself space to feel all of it. Grief tends to take a toll on your physical stability while your emotions all run around like headless chickens. Don’t beat yourself up and give yourself the freedom to get distracted. Do not deprive yourself of fresh air, sunlight, food and the shower or bath; these are crucial for you as well as the people who cares about you.

Do something that brings you pleasure every day. Yes, one thing a day that you would not do for whatever earthly reasons. Self-love is crucial. Start small, start with you. Stretch every muscle in your body. Sit up straight. Make yourself tea. Read a headline, water plants, listen to the sounds of birds on your window pane. Go outside. Grab the latest show in theatres, may it be movies or Broadway. Allow yourself to indulge in that trip you have been planning for ages, but never could make the time for it. Nothing works quite as well as Mother Nature on a broken heart.

During these times of distress, it is easy to lose your way to getting better and actually find yourself involving yourself in self-destructive behaviours. It includes looking for a rebound, substance abuse and texting/calling or trying to constantly get in touch with your ex. This is a big, red, blinking no. You cannot walk backwards or keep going in circles if you want to heal.

Another thing about healing, it is not linear. You will not keep feeling better and better every day but you will get better. Days will be black and white. Give yourself room for error. Do not expect yourself to handle everything perfectly. Yes, you may not want to go into work some days. Yes, you will cry at a brand commercial on TV. Yes, you may forget your wallet or keys at home and feel frustrated at life. Yes, you will laugh at something when it is really funny. The point of going through all this is ‘letting yourself feel’.

Do not see now as forever. Don’t spiral down the rabbit hole of ‘What am I going to do without them?’ or ‘Where do I go from here?’ or ‘I am going to be alone forever!’ This is not permanent. Acceptance is a required move that you need to make on your own in terms of healing. In terms of grieving. In terms of letting bygones be bygones. Focus on now as it is. Feel the room you are in; it is whatever time it is and you are heartbroken. It will get better but now, it is not.

 ‘Radical Self-Compassion’, is something quite effective and something I have applied in my personal experience with heartbreak. It means total compassion without nothing excluded; it ranges from giving yourself a hug to writing letters to the future you. Talk to yourself as you would talk to a toddler who just fell off the swing. Words, as sharp as daggers and as soft as feathers, is the medicine when it comes to the business of the heart. ‘I am sorry for what happened. I know it hurts and I know you are strong enough to pull through this. It is okay to feel the way you do. We will figure out how to work on this. I will not give up on you’. – Humayra Morshed

Even amidst a technology-drive world, one artist is trying to breathe new life into the ancient tradition of Khmer calligraphy 

PHNOM PENH (ANN/THE PHNOM PENH POST) – With each stroke of the calligrapher’s brush, 38-year-old artist Nak Nang meticulously crafts a logo using ancient Khmer script by hand with breath-taking beauty.

Every movement breathes life into the time-honoured tradition transforming it into a work of art that resonates with cultural heritage and artistic finesse.

The result not only symbolises the essence of Khmer culture but also stands as a testament to the enduring artistry of calligraphy in the digital age, where every stroke is a brush with tradition and elegance.

“In the digital age, where computer technology designs nearly everything, including calligraphy in various languages, Khmer calligraphy art still finds support among aficionados of handmade and distinctive art,” said Nang, who is at the forefront of this Khmer calligraphy.

With a background in Modern Painting from the Royal School of Fine Arts and further education at the National Institute of Education in 2009, Nang has been devotedly honing his craft.

Beyond his work at the Regional Pedagogy Hun Sen of Kandal Province, he’s opened his own workshop, where he delves into various art forms, from sculpture to painting and logo design, all tailored to the unique needs of his clients.

Yet what truly sets Nang apart is his unparalleled skill in Khmer calligraphy, transforming this ancient script into a mesmerising art form.

“Calligraphy can be both a hobby and a talent,” he told The Post. Starting with a curiosity sparked during his school days, Nang embarked on a journey to master this delicate art. He diligently practised each of the 33 Khmer calligraphy alphabets, following the intricate rules of rounded styles.

He explained that the rounded font is categorised into four sizes: half-size font, one-size font, one-and-a-half-size font, and two-size font.

The half-size font includes only one letter, “Ror”, while the two-size fonts are “Chhor” and “Nor”. The one-and-a-half-size fonts are “Khhor”, “Nhor”, “Thor”, “Yor”, “Lor”, “Sor”, “Hor”, and “Lor”, with the rest being one-size fonts.

“When we understand the rules, we can engrave the calligraphy beautifully and maintain the proper order of each character,” said Nang.

The native of Kampong Cham province says he can create over 10 different round character patterns, and when it comes to square patterns, he can generate even more variations.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in demand for Nang’s skill. The expertise he offers is sought after by affluent individuals who commission exclusive designs. This trend underscores the enduring allure of hand-crafted artistry even in our technology-driven age.

“In the last four to five years, even when printing wedding or ceremonial invitations, guests often request calligraphy featuring a unique monogram. People frequently commission something exclusive,” he said.

Despite the prevalence of printed posters and banners, Nang asserts that they all originate from hand-carved designs.

He explains that the choice often depends on the budget and timeline of the company or enterprise owner. Some prefer computer-assisted design and printing, which can offer more than manual drawing alone.

Digital production professionals are, in essence, artists specialising in this form of design. Designers need to understand how to apply shadows, light and other techniques.

Drawing from his many years of experience, Nang can write calligraphy directly on walls without the need to pre-write the letters, simply sketching the lines according to the desired pattern.

However, he advises aspiring calligraphers to start by drafting with a pencil or chalk before transitioning to formal writing.

He contends that hand-painted art holds the same allure as digital creations, and Cambodians now highly cherish traditional art.

Nang’s expertise extends beyond traditional forms. He’s ventured into creating new fonts for use in Unicode, each character resembling a traditional Khmer sculpture.

These fonts are poised to become a national symbol, a fusion of tradition and modernity, and a testament to Nang’s dedication to his craft and nation.

“Some creators of Unicode fonts have approached me to design a font that incorporates traditional Khmer patterns,” Nang shared. “There are four types of ornaments, such as ‘kbachphnites’, ‘kbachphniangkor’, ‘kbachphnivoa’, and ‘kbachphnipleung’.”

“Our goal is to create a Unicode font that can serve as a national symbol. When we use these fonts, it results in elegant and straightforward writing,” he told The Post.

Although Nang devotes a substantial amount of time to sculpt and adorn each alphabet character, with each character taking three to four hours to complete, he has already finished carving all “kbachphnites” characters.

For “kbachphniangkor”, he says it requires more time compared to other “kbach” styles because of its complexity, and he aims for a high level of detail on each character.

“I dedicate my personal time to creating these fonts for free use because I seek nothing in return but to serve our nation,” the sculptor says with pride, noting that he can easily offer a range of logo engraving services without the need for both drawing and printing.

“Recently, there has been support from people who value literature, painting and art,” he added.

In a tech-driven world, Nang’s tale is a poignant reminder that a calligrapher’s strokes embody tradition and elegance, captivating those who cherish handmade, distinctive art.