book review malaysia

15 Books on Malaysia That’ll Spark Your Wanderlust

Ipoh Street Art - an old bald Chinese man drinking tea with a young Chinese woman

Malaya, with its mix of Malays, Chinese, and Indians, is full of spirits: a looking-glass world governed by unsettling rules. – The Night Tiger (2019) – By Yangsze Choo

Fiction Books on Malaysia

1. the garden of evening mists, by tan twan eng (2012), my rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 2. the ghost bride, by yangsze choo (2013), 3. the gift of rain, by tan twan eng (2009), looking for more info on malaysia, 4. the house of doors, by tan twan eng (2023), my rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Here, on the margins of the desert, it is just gone midnight, but as I turn towards the east, turning with the rotation of the earth, I know that, on an island on the other side of the world, it is already morning.

5. The Casuarina Tree

By w. somerset maugham (1926), my rating: haven’t read all the stories yet, 6. inspector singh investigates: a most peculiar malaysian murder, by shamini flint (2010), my rating: 2 out of 5 stars, 7. my life as a fake, by peter carey (2009), 8. the night tiger, by yangsze choo (2019), my rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, more books for the armchair traveler, 9. the woman who breathed two worlds, by selina sian chin yoke (2016), 10. when the future comes too soon, by selina sian chin yoke (2017), 11. the harmony silk factory, by tash aw (2005), my rating: have not yet read, more books from around the world:, non-fiction books on malaysia, 12. billion dollar whale, by tom wright and bradley hope (2018), 13. crossroads: a popular history of malaysia and singapore , by jim baker (2012), 14. lonely planet malaysia and singapore, by lonely planet (2022), 15. the rough guide to malaysia singapore & brunei, by rough guide (2023), get free trials of my favorite amazon products:, final thoughts, pin it for later, looking for more info on malaysia and singapore.

Thanks so much for this article. Returned from a cruise of the Straits area a couple of months ago and needed knowledgeable suggestions on literature from and about that part of the world by writers other than Maugham. Your list and commentary filled the bill perfectly. Visiting your Facebook page, and seeing your thumbnail, I couldn’t help wondering if those might be the islands of Phang Nga Bay in the background.

Hi Bob, Thank you so much! I’m so glad that you liked my Malaysia book recommendations. I hope you’ll read one of Tan Twan Eng’s books. The background on my FB thumbnail is from Halong Bay in Vietnam.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

What are you looking for, about the bamboo traveler, follow the bamboo traveler, traveling to japan soon, you have successfully subscribed, posts about malaysia, posts about singapore, get your free japan itinerary guide here, pin it on pinterest.

19 Best Books on Malaysia: Novels, Short Stories and Non-Fiction for your Armchair Wanderlust

Traveling to Malaysia and looking for a good introduction? This list of great Malaysian novels, short stories and non-fiction makes for essential pre-departure reading.

Penang and Malaysia, with their colonial history and mysterious jungles filled with incredible Malaysian animals , have been the perfect setting for novels and books of all kinds. It’s no wonder then that there are many very good books on Malaysia and, obviously, fascinating Penang.

Whether you are dreaming of a trip to Malaysia, are longing to explore Penang , or you are a Malaysian looking for some good literature about your country, this list of books on Malaysia should be perfect to get you started — and even introduce you to some pretty awesome books.

We must thank our friend Gareth Richards, manager of Penang’s incredible Gerak Budaya Bookshop , a landmark Malaysian bookstore, and the multi-functional art space Hikayat , for chiming in with most of the suggestions for this list. Don’t forget to go visit his shop once in Penang, and remember that you can order online, too.

With this post, we are highlighting some of the best Malaysian novels, books of Malaysian short stories, and books about Penang. This list also hopes to sparkle interest on some of the Malaysian writers who, more or less silently, have given a name to some of the best Malaysian literature.

Article Contents

Best Malaysian Novels

The soul of malaya.

Before Malaysia, there was “Malaya”: a land of tigers, lush tropical vegetation enveloping as far as the eye could see, and… foreign planters. “ The Soul of Malaya “, originally published in 1930, tells the experiences of two French planters who lived in Malaya between 1905 and 1914, and 1919 to 1925, and a world of yore inhabited by various strange Englishmen running plantations in colonial Malaya. Winner of the French Prix Goncourt in 1930 — it’s probably the best novel about Malaya before Burgess.

The Malayan Trilogy

By Anthony Burgess, Penguin Books, 1996

BUY THE BOOK : US

While we still mourn his recent death, “The Return” is K.S. Maniam’s masterpiece. It tells about the story of young Ravi as he sees the country transitioning from colony to Independence in 1957. This book is greatly focused on the experiences of Indian migrants to Malaysia between the 1940s and 1960s, and Ravi’s struggle for identity and improving his family conditions — most likely, an autobiographical account.

Sister Swing

The harmony silk factory.

By Tash Aw, 4th Estate, 2005

Another book on colonial Malaysia — but this time, written by a real Malaysian! Tash Aw’s debut tells the story of textile merchant Johnny Lim, a Chinese peasant living in Malaya. To his countrymen, Johnny, with his impressive factory, is a model of a self-made man — a former Communist who fought the Japanese invaders to help his people. But to Johnny’s son, Jasper, the father is a crook and the Harmony Silk Factory nothing else than the result of his shady business. “ The Harmony Silk Factory” is an exquisitely written debut that shed light on the thorny issues of the Malayan Emergency. Highly recommended.

Evening Is the Whole Day

Preeta Samarasan’s debut tells the story of an Indian Malaysian family and its complex relationships. Beginning with Aasha’s grandfather’s ascension from Indian coolie to an illustrious resident of the Big House on Kingfisher Lane, and going on to tell the story of how Appa, the family’s Oxford-educated patriarch, courted Amma, the humble girl next door, “Evening Is the Whole Day” moves gracefully backwards and forward in time to answer the many questions that haunt the family. As complex as Malaysia’s underbelly itself, a notable debut.

The Garden of Evening Mists

BUY THE BOOK: US

Nazi Goreng: Young, Malay, Fanatic, Skinheads

When young Malay Asrul is beaten up by a bunch of Indian gangsters, he finds support in a new friend, the bossy skinhead Malik. He quickly introduces Asrul to a down-spiraling world of racial hatred — but fighting for “the cause” pretty much goes completely south from there. Banned in Malaysia in 2016, Ferrarese’s novel is a gripping thriller that blends together all colours — the brown, the yellow, and the black — of Malaysia’s melting pot. Loved by many and hated by all, as every controversial book should, “Nazi Goreng” was translated into Malay and was a bestseller in Malaysia before the ban. You can still get a copy via Amazon.

The Sum Of Our Follies

By Shih-Li Kow, Silverfish Books, 2014

The small Perak town of Lubok Sayong and his quirky characters are beautifully narrated by Shih-Li Kow, who touches on the usual racial, political and LGBTIQ issues that make Malaysian life the daily struggle it always is. Very good and underrated – the French translation just won a major prize in Europe.

Once We Were There

A gritty, highly graphic and sexual account of life in Kuala Lumpur during the era of the 1990s Reformasi. Protagonist Delonix Regia, a naive journalist and activist, lives the parable of big city life — from the sex and the drugs to falling in love with who she believes is the “right man”… but is he? From transgender sex workers to immigrants, newly rich and debonair journalists, “Once We Were There” pulls no punches in depicting Malaysia’s capital as a splinter or hell. Haunting, and surprisingly, NOT banned… yet?

We, the Survivors

By Tash Aw, 4th Estate, 2019.

Ah Hock, a poor Malaysian Chinese fisherman, has killed a man and has just gotten out of prison. But wait… was he a man, or just a Bangladeshi migrant worker? Tash Aw’s latest novel plays with the haunting ghosts of the racial card, describing a character as troubled and embittered as the country he lives in. Narrated as alternating flashbacks and the interview between Ah Hock and Su-Min, a sociology graduate who just returned from the USA, maybe “We, the Survivors” is not Aw’s best, but in nevertheless really important novel tackling the hard subjects of contemporary migrant labour, injustice and exploitation in Malaysia.

The Weight of Our Sky

Best books of malaysian short stories, ronggeng-ronggeng: malaysian short stories.

A really good collection of 28 stories covering 60 years from the 1950s to the present, and edited by Malachi Edwin Vethamani. These Malaysian stories span decades of Malaysia’s development and come from the skilful pens of Malaysian writers such as Lee Kok Liang, KS Maniam, Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, Tunku Halim and Saras Manickam. Different genres, from comedy to supernatural horror, and different perspectives that truly encapsulate the kaleidoscope that is Malaysia.

Telltale Food: Writings from the Fay Khoo Award 2017–2019

BUY THE BOOK : Penang Bookshelf

Lake Like a Mirror

Best non-fiction books on malaysia.

With such a convoluted history and political scene, Malaysia makes for very interesting non-fiction — because at best, Malaysian life and society are really stranger than fiction. If you want to get a deeper understanding of Malaysia, one that goes beyond the mere “travelling”, then you better dive into some of this essential literature.

Here is a selection of very good books, both scholarly and more popular, on Malaysia, its society, politics, scandals and peoples.

A History of Malaysia,

Billion dollar whale: the man who fooled wall street, hollywood, and the world.

By Tom Wright & Bradley Hope, Hachette Books, 2018.

The 1MDB scandal may be the biggest fraud of the century and has a shrewd Malaysian as its protagonist. The tale of Penangite Jho Low and how he fooled the world getting ludicrously rich in the meantime is told in surgical detail, exposing all the names, the vertigo-inducing money laundering, and the theft and circus of excess that this renegade Malaysian sparked around the world. Gripping, revealing, and also extremely sad — “Billion Dollar Whale” is possibly the most successful non-fiction book on Malaysia ever written.

Towards a New Malaysia?: The 2018 Election and Its Aftermath

By Meredith L. Weiss and Faisal S. Hazis (eds). NUS Press, 2020.

Becoming Arab: Creole Histories and Modern Identity in the Malay World

• The Rice Mother • The Ghost Bride • When the Future Comes too Soon • Crossroads: A Popular History of Malaysia and Singapore • The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds • The Night Tiger

Blogging transparency: this post contains affiliate links. These are products and services that we personally use and recommend. If you click on one and buy any service, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Consider it a small way to say thanks, and keep Penang Insider going.

21 Books About Malaysia to Add to Your Reading List

Malaysia is a country that’s well-known for its pristine beaches, ancient rainforests and delicious food . But did you know that this multiracial country also boasts some of the best writers in the region?

Indeed, books about Malaysia have become increasingly popular in recent times. This is thanks to the international exploits of writers like Yangsze Choo and Tash Aw.

While some Malaysian books tell a story of racial disparity during colonial times, others offer readers an intimate experience of Malaysia that is hard to replicate anywhere else.

But which books about Malaysia are the best? While I can’t objectively answer that, here’s a list of 20 of my favorite books about Malaysia just for you! My advice is to start there!

*This article may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For full information, please see the disclaimer here .

Table of Contents

Books set in Malaysia (Fiction)

1. the woman who breathed two worlds by selina sian chin yoke (2016).

The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds (The Malayan saga)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Yoke, Selina Siak Chin (Author)
English (Publication Language)

This fascinating tale of discovering one’s cultural identity tells the story of Chye Hoon, a rebellious Malayan-Chinese girl (a Nyonya) who has to face the realities of growing up in colonial Malaya (late 1800s to mid 1900s).

Along with the challenges of cultural identity, Chye Hoon must struggle with her own aspirations of becoming a cook and raising her family in their customs and traditions.

Selina Sian Chin Yoke’s first novel debuted as an Amazon best-seller and was also named one of the best books of November 2016 by Goodreads! It is an enticing story that readers can easily establish an emotional connection to.

2. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (2013)

Choo, Yangsze (Author)
384 Pages – 08/05/2014 (Publication Date) – William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

Find the audiobook on Amazon Audible / Chirp

Let me just put it out there: The Ghost Bride is probably one of my favorite Malaysian novels ever. And that’s BEFORE the Netflix original movie adaptation!

Set in the historical town of Malacca during Malaysia’s colonial era, Yangsze Choo’s debut novel (a New York Times Bestseller) tells the captivating tale of Li Lan, the daughter of a Malayan-Chinese family that is struggling to make ends meet.

One day, Li Lan receives a most peculiar proposal. In exchange for a better life, she was to become the ghost bride (an old Chinese tradition in which a woman is married to a recently deceased person) of the son of a wealthy family. What follows is an addictive tale punctuated by Chinese folklore and romance with a touch of the supernatural.

3. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo (2019)

384 Pages – 01/07/2020 (Publication Date) – Flatiron Books (Publisher)

Following the success of her first novel, Yangsze Choo’s next masterpiece is equally as enticing! The Night Tiger is an exciting tale that is equal parts mystery and folklore.

The author’s masterful way with words transports readers into the lives of Ji Lin and Ren, two characters who, despite their different backgrounds, cross paths as their town is plagued by a string of mysterious deaths and whispers of an ancient folktale about men turning into tigers.

It already sounds super intriguing, doesn’t it?

4. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint (2010)

Flint, Shamini (Author)

I must admit, I have a nostalgic soft spot for this fun, casual novel. After all, it was the first piece of fiction I read that was set in Malaysia!

This short novel is a delightful crime fiction in every way. It starts when Inspector Singh, an ill-tempered detective from Singapore, travels to Kuala Lumpur to help solve an impossible murder.

It has all the classic elements of a crime novel: an unsolvable crime, a brilliant detective, and an unhelpful police force.

While I wouldn’t consider this book (at least not anymore) one of the best Malaysian stories or books, it is still a worthwhile book to pick up, especially if you’re looking for a lighthearted read!

5. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng (2009)

Eng, Tan Twan (Author)
450 Pages – 05/05/2009 (Publication Date) – Hachette Books (Publisher)

Along with Tash Aw, Tan Twan Eng is arguably one of the best Malaysian writers of the current generation. His debut novel, The Gift of Rain , proves exactly why.

Set in colonial-era Penang , the main focus of the novel is on the unlikely friendship between Philip Hutton, a Malayan-British teenager struggling to find a place of belonging, and Hayato Endo, a Japanese diplomat.

Their friendship undergoes a drastic change when the Japanese invade Malaya in a savage campaign. Philip discovers that Hayato is, in fact, a Japanese spy. Philip must now find a way to save as many lives as possible as he comes to terms with his strained relationship with his former friend and mentor.

6. The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (2012)

352 Pages – 09/04/2012 (Publication Date) – Hachette Books (Publisher)

Yet another spellbinding masterpiece by Tan Twan Eng!

The year is 1941, the Japanese have invaded Malaya and the people are suffering. Teoh Yun Ling and her sister are captured and tortured in a Japanese war camp. Years after the defeat of the Japanese, Yun Ling, having survived her tumultuous time as a war prisoner, finds solace in the tea plantations of Cameron Highlands.

There, she meets Aritomo, the former gardener of the Japanese emperor. She stumbles upon Yugiri, the only Japanese garden in the country. Wanting to create a garden in memory of her sister who died during their time at the Japanese war camp, Yun Ling becomes Aritomo’s apprentice and learns how to create a garden of her own.

However, there are still mysteries that surround both Yun Ling and Aritomo. I could tell you what they are, but wouldn’t you want to discover it yourself?

7. The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw (2006)

Aw, Tash (Author)
416 Pages – 02/07/2006 (Publication Date) – Riverhead Books (Publisher)

The Harmony Silk Factory is Tash Aw’s debut novel. Judging by its quality, it’s no wonder that many consider him one of Malaysia’s best fiction writers!

Set in colonial Malaya, The Harmony Silk Factory tells the story of textile merchant Johnny Lim. Johnny rose to prominence in a small town in Ipoh during and after the Japanese occupation.

While Johnny is revered by his people as a hero for fighting the Japanese during the invasion, he has a strained relationship with his son, Jasper, who is one of the main narrative voices of the novel.

8. Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho (2020)

Ho, Lauren (Author)

Moving on from stories set in colonial Malaya, Last Tang Standing is an entertaining, humorous, and relatable story about Andrea Tang, a successful lawyer in Singapore.

Andrea has it all, a fulfilling career, enough wealth to live comfortably, and a group of friends she can rely on. The only thing she lacks is a life partner. Even though Andrea doesn’t care much about it, her Chinese-Malaysian family is growing ever more impatient at the prospect of her becoming the last unmarried member of her clan.

Initially apprehensive about finding a life partner, Andrea eventually meets enigmatic businessman Eric Deng. She eventually decides to give love a chance.

But what’s the fun in a straightforward happy ending? As Andrea and Eric’s relationship develops, a third party continuously throws a wrench in their plans.

9. The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf (2019)

Hardcover Book
Alkaf, Hanna (Author)

The Weight of Our Sky is one of those underrated Malaysian novels that are secretly brilliant but lack mainstream exposure.

Written by local author Hanna Alkaf, The Weight of Our Sky is a debut novel that is stunning and compelling! The plot centers around Melati Ahmad, a teenager with OCD who believes she is being haunted by a Djinn (a supernatural creature of Islamic mythology).

During the historic Race Riots of 1969, Melati and her mother are separated as Kuala Lumpur transforms into a battleground between the Chinese and Malays. With a strict curfew imposed and with violent clashes happening all around her, Melati has to rely on her only friend, a Chinese boy named Vincent, to reunite with her mother.

Books set in Malaysia (Non-Fiction)

10. the disappearing act: the impossible case of mh370 by florence de changy (2021).

The Disappearing Act: Featured on the Netflix documentary MH370: The Plane That Disappeared: The Impossible Case of MH370

de Changy, Florence (Author)

When Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared without a trace in 2014, it led to widespread conspiracy theories, especially after large-scale search operations turned up nothing despite global coordination and years of trying.

In this brilliant piece of journalistic investigation , Florence de Changy details the chaotic investigations and how they led to more questions than answers. Apart from discussing her findings, de Changy also offers her own insight into what potentially really happened to the ill-fated flight.

I read it when it first came out and it was a truly remarkable publication into what is potentially the biggest mystery of the century.

11. Floating on a Malayan Breeze: Travels in Malaysia and Singapore by Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh (2012)

Vadaketh, Sudhir Thomas (Author)

Ever since Singapore separated itself from Malaysia, the island nation has developed at its own pace with its own policies in place. To understand how Malaysians and Singaporeans saw each other after nearly half a century of separation, two Singaporeans set off on a cycling tour of Peninsular Malaysia, armed with nothing but a pair of tents, their bicycles, and a tight daily budget of $3.

After cycling to every state in Peninsular Malaysia for 30 days, chatting with locals along the way, the two Singaporeans then went on to interview their own countrymen about what they think of Malaysia. Their findings were then turned into this soulful masterpiece that more than deserves a read!

Books on Malaysian politics

12. my story: justice in the wilderness by tommy thomas (2021).

Thomas, Tommy (Author)
573 Pages – 01/30/2021 (Publication Date) – Strategic Information and Research Development Centre…

When Tommy Thomas became Malaysia’s Attorney General in 2018, it caused quite a media frenzy. After all, he was the first non-Malay/Muslim AG to be appointed since Malaysia was formed in 1963!

Despite only being in the position for a little under 3 years before stepping down, his tenure saw plenty of notable incidents and events that helped shape the current political landscape of Malaysia.

His 2021 biography, My Story: Justice in the Wilderness , is one of the most explosive books in Malaysia’s recent history. In it, the former AG speaks candidly about some of the important decisions he made during his term. These include prosecuting the former Prime Minister for his role in the 1MDB scandal, one of the country’s worst political corruption cases.

The author’s personal and authentic voice makes this a truly compelling book for anyone who is interested in Malaysian politics.

13. Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope (2018)

Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World

Hope, Bradley (Author)
416 Pages – 10/22/2019 (Publication Date) – Hachette Books (Publisher)

Speaking of the 1MDB scandal, Billion Dollar Whale is another essential book about Malaysia you have to read. In fact, I would say that this book is best paired with the aforementioned book by Tommy Thomas.

Named the “Best Book of 2018” by the Financial Times and other publications, this New York Times bestseller is a gripping expose of one of the most harrowing global financial scandals in history.

Often known as “the heist of the century”, the 1MDB scandal began in Malaysia when a Malaysian businessman named Jho Low (now an international fugitive) colluded with several international banks to siphon billions of dollars away from a national investment fund. Allegedly, he then used the money to finance a lavish lifestyle and even the Hollywood film, The Wolf of Wall Street .

The far-reaching implications of the scandal, along with all the nitty-gritty details of the ongoing investigations are all included in this book, making it one of the must-read books about Malaysia.

14. The People’s Victory: How Malaysians Saved Their Country by Kee Thuan Chye (2018)

Kee Thuan Chye (Author)

Ask any Malaysian and they’ll tell you that the 2018 General Election was one of the most inspirational Malaysian stories of our generation.

After all, this election not only saw the fall of the previous Barison National government, an alliance between unlikely allies, and the return to power of a 92-year-old former Prime Minister. In short, the entire affair unfolded like a spellbinding Tolkienesque epic!

Kee Thuan Chye’s expert penmanship brings the entire journey to life with aplomb. The book starts with the aftermath of the previous General Election in 2013 and details the many political twists and turns over the next five years that (re)shaped the country’s political landscape.

Every page of this ode to Malaysians who voted for change is a compelling read, guiding readers to experience the despair of defeat in 2013, the renewal of hope, and the ultimate euphoria of victory in 2018.

15. The Malay Dilemma by Mahathir Mohamad (2012)

Mohamed, Mahathir (Author)

On the subject of the 2018 General Election, Mahathir Mohamad’s return to power was one that was greeted with enthusiasm by many of those who voted for change.

However, the truth is that the veteran politician was a divisive figure during his first term as premier of the country. While he has written some of the best-selling books in Malaysia, none exemplify the man’s political voice more than this controversial but also insightful book.

The book focuses generally on the Malays (the majority race in Malaysia) and their struggles with identity and economic prowess. It also looks back at the May 13 Riots in Malaysia, one of the bloodiest periods of history in the country, in which racial tension was at an all-time high.

If one were to truly understand the root of Malaysian politics, this book is something you cannot afford to miss out on.

Books on Malaysian History

16. the tiger that lost its roar: a tale of malaysia’s political economy by tony pua (2011).

Tony Pua (Author)
01/01/2011 (Publication Date) – Democratic Action Party (Publisher)

Before the turn of the millennium, Malaysia was one of the leading economic powers in Southeast Asia. In fact, it was once economically superior to even South Korea! However, in the years that followed the 1997 Financial Crisis, the country’s economy has seen a perpetual downward trajectory.

Personally, this was one of the first books on Malaysian history and politics that I ever picked up. What I appreciate about it is the manner in which Tony Pua, who is a Member of Parliament of the current Opposition, breaks down complex macroeconomic concepts into easy-to-understand sections that really helped further my understanding of the issue at hand.

For those interested in learning more about Malaysia’s economic history and its rather spectacular capitulation, I highly recommend picking up this addictive read . Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to find as most other books, so your best bet is to order it online.

17. A History of Malaysia by Barbara Watson Andaya and Leonard Y. Andaya (2017)

Andaya, Barbara Watson (Author)

If you’re interested in reading more about the general history of Malaysia, then I highly recommend A History of Malaysia .

Originally published in 1982, it is one of the most comprehensive guides to the country’s general history. It is regularly updated and revised to reflect recent historical periods, with the latest edition released in 2017.

The book covers a wide range of topics in Malaysian history. These range from the roots of fundamental issues in Malaysian society, to the challenges of maintaining harmony within a multicultural community and much more!

While it may be a heavy read for some, for history aficionados, this is arguably the most complete book on Malaysian history you’ll find on the market.

18. Crossroads: A Popular History of Malaysia and Singapore (4th Edition) by Jim Baker (2020)

Baker, Jim (Author)

Here’s a fun fact some might not know about: Before 1965, Singapore was a part of Malaysia! Yes, the two neighboring countries share a common past and a storied history together which has left a lasting impact on both countries’ culture, politics, and economy.

In his book (now in its 4th updated edition), Jim Baker deep dives into the complex currents of history and politics between the two countries and delivers a thought-provoking piece that perfectly highlights the commonalities and differences between the two sovereign states.

As a Malaysian, reading this was more thrilling than I thought possible.

Essential travel books about Malaysia

19. the rough guide to malaysia, singapore and brunei by rough guides (2018).

The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei (Travel Guide with Free eBook) (Rough Guides)

Guides, Rough (Author)
592 Pages – 07/18/2023 (Publication Date) – Rough Guides (Publisher)

A good travel guide book is hard to come by these days. After all, almost everything you need can be found on the Internet. However, The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei is one of those travel guide books that aren’t only useful for gathering information, but also extremely fun to read!

Featuring useful reviews, fully-colored maps and images, and even a blend of humor, this guide book is one of the best travel books about Malaysia on the market. It even has suggested itineraries that you can use to craft your own journeys!

20. Lonely Planet Best of Malaysia & Singapore by Lonely Planet (2019)

Lonely Planet Best of Malaysia & Singapore (Travel Guide)

Atkinson, Brett (Author)
324 Pages – 08/20/2019 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet (Publisher)

Another trustworthy book about traveling in Malaysia you should pick up is Lonely Planet’s Best of Malaysia & Singapore series. For avid travelers, the Lonely Planet name is not an unfamiliar sight. After all, it is one of the most well-known brands in the industry!

In this book, Lonely Planet’s team of dedicated writers highlights the most exciting and memorable experiences in Malaysia. From the top sights to the best foods to try, the book presents everything in an easy-to-digest format. In short, it’s the perfect companion for your trip to Malaysia!

21. Malaysia – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture by Culture Smart! and Victor King PhD (2021)

Culture Smart! (Author)
200 Pages – 03/04/2021 (Publication Date) – Kuperard (Publisher)

For those who don’t know, Malaysia is a country that comprises multiple different races, religions, and ethnic groups. Each community holds firmly to its unique customs and traditions, offering visitors an unforgettable experience of cultural diversity.

However, before you visit Malaysia, it’s always nice to know a little bit about what to expect. This book by Culture Smart! Gives you exactly that: a brief introduction to the different cultures in Malaysia and their traditions and customs.

As you learn more about each ethnic group and their traditional practices, you’ll be amazed by just how many different cultures coexist in harmony in the country!

My favorite Malaysian authors and poets

Of course, apart from this list, there are plenty more books about Malaysia that deserve special mention. However, it’s impossible to list them all. Instead, I shall leave you with my favorite Malaysian writers so you can admire their works in your free time!

1. Yangsze Choo

Yangsze Choo is arguably the freshest face on my list of favorite Malaysian authors. After all, she currently only has two books but her writing style is such a joy to read that I can’t help but elevate her to my personal list of favorites.

2. Tunku Halim

If I were to describe Tunku Halim in just one sentence, it would be this: he is, in my opinion, the Stephen King of Malaysia. He has published works in plenty of different genres, but his best genres are horror and dark fantasy. He often takes inspiration from Malay myths and folklore and his collection of horror stories, aptly named the Horror Stories series, is often considered one of the best-selling books in Malaysia.

3. Kee Thuan Chye

In terms of political commentary, you don’t get a more refreshing voice than Kee Thuan Chye. He is unrelenting, unapologetic and straightforward. He holds nothing back in his penmanship and dishes out both compliments and criticism with devastating effect. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense overview of current happenings in Malaysia, Kee is the best!

As mentioned earlier, Tash Aw is arguably Malaysia’s current top author. Having published several bestsellers, he is a household name among avid literature fans.

5. A. Samad Said

And of course, no discussion about literature and books about Malaysia is complete with A. Samad Said. The 85-year old novelist and poet is one of the best Malaysian writers in history. Most of his works are in Bahasa Melayu, but some of his more prominent poems have been translated into English. I’d recommend you look up The Dead Crow as a start!

And there you have it, 20 books about Malaysia that every avid reader should pick up! They say that a book is a gateway into an alternate reality, and with so many quality pickings from Malaysia, it’s hard to argue with that! For more additions to your library, check out the best books about Korea , Japan , and even Sweden !

Must-read books about Malaysia – Pin it!

50 Judul Buku Terbaik Malaysia 2021 – Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia

Baru-baru ini, Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia (MBKM) telah menyediakan senarai 50 judul buku terbaik Malaysia tahun 2021.

Senarai buku ini disenaraikan dalam 50 Best Malaysian Titles for International Rights 2020/21.

Kami pasti, anda nak tahu apakah tajuk-tajuk yang mendapat pilihan panelis yang memutuskan mengikut genre masing-masing.

Terdapat sebanyak 30 rumah penerbitan dengan judul masing-masing telah disenaraikan pada tahun ini termasuklah IMAN Publication , Patriots Publishing & PTS Publishing House.

Anda boleh layari website rasmi MBKM untuk dapatkan salinan dalam bentuk softcopy. Layari website MBKM .

Senarai ini dipecahkan mengikut kategori seperti kanak-kanak, pendidikan, Malaysiana, fiksyen dan bukan-fiksyen.

Kanak-kanak / Komik (Children/Comics)

Rainforest creatures of malaysia.

Rainforest Creatures of Malaysia contains information on 10 types of tropical rainforest animals found in Malaysia. Habitats and populations of animals living in these tropical rainforests are threatened by deforestation activities. If not protected, these animals will become extinct.

Author & lllustrator: Balgis Raja Mazuir Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Pergi Covid-19! Jangan Datang Lagi!

(Go Away Covid-19!)

The year 2020 is a nightmare for us. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, children cannot go to school or play with friends. That’s what Afig felt, a naive child who didn’t understand what was going on. In this situation, Afig needs a true superhero to explain what really happened.

Author & lllustrator: Mohd Khairul Azman bin Ismail Publisher: Grup Buku KARANGKRAF Sdn. Bhd.

Kelembai: Ceritera Tidak Terhikayat

(Kelembai: The Unnarrated Story)

Kelembai: Ceritera Tidak Terhikayat is a superhero-themed graphic novel. It is based on a myth or fairy tale and include elements as well as the history of the Malacca Sultanate circa 1400. Readers can learn and appreciate Malaysia’s history, myths, folklore, and legends together presented in the old literary Malay language.

Author: Burhanuddin BS

Illustrator/Artwork: Imran Marsad, Mohd llham, Toni Masdiono, Mokhzani M Ariff, M Azizi & Zehe A Rahman

Publisher: Ba-c Mente Studio

Hendak Ke Mana Gagak?

(Where are you going Crow?)

A group of crows looking for shelter but all of the places have been looted by humans. In a sense, it’s like nations in the world with no country. May the story provide awareness for children to become tolerant human beings.

Author & lllustrator: Azalan Hussain @ Sinaganaga Publisher: Studio Anai Anai

Damia dan Kuda Kepang Ajaib

(Damia and the Magical Kepang Horse)

A little girl is taken on a ride on a traditional toy horse and gets to see a marvellous wau kite close up.

Author & lllustrator: Basari Mat Yasit

Publisher: Integra Creative Media, under the imprint OyezlBooks

Music and My Friends

A Nami Concours (Korea) winning book, the author tells of life in his village where music plays an important part.

Author & lllustrator: Awang Fadilah Ali Hussein Publisher: Integra Creative Media, under the imprint OyezlBooks

Gaja Loves The Sea

Gaja the little elephant wants to swim in the sea but daddy says no, Gaja is too little. A story of fatherly love.

Melur loves the beach and the sea but oh, it’s so polluted. She meets turtle and whale who are endangered too. What can she do?

(Melur’s Mission) Author & lllustrator: Anis Puteri Publisher: Integra Creative Media, under the imprint OyezlBooks

Pendidikan (Educational)

Intervensi krisis dalam hubungan menolong.

(Crisis Intervention in a Helping Relationship)

This book discusses the understanding and practice of crisis intervention in a helping relationship. It comprises 18 chapters that address a wide range of topics such as the stages of individual responses to crises, crisis assessment, theories, models, and process a pertaining to crisis intervention, and examples of situational crises.

This book is suitable for all readers, especially those who are interested in crisis phenomenon such as professional counsellors.

Authors: Rafidah Aga Mohd Jaladin & Aina Razlin Mohammad Roose Publisher: University of Malava Press

Islam dan Mata Wang Kripto

(Islam and Cryptocurrencies)

The must-read book about the contemporary phenomenon of cryptocurrency and block chain was compiled just in one single book.

The book elaborates on the introduction to fintech, development of cryptocurrency, economic and environmental impact, juristic stance, and the potential of block chain technology.

Author: Mohd Noor bin Omar Publisher: IKIM Press

The Theory of Wealth Circulation and The Risk Sharing in Islamic Finance

This book offers a new perspective on the theory of wealth circulation or wealth distribution. It unlocks the very meaning and essence of wealth circulating, as inspired by Shariah.

Wealth circulation should not be confined to one structure of financing or policy.

It has been articulated throughout the book that risk sharing is just human phenomenon. Ultimately, this book opens opportunities for further work to be undertaken on the complete theory of risk in Islamic jurisprudence.

Author: Mohd Daud Bakar Publisher: USIM Press

Raising Your Child with Special Needs: Guidance & Practices

Parenting a child with special needs require high levels of knowledge, patience, awareness, access to resources, information and services. Proper information, diagnoses, therapies and interventions ensure parents will be focusing on the right methods and activities for their child.

Raising Your Child with Special Needs: Guidance & Practices provides a quick facts on the many types of special needs in a clear and simplistic manner.

Editors: Donnie Adams, Aznan Che Ahmad & Rajaletchumy Kolandavelu

Publisher: Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books

Islamic Financial System: Theory and Practice

A comprehensive presentation about characteristics, structure and operations of an lslamic financial system in performing its function as an integral component of the overall economic system.

Comparisons are made with its conventional counter-part to highlight its unigue features and evaluate its roles in mobilising financial resources in a Shariah-compliant manner, while pointing-out the economic implications from the two systems.

Author: Salina Kassim Publisher: UM Press

Seeking Hang Tuah

Hang Tuah is a culture hero of the Malaysians. For more than 500 years he has been present in the oral words, the Hikayat, traditional theatre, films and stage drama, poetry, comics and critical discourse, for within his person, he combines the social and moral ideals of Malaysians as well as many others in the Malay world.

This book written by Malaysia’s National Laureate delves into the hero’s character – his origins, principles of leadership, knighthood, ideas of loyalty and rebellion.

Author: Muhammad Haji Salleh

Publisher: University of Malaya Press

Halal Governance & Management: Malaysia & Asean Countries – Intermediate to Advance

Halal industry in ASEAN countries has evolved for the past 50 years due to awareness among Muslims on consuming Halal products and services. Structured law and regulations, as well as governance framework are significantly important to regulate and monitor the industry’s practice.

This evolvement requires systematic education programs and training to provide capable human capital for the industry. This book covers the theory and operations on the Halal industry, as well as the legal and governance perspectives practiced in ASEAN countries.

Editors: Nurul Aini Muhamed, Hakimah Yaakob & Nazlida Muhamad

Publisher: USIM Press

Bah Kuning 2014 di Kelantan

(2014 Yellow Flood in Kelantan)

Floods are a phenomenon that occurs almost every vear in flood prone areas in Malaysia. The flood in the Kelantan River Basin in December 2014, also known as the Yellow Flood is one of the largest and worst floods in the history of the country.

This book is suitable as a semiscientific reading material in understanding aspects related to the flood phenomenon. The content of this book has been simplified for the benefit of readers from various backgrounds.

Editors: Zulkifli Yusof & Abdul Hamid Mar Iman

Publisher: UTM Press

Entelah: Warisan dan Hubungannya Dengan Kepercayaan Masyarakat Iban

(Entelah: Heritage and its Relationship with the Beliefs of the Iban Community)

The Iban community is one of the ethnic groups in Sarawak known for their rich oral literatures. One of the most famous is entelah or riddles, an oral literature rich with symbols in its contents. It plays a very important role, including being a medium for socio-cultural documentation as it reflects the life and beliefs of the Iban community.

Among the symbols that is often found is the character of Goddess Kumang, considered as a symbol of supernatural power. This book provides readers and researchers of folklore with information on the unigueness of oral literature owned by the natives, especially the Iban community.

Authors: Patricia Ganing, Asmiaty Amat & Lokman Abdul Samad

Publisher: UMS Press

Potential Aquaculture Species in Malaysia

Invaluable information about Tfreshwater species from evidence-based findings and personal experiences are covered in this book to encourage the public’s interest.

This book is part of an effort in supporting the idea of ‘knowledge transfer” from Universiti Putra Malaysia to the community.

Editors: Vlzharuddin Shah Kamaruddin, Mohd Zafri Hassan & Zarirah Zulperi

Publisher: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Managing Durian Orchards in Malaysia

Durian cultivation used to be small scale operations in Malaysia. It is now recognised as a new source of agricultural wealth.

However, information and guidelines on durian cultivation from site selection, nutrition management, harvest and post-harvest handling are very limited and this book has all the answers!

Author: Abdul Aziz Zakaria

Keris: Warisan Melayu

(Keris: A Malay Heritage)

“Keris” is a weapon developed by the Malay community. This book is published to portray its beauty; and the intelligence and greatness of the past generation in developing a heroic symbol and identity of the Malay community.

Authors: Abdul Mua’ti @ Zamri Ahmad & Muhammad Pauzi Abd Latiff Publisher: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

63 Tumbuhan Ubatan

(63 Medicinal Plants)

Documentation of photos with explanations of 63 medicinal plants that grown in rehabilitation forestry in Paya Bungor, Pahang. This book includes references and sensitivity towards biodiversity conservations.

These medicinal plants show the richness and privilege of their floras.

Authors: Shamsul Khamis, Wan Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahman & Aiza Harun Publisher: UiTM Press

Archaeology in Malay Archipelago and Beyond

In Archaeology in Malay Archipelago and Beyond, researchers from various fields incorporate key research findings to examine archaeology in the region of Malay Archipelago and her surroundings.

Drawing on works from rock art researches, historical seaports, latest archaeological Sciences, cultural studies and contemporary heritage management issues, this book provides illuminating insights into contemporary archaeological topics and issues in recent years.

Editor: Eng Ken Khong Publisher: USM Press

Kebijaksanaan Pemerintahan Sultan Melaka (1446 – 1488)

(The Wisdom of the Malacca Sultanate Governance)

This book focuses on the wisdom of these rulers with different leadership characteristics. It also focuses on the sultan’s wisdom in establishing diplomatic and defense relations between Melaka and foreign countries for social politics, economics, and the development and influence of Islam in Melaka from 1446-1488.

Author: Mohd Khalil Yaakob Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Tioman My Beautiful Island

Tioman: My Beautiful Island is a tourism information book on the myths, history, and travel information of Tioman Island, a small island in Peninsular Malaysia’s state of Pahang. It is located along the east coast of the state, which is one of the major tourist destinations in the region.

Once listed as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, Pulau Tioman is rich with flora and fauna while surrounded with rich coral reefs.

Author: Iram Rahman Publisher: Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Pahang

Lipur Lara Nusantara

(The Archipelago Stories)

The stories of Hang Tuah, Mahsuri, Puteri Gunung Ledang and Sang Kancil are only a small part of folk tales in the archipelago.

There are many other folklores, tales and legends that are not widely known by the public. For example, the story of the four gueens of Pattani who ruled the country with full authority and protected their homeland from the enemies as well as how Princess Santubong and Princess Sejinjang fought hard to defend their land.

Lipur Lara Nusantara takes vou into history through folklore, epics and legends so that the lessons implicit in it can be learned together.

Author: Ninot Aziz Publisher: Patriots Publishing

Fiksyen (Fiction)

Bukit jingga sakti.

(Jingga Sakti Hill)

Bukit Jingga Sakti contains 30 short stories chosen from three titles in Siti Zainon Ismail’s collection of short stories. As a Malaysian novelist, short story writer, poet, and academician, Siti Zainon Ismail who is our 12th Malaysian Laurette had chosen the collection of short stories in this multi-genre novel book based on her contribution to the field of literature.

Author: Siti Zainon Ismail Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Jejak Hilang Yang Pulang

(The Return of the Lost Trail)

This book is about Zullafi and Alfiera’s family. Brown, a volunteer English instructor who had previously lived with them, was a personal friend of theirs. Brown smuggled Khair to England when Alfiera died while giving birth to Khair, who was identified as having autism. When Khair’s son Oaem attempts to locate Limbang, his father’s origins, the situation thickens even further.

Author: Abang Median Abang Said Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Climbing Mount Cha is like unravelling the dreams and spiritual journey of Muhammad. He is entangled in a network embodied in friendship and spiritual demands. Time can change everything, dad said. But can it solve its long and complex search and climbing crisis?

Author: Malim Ghozali PK

Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Puisi Untuk Maharani

(Poetry for the Maharani)

This beautiful 184-paged book is a collection of 171 heartfelt poems. It has three (3) segments with its peculiar theme. In the first segment, the poems touch on emotion, intellect, family, spirituality, and the authors thoughts on numerous issues.

The second segment reflects the author’s travel experiences around the globe. She is continuously humbled by the beauty of the world and by her observation of human interaction. Her poems are laden with figurative languages and representative images. In the third segment, she describes natural phenomena while discovering the purpose of life.

Author: Barupawati Utamaju Publisher: Pejuang Media

Selamat Tinggal Purnama – Strain Pertama

(Farewell Purnama – First Strain)

The life of a well-known artist, Latif Purnama of Nusaraya in a time where people had to accumulate a certain amount of “credit” to prove that they are entitled to live on Earth. Those who did not meet the minimum credit level will be sentenced to death.

The famous artist has it all: good looks, a melodious voice, a brilliant personality, and achievements that no Nusaraya has ever achieved.

Author: Teme Abdullah

Publisher: IMAN Publication Sdn. Bhd.

PERSIS (Persist)

Ayra has amnesia after consciousness from coma. Her ability to see the past caused her to discover something surprising.

She needs to get involved in the biggest criminal group after being hunted in order to save her twins sister.

Author: Ema Deesyiadis Publisher: Prolog Media

Where Trend Converge Opportunities Emerge

The last decade stood witness to an unprecedented, widespread convergence of industries and innovations that spurred a proliferation of industry-disrupting concepts which gave birth to new economic trends.

Where Trends Converge Opportunities Emerge explores those trends, their inevitable convergence, and the opportunities that show up at their intersections. Such is the pace of the current revolutionary and evolutionary innovations that humanity is predicted to change more in the next 20 years than it had before.

The Trend Convergence Matrix (TCM) allows you to converge unprecedented factors into a trend and test their effects on the trend behaviour.

Author: Alan TH Khoo Publisher: Millennia Comms Services

Bukan Fiksyen (Non-fiction)

Islam: kesihatan mental dan neuropsikiatri.

(Islam: Mental Health and Neuropsychiatry)

The must-read book about the contemporary issue of mental health and neuropsychiatry from Islamic perspective are compiled in just one single book.

The book covers on multiple dimension of neuroscience and lslam issues in medical fraternity and provide a better understanding on mental health issues.

Editors: Mohd. Zaidi bin Ismail & Norkumala binti Awang Publisher: IKIM Press

Ahmad Ibrahim: Sahsiah, Pemikiran & Sumbangan Ilmiah

(Ahmad (Ibrahim: Personality Thoughts & Scholarly Contribution)

This enticed piece of writing is about the walks of Almarhum Professor Emeritus Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim, widely known as Professor Ahmad Ibrahim.

Respected as an influential figure, his prolific contribution is the field of Islamic Laws in Malaysia are beyond acknowledgment.

Editor: Siti Shamsiah binti Md Supi Publisher: IKIM Press

40 Hadis Pelestarian Alam Sekitar

(40 Hadith of Environmental Sustainability)

40 Hadis Pelestarian Alam Sekitar presents principles and practices inspired by 40 selected sahih and hasan Hadith.

The author proposes ideas based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) within the context of contemporary environmental preservation from the aspects of tawhid and fiqh, accompanied with scientific facts and empirical research.

Authors: Zaini Ujang & Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff Publisher: Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books

Seni Berfikir Kreatif Untuk Bisnes dan Hidup

(The Art of Creative Thinking for Business and Life)

Creative thinking does not depend on self-efficacy alone. Triggering creative ideas also comes from team readiness and customer acceptance of ideas that turn out to be true.

Discover the ability to seek out solutions to complex problems in any given situation.

Authors: Ainon Mohd & Zamri Mohamad Publisher: PTS Publishing House Sdn. Bhd.

Personaliti Kejayaan: Minda – Disiplin – Kemahiran

(Personality of Success: Mind – Discipline – Skills)

The Personality of Success delves into the importance of Mind, Discipline and Skills in order to accomplish desired dreams and goals.

The writer, Datuk Dr Mohd Daud Bakar explains how the mind can strive to ward off failure or defeat, the soul can fight negativity and acguire all the skills necessary to climb the ladder of success.

Author: Mohd Daud Bakar Publisher: Amanie Media Sdn. Bhd.

Seni Berfikir Yang Hilang

(The Lost Art of Thinking)

Life would be so much easier if we could just ignore the problems that are plaguing our community today. It is, unfortunately, impossible! These conflicts will continue to exist and loom over us. We will be easily swayed by the opinions of others if we do not have clear principles.

Maybe it’s time to take a step back and look at all these issues from a different perspective. Through the book Seni Berfikir yang Hilang, Hasrizal Abdul Jamil explores six branches of knowledge that we should master.

Author: Hasrizal Abdul Jamil Publisher: IMAN Publication Sdn. Bhd.

The Spiritual Strength in our Scars: Emerging from Personal Struggles with Resilience

Despite the pain of enduring a personal struggle or adversity, we freguently pretend to be happy and put on a brave face for the rest of the world. We fall into despair when we are alone — for failing to overcome the struggles that we carry silently in our hearts.

Author Liyana Musfirah takes readers on a reflective journey of discovering the strength that emerges from each of our painful and scarring episodes.

This is the book that celebrates what God has given women — the resilience to withstand emotional, spiritual, or even physical hardships.

Author: Liyana Musfirah

Pendiam? Memahami Personaliti Introvert Dalam Dunia Ekstrovert

(Quiescent? Understanding the Introvert Personality in the Extrovert World)

There are usually two types of people around us.

One is the Extrovert, who appears to be more confident in public, more forwardthinking, and well-known. Another is the introvert, who appears passive, guiet, and rarely participates in social activities.

Is it better to be an extrovert or an introvert? Is it necessary for introverts to change and become extroverts in order to be more successful?

Authors: Aiman Amri & Adila Masri Publisher: IMAN Publication Sdn. Bhd.

Naif or Naive is a memoir about a Voung Malay Muslim female student studying in the Unite States in 1995 to complete her bachelors degree education.

She faced discrimination and islamophobia issues, in addition to loneliness but eventually found love and friendship and rose to prominence.

The author’s invaluable series of experiences in a foreign land provided invaluable insights that led to her maturity in facing future challenges. Mimi Solleh Author: Mimi Salleh Publisher: Dua Penulis PLT

World Without Walls

Knowledge is power. Language is symbolic. Geography is destiny.

These three expressions are the factors that can break the wall that brings differences among human in the world in reaching agreement and understanding one another.

The knowledge about international geopolitics is the key to the survival of countries and nations, and knowledge gained must be based on the principles of Realism, Diplomacy and Patriotism.

These principles will be explained through 50 articles that have been written by the writer over the past year on geopolitics and international relations.

Author: Ayman Rashdan Wong Publisher: Patriots Publishing

Genesis: Kosmologi dan Dunia Kuantum

(Genesis: Cosmology and the Quantum World)

Many people have learned about the contents of the universe from black holes, stars and galaxies to the unique nature of space-time. However, more secrets are still unknown especially the mysteries of dark energy, dark matter and the prediction of the destruction of nature. The smallest detail of the quantum world has become the basis for understanding reality and the basic blocks of creation.

The aguantum world explores the forces and energies that become the machinery to propel a wide variety of amazing natural phenomenon. Humans continue to move forward with an impressive array of visions, from building a galactic civilization, heading into the future, moving beyond the speed of light to the aspiration of finding an alien civilization.

Author: Zamir Mohyedin Publisher: Patriots Publishing

That One Case

A hospital is a battleground of life and death, with people of all sorts of wounds and scars. Being a healthcare worker means getting a special peek into each of those intricately wounded lives. Writers attempt to capture each of the stories that have left lasting scars on the memories of those they have worked with in hospitals.

When they close their eyes, they will see that one picture, which they will always remember. Irony. Conflict. Motivation. Inspiration. Anxiety. Panic. Sorrow. Laughter. Lessons. Fear. These are the battlefield of life and death captured in words, to let the readers see what they have seen. What they can never forget.

Authors: Dr Ahmad Zakimi, Dr Firdaus Hariri, Dr Havati Yasmin, Dr Adibah Abdullah, Dr Zul Azlin, Dr Ahmad Faidhi, Dr Fahd Razy, Dr Hana Hadzrami, Dietition Rugayyah Muhd, Dr Svamirulah Rahim, Dr Shafig Said, Dr Alia Ahmad, Dr Azlindarita @ Aisvah Abdullah, SN Bel Nawhen, Dr Saza S, Aiman Amri, Dr Kamarul Ariffin, Dr Nur Jalila Mohd Ariffin, Dr Jacknaim, Dr Rostam, Therapist Mahfuzah Zainol, Dr Huda Kamarudin & Dr Amirul Amazar Publisher: Kata-Pilar Books

Membina Bakat Kreatif

(Building Creative Talent)

This book is especially for those who want to explore the field of creative writing. Malaysian National Laureate Zurinah Hassan provides guidance and technigues for writing poetry, ways to express feelings and thoughts as well as various sources to get ideas or inspiration.

To be a good writer, the importance of language needs to be clearly understood. The writing process reguires diligence and craftsmanship. Being diligent in reading and writing increases knowledge and enriches vocabulary as well as Sharpens writing abilities.

Author: Zurinah Hassan Publisher: UniMAP Press

I Believe Therefore I Am

This book represents the stories about the success of an author in which it imitates his real-life experience from childhood and factors that influenced him in achieving goals, the leadership he possessed and different innovations and issues he believed Islamic countries had to bear.

Readers are expected to find inspiration in believing one’s dream as well as to find balance in achieving goals and personal life.

Author: Noor Azizi Ismail Publisher: UMK Press

Berfikir Tentang Pemikiran

(Thinking About Thoughts)

This book is a compilation of the author’s thoughts, experiences and knowledge during his dakwah and tarbiyah activities of the Islamic movement in Malaysia. It also contains thoughts gathered from readings and current issues.

Among them are issues faced by Islamic organizations as well as existing theories. The focus of this book is to invite the reader to reevaluate the balance of thought and be able to think in a broader and more complex context.

Author: Syed Ahmad Fathi Publisher: The Biblio Press

Conquering Everest: Do or Die Mission

The Everest is not a place for those who are afraid. At the altitude of 8,848 metres, climbers enter the death zone where bodily functions could deteriorate. Azim Afif Ishak and his team from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia have planned the adventure since 2011.

In 2014, their first attempt to conaguer the peak was hampered by an ice avalanche in Khumbu lcefall. Azim was determined to wave the Jalur Gemilang at the top of the highest mountain. Will Azim ever manage to make his way to the peak of Mount Everest?

This is an inspirational true story of an ordinary man and his journey to conquer Mount Everest.

Author: Azim Afif Publisher: Kasi Terbit PLT

Aku, Buku dan Kota Kaherah: Kembara Sang Pencinta Buku

(City of Cairo, Books and Me: The Journey of a Book Lover)

Aku, Buku dan Kaherah: Kembara Sang Pencinta Buku is a memoir of a bookworm who lived in Fgypt for guite some time.

This book tells the story of how he was trapped in the engrossing world of book charm more than two decades ago when he was traveling in search of knowledge in Cairo, Egypt.

Author: Shahriman Jamalullayl Publisher: Toko Buku Azbakia

Rawatan Sakit Cacingan Dalam Manuskrip Perubatan melayu

(Intestinal Parasites Treatment in Malay Medical Manuscript)

The Malay community is known for producing herbal medicines to meet their healthcare needs. They are knowledgeable about spices and local herbs, as well as the appropriate method of intake and relevant safety information. These treatments and prescriptions were recorded in the Malay Medical Manuscripts.

This book not only describes the Manuscripts but also discusses medical materials and their benefits in treating worm disease. The combination of well- established writers includes manuscript specialist and experts in plant sciences.

A total of 25 treatment methods to cure worm disease from seven Malay Medical Manuscripts are featured reflecting their unigueness in the medical tradition born out of culture and their interaction with the environment.

Authors: Muhammad Widus Sempo, Nazariyah Yahava, Malki Ahmad Nasir & Mohd Azmi Mohd Razif Publisher: USIM Press

9 New Books By Malaysian Authors – From Crime To Non-Fiction Genres – To Read To #SapotLokal

New books written by Malaysian writers in 2020

It’s only natural to reach for more prolific Western authors’ books when we go book-shopping, but Malaysia’s literary scene has also produced extraordinary books by Malaysian writers such as The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng and The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, that have garnered notable awards, Netflix adaptation, and movie rights.

Whether you are a veteran bookworm looking to curate your new reading list, or an occasional light reader, you’ll want to check out this list of new Malaysian novels . Written by our very own Malaysian writers from the acclaimed Yangsze Choo and Tash Aw, to new blood like Ho Sok Fong and YZ Chin, these 9 new titles span across just about every genre, so there’s something for you, regardless of your literary leanings.

1. The Weight Of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

New Malaysian novels - The Weight of Our Sky

A riveting tale of history, mental illness, humanity, and action, Hanna Alkaf ’s debut novel is about a 16-year-old Malaysian girl suffering from OCD who goes on a harrowing quest brimming with chaos and violence, to reunite with her mother in the midst of the 1969 racial riots in Kuala Lumpur.

Alkaf received an astounding reception for The Weight of Our Sky and has even gone on to become the first Malaysian to win the Freeman Book Awards earlier this year.

She has been writing for most of her adult life – graduating with a degree in journalism, then embarking on a career as a copywriter, beauty writer, corporate writer, and finally an author now. Her upcoming novel, The Girl And The Ghost, will be published by HarperCollins in August 2020.

Get it here .

2. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

The New York Times bestselling author of The Ghost Bride , which was recently adapted to a Netflix film, Yangsze Choo is gracing our reading list again with another of her famous dark fantasy stories.

The Night Tiger , set in pre-independence Malaya during the 1930s, is a mystery thriller that follows a Chinese houseboy, Ren and a dancehall girl, Ji Lin. Their lives come together in magical and erratic ways when Ji Lin receives a severed finger as a gift, and sets out to return it to its owner, who happens to be Ren’s dead master.

Choo, a Harvard-graduate who worked as a management consultant and is currently living in the US, blends together Chinese folklore, enthralling mystery, ambition, and first love, in this enthralling read.

3. Though I Get Home by YZ Chin

New Malaysian novels - Though I Get Home

Though I Get Home is a collection of interconnected fictional stories focusing on different characters tied together by Isabella Sin, a Malaysian small-town girl. She is imprisoned without trial in a notorious detention camp for writing a controversial poem implying her support towards the leader of the young people’s political movement against the government.

YZ Chin ’s debut, which earned her the title of the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize winner, examines the theme of youths in politics, social justice, history, and the urban Malaysian culture.

Born and raised in Taiping, Chin left for the US to study engineering when she was 19. She currently resides in New York, working as a software engineer by day, and a writer by night.

4. We, The Survivors by Tash Aw

New Malaysian novels - We, The Survivors

Notable Malaysian author, Tash Aw of The Harmony Silk Factory , returns to the literary scene with his newest crime thriller.

We, The Survivors follows Ah Hock, an uneducated Malaysian man from a fishing village who is trying to make a living in the city. A cycle of hardships and turns eventually led him to murder a Bangladeshi migrant worker.

Narrated through a series of interview transcripts that take place over a period of 4 months, the book explores the subject of social status, education, and destiny.

Tash Aw, a Taipei-born Malaysian who is currently living in London, is no stranger to most regular readers. His critically acclaimed novels have been translated into 23 languages, and have also bagged numerous awards, including the Whitbread First Novel Award and Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.

5. Lake Like A Mirror by Ho Sok Fong

New Malaysian novels - Lake Like A Mirror

Described by critics as the most accomplished Malaysian writer, Ho Sok Fong ’s newest book – originally written in Chinese, was translated to English when it was picked up by British publisher Granta. It has received acclaim locally and overseas, and also won a PEN Translates award.

Lake Like A Mirror is a collection of nine fictional stories, mostly about marginalised societies in Malaysia. It includes stories about victim bullying, mental illness, ethnicity ostracising, unique familial relationships, and more.

Hailing from Kedah but now based in Kampar, Perak, Ho started off with a career in engineering before going down the literary path. She then equipped herself with a Master’s degree in Chinese literature studies in Taiwan, and subsequently received a doctorate from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

6. Born In Malaysia: A Story Of Kuala Lumpur by Kenny Loh

Born in Malaysia: A Story of Kuala Lumpur is photographer Kenny Loh ’s second photobook, which compiles tales of hardships, happy recollections, and funny moments shared by a range of individuals from the activists, religious leaders, youths, refugees, expats, to the immigrants who call Malaysia home.

Loh’s first book Born In Malaysia: A Photographer’s Journey was borne out of a leisure pursuit – he returned from China for work in 2010, and decided to embark on a journey around Malaysia to rediscover his home.

Loh started out with a career in economics, and moved into photography because he felt that it provided him a new perspective on what he wanted to do in life – lending a voice to the people he captures.

7. Kebaya Tales: 10th Anniversary Edition by Dr Lee Su Kim

10 years ago, award-winning Malaysian author Dr Lee Su Kim published a national bestseller called Kebaya Tales: Of Matriarchs, Maidens, Mistresses and Matchmakers . Now she’s back with another collection of fictional short stories centred around the Peranakan community.

Her latest release, Kebaya Tales: 10th Anniversary Edition , is filled with tales brought to life by fascinating characters, unexpected plot twists, and cultural idiosyncrasies told with a touch of humour and satire for an engaging read.

With more than 10 books to her name, Dr Lee is a bestselling Malaysian author, cultural activist, educator, and public speaker. Also a founding member and the President of the Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, she clearly shares her strong pride for her Baba Nyonya heritage through her stories.

8. Ronggeng-Ronggeng: Malaysian Short Stories edited by Malachi Edwin Vethamani

New Malaysian novels - Ronggeng-Ronggeng

As the title suggests, Ronggeng-Ronggeng is an compilation of short stories by 28 Malaysian writers spanning six decades. It comprises a plethora of genres, from social politics, social realism, to horror, and the supernatural. The stories date all the way back to 1959 up till recent years, in 2018.

It’s edited and put together by Malachi Edwin Vethamani , a professor of Modern English Literature at the University of Nottingham, who hopes to enrich the local story writing scene by encouraging current and future writers to learn about the different writing and language styles across the decades.

9. Unveiling Choice by Maryam Lee

Maryam Lee ’s debut non-fiction novel recounts how the author made the bold choice to remove her hijab and the turbulent journey she had to face because of it, because removal of the headscarf in Malaysia draws backlash and controversy as is often viewed as going against familial, religious, and cultural norms.

After the publication of Unveiling Choice , Lee was summoned by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department to give a statement for allegedly insulting or bringing into contempt Islam, as reported by Malaysiakini . While she said in the same report that she believes that the reason for the summons is due to what she wrote in her book, she acknowledged that “the letter [did] not say the reason for the investigation”.

The women’s rights activist further clarified and maintained that her book was not intended to provoke religious disharmony, but to defend the freedom of choice, even if the choice goes against cultural and societal norms.

Malaysian books of all genres

One of the best parts about living in a melting pot like Malaysia is that we get to relate to a huge array of local stories, be it about history, politics or religion.

After all, there’s something endearing about being absorbed in a story where the characters’ narrative, grievances and physical setting sound just like home to you.

To all the bookworms and fans of literature, you might enjoy these reads:

8 Instagram-based booksellers in Malaysia to get cheap preloved & new books
10 online bookstores from Malaysia to stock up on books & support local
10 places for free & cheap books in Klang Valley

Cover image adapted from: Goodreads, Goodreads, and Amazon

Live Concerts In Malaysia You’ll Want To Keep Your Eyes Out For In 2024
China’s KKV Opens First Store In Malaysia With 4 Floors Of Quirky Lifestyle Products & Beauty Goods From RM2.90
60 Things To Do In Melaka That Prove There’s More To The State Besides Jonker Street Night Market
30 Things To Do In & Near Ipoh – Visit Must-Try Eateries, Serene Nature Spots & Thrift Markets
Dino Desert: Largest Dinosaur Park In Malaysia With 144 Life-Sized Dinos That Move & Roar

This article first appeared in Wealth, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on July 26, 2021 - August 1, 2021

The grass is always greener on the other side. At least it is for me, when it comes to book selections.

I tend to look out for books written by foreigners. After all, A Promised Land by Barack Obama is more appealing than A Doctor in the House by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel trumps all the investment books written by local authors. In Liar’s Poker and Flash Boys, Michael Lewis recounts tales of colourful characters, market history, dynamics and technology that are not seen in Malaysia.

However, I also remind myself to pick up books by local authors. The peninsula, however small it is, is home.

The two local books I finished recently exceeded my expectations. A Lone Traveller of a Thousand Mountains (Qian Shan Wo Du Xing) by Cold Eye (Fong Siling) and Malaysia’s Pioneering Stockbroker by Tan Sri Tengku Noor Zakiah are decent reads. Both autobiographies are well written, colourful and genuine.

I heard about Cold Eye when I was in secondary school. A friend of mine, whose dad is an insurance agent, was a bit of an outlier. He ventured into the stock market much earlier than the rest of us. He talked fervently about the KLCI and a mobile application called KLSE Screener. He mentioned Cold Eye, with much respect, as the ultimate guru of investing.

The name Cold Eye had stuck in my mind since. I only learnt he was the editor-in-chief of Nanyang Siang Pau in 1990 when I read the book. He was in The Malaysia Book of Records for possessing the largest collection of company annual reports — he had amassed more than 10,000 copies over 30 years — and was employed by Tan Sri Vincent Tan to identify investment opportunities in Southeast Asia and China.

Bear in mind that the book is an autobiography and does not delve into stock picking and analysis. But it is a good read as it emphasises the importance of diligence, a value that would help investors profit from the market.

Contrary to common belief, Cold Eye believes that constant reading and analysis, rather than trading market tips and news, are key to becoming a good investor. The ability to understand investment theories and companies’ annual reports is vital. Methods on how to value a company are crucial, which can also be acquired through reading.

In 1971, when companies’ information was hard to come by, Cold Eye paid RM1,200 a year to a brokerage firm to subscribe to companies’ annual reports. At the time, his monthly salary was only RM600. The subscription price gradually increased to RM2,400 and RM3,600 in the 1980s and 1990s, but he continued to pay for the service until 2002, when annual reports were made freely accessible via the internet. He kept those printed annual reports in a room and he read all of them.

The truly interesting part of the book is perhaps his childhood and journey to success. Hailing from Sungai Rotan, a tiny village in Perak, Cold Eye does not shy away from telling stories of poverty when he was a kid.

For instance, how his mom would collect buckets of human faeces from public toilets each morning to use them as fertiliser on the farm. Or that he once volunteered to participate in a funeral procession by lifting a wooden signboard with the name of a deity on it — The Lady of Golden Flower — in exchange for one ringgit. He was mocked by the adults in the town for a long time after that.

At over 80 years old, he has never forgotten the look in his mom’s eyes when he returned home one day with the ladies’ fingers he had failed to sell by the street.

Cold Eye candidly shares how his fear of poverty in those days drove him to achieve great things in life, including becoming a successful investor. Unfortunately, this book is only available in Chinese at the time of writing.

Another book, Malaysia’s Pioneering Stockbroker, is a warm and lovely read. Noor Zakiah’s grandfather was the last Malay ruler of Patani (today a southern province of Thailand) and is connected to the Kelantan royal family. Her journey in life is very different from that of Cold Eye.

The book started with the “red flood”, known as the worst flood that befell Kelantan in 1926. With a tinge of humour, Noor Zakiah recounts how she was nearly left alone in the house by her parents during the flood when they were rushing off in a speedboat with her siblings. Her father rushed back to the house with a parang and cut her off from the sarung that hung from a beam.

Flipping from page to page, I was attracted by the character of her father, Tengku Ismail, who was a capable estate manager and entrepreneur. I was moved by the interactions between him and other people, which showed that a harmonious multi-racial society had indeed existed a century ago. But mostly, I was surprised by how Noor Zakiah spent the first half of her life — not in the financial industry, but as an owner of a dress shop. Coronet was its name and it sold the skirts, dresses and cheongsams she designed in the 1940s.

When Coronet closed in 1957 in Kelantan, Silver & Silk — a shop that sold handicraft items — was established in the Merlin Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Today, it is known as the Concorde Hotel, located along Jalan Sultan Ismail. It was from here that Noor Zakiah built her connections with foreign businessmen, sold Rosenthal dinnerware to Bank Negara Malaysia, met her second husband and made her way into the stockbroking business in the 1960s.

It was only when I was halfway through the book that I found out the reason she did not spend her earlier life in the financial industry. She is over 90 years old today, which means that the industry had yet to take shape in those days.

The book, peppered with heartfelt stories from beginning to end, was a pleasurable read. But frankly, I was a little surprised by how thin the book is — only 128 pages — and the lack of narrative on the financial industry. It does not give details on how Kenanga has grown to where it is today and the challenges that it has faced and overcome.

The difference between Cold Eye and Noor Zakiah is glaring. One was born into a poor family while the other was of a royal bloodline. One a Chinese and the other a Malay. But they are also similar in many ways. Both are Malaysians who seized the opportunities presented to them by the nascent financial industry in the early days and became successful in their own way.

Their books are about money and wealth. But mostly, the stories are about the journey of life and the people they hold dear. Investors can sometimes be so fixated on returns and performance. They should not forget about their journeys, the passing of time and the people they love.

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play .

Book Review: The Best of Malaysian Short Fiction in English 2010-2020, Exploring the Faculty of Malaysia’s Fictioneers

By Yee Heng Yeh

Subscribe to our e-archive to read our older articles.

Yee Heng Yeh

Trending now.

Anecdotal Accounts of Chinese Women Migrants to Southeast Asia

A Red-light District Worthy of a Vibrant Port

The Japanese Conquest of Penang: Part One

The British-Siamese Boundary Stone: A Momentous Relic in Seberang Perai

A Brief History of 123 Macalister

Subscribe today to access over 2,000 articles in our e-Archive for RM150 a year, and get the 2nd year free.

As Penang Monthly continues to evolve, we aim to deliver better quality reads. At present, our three current issues are free for public access. But we need your financial support as we endeavour to be the voice of Penang and an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian.

Every RM100 contribution from individuals (or RM1,000 for corporations) will be entitled to tax exemption receipt.

Go to Home Page »

Current Issues

General enquiries

[email protected]

ADVERTISE WITH US

Tel : (604) 228 3306

Operating Hours: 8.30am-5.30pm

Join our Mailing List

Eurasia Review

A Journal of Analysis and News

"Dark Forces Changing Malaysia," by Lim Teck Ghee and Murray Hunter.

Dark Horizons Over Malaysia – Book Review

By Johan Saravanamuttu

Lim Teck Ghee and Murray Hunter have written a new book Dark Forces Changing Malaysia (SIRD, 2022) , which In this collection of 34 essays, the authors mince no words in examining a protracted crisis that has long bedevilled Malaysia – its twin problems of race and religion.

The authors will be no strangers to readers. Both have been sharp and hard-hitting social critics.

Teck Ghee, who was my colleague at University Sains Malaysia, had an illustrious academic career, including as professor of the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Malaya. He later served at the World Bank and as policy adviser to the UN.

Co-author Murray is a well-known entrepreneur, researcher and writer, who has lived for decades in Malaysia.

Permanent ethnic Malay polity

The book leads with Teck Ghee’s 2011 essay “The gathering storm”, which lays out all the major socioeconomic challenges afflicting the country, which he says are still its underlying problems:

Ten years later, despite much sound and fury – including a short-lived change in the government and the ongoing reshuffling of the old guard in Malaysian politics – the many challenges in the nation’s socioeconomic life and development, outlined in the paper, remain undealt with or mismanaged.

One of its egregious failures was Malaysia’s reluctance to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Malaysians will recall how Umno orchestrated a massive protest against the ratification on 8 December 2018, pressuring the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to cave in and abandon its espousal of the convention.

Teck Ghee shows persuasively that an underlying reason for such failures is Malaysia’s deeply embedded racial politics.

His essay on the “mythical” social contract lays bare the debilitating narrative of racial politics delivered in the 1986 speech of the late Umno politician Abdullah Ahmad, who first floated the idea of “ketuanan Melayu” (Malay dominance).

Abdullah’s allusion to a “sacrosanct social contract”, which he said guaranteed Malay dominance, has been the unspoken cardinal principle of Umno politics.

Such a narrative, as Teck Ghee shows in subsequent essays in the volume, doomed Malaysia to policies which multiplied and intensified racialism.

This scenario has been epitomised by the continued bloated civil service, populated almost entirely by Malays, the implementation of the New Economic Policy’s ethnically biased quota policies, most recently reintroduced in the “shared prosperity” vision of the PH government.

Teck Ghee sees this vision as no better than a perpetuation of old racial policies in new garb:

[I]t is highly probable that we will see a further augmentation and expansion of a long discredited racial preferential policy that can only end up with unpunished abuse, exploitation by the unscrupulous, connected and rich and powerful, and the greater marginalisation of the bottom strata of Malaysian society – including Malays.

Co-writer Murray darkens the horizon further by suggesting that Malaysia will become “A permanent ethnic Malay polity”. He attributes this to structural and institutional factors as Malay birth rates have far exceeded those of other racial groups and the first-past-the-post electoral system “ensures that only representatives with polarised views will win a majority in single-member constituencies”.

The book also takes the dim view of Islam engulfing Malays politics and sees the failure of the Malay middle class to overcome religious intolerance and to act as a catalyst of change.

Teck Ghee writes:

[T]he dilemma for the Malay middle class is accentuated by the steady advance of a religious-centric socio-cultural order that is restricting the opportunities, freedoms and rights associated with the rise of the middle class in other parts of the world.

Bumiputraism

Malay dominance has led inexorably to the new narrative of bumiputraism, which reinforces ketuanan Melayu.

The new discourse incorporates the non-Malay indigenous peoples of the states of Sarawak and Sabah who are given “bumiputra” staHowever, as Teck Ghee writes, the term was not mentioned in the formation of Malaysia in 1963, nor does it carry any legal force:

The first official use of the term can be traced to the first Bumiputera Economic Congress held in June 1965. Following it, the term first appeared in Parliament when the Majlis Amanah Ra’ayat Bill was tabled in August 1965 to replace the Rural and Industrial Development Authority (Rida, 1953) as proposed by the said congress.

Murray points out that in 1970, the racial balance of Malaysia was 53% bumiputra, 35.5% Chinese and 10.6% Indian.

In 2019 this had changed to 62.5% bumiputra, where 51% of the population are Malay, 20.6% Chinese, and 6.2% Indian.

Therefore, demographics would favour a perpetuation of Malay dominance.

Both authors argue that the bumiputra term, which has no legal standing, has been used to reinforce Malay supremacy rather than to privilege the non-Malay bumiputra communities of the Borneo states.

Teck Ghee states that “this larger numerical contrivance has since been legitimised to provide a crucial and new reference point for measuring and assessing any and all aspects of life in the country”.

In Orwellian fashion, Teck Ghee cuts a sobering image of “Malaysia Day 2063”. As the country celebrates its 100 th anniversary, the Supreme Minister of the new governing coalition of Supreme Pakatan announces that the “Bumiputera First” policy has achieved great success with only 10% of citizens not subscribing to the pledge: “I am Bumiputera First and Malaysian Second”.

This success was attributed to the Supreme Pakatan’s ultra faction, the Sons of the Soil Revolutionary Movement, driving a change in national consciousness after the great purge of 2025.

A dark future indeed, should this come to pass, with cultural and ethnic diversity effectively suppressed!

Corruption and GLCs

Another recurring theme of the book is Malaysia’s endemic corruption. Murray asks if government-linked companies are “development vehicles or corruption tools”.

Citing one example, in 2020 Syed Mohktar Al-Bukhary was given, without a competitive bid, the lucrative right to wire the country for 5G by Mahiaddin Yasin’s newly minted Perikatan Nasional government.

For Murray, Malaysian government-linked companies are largely rent-seeking entities which are mismanaged and inefficient.

Need we say that 1MDB was the mother of all corruption scandals by a government-linked company or sovereign fund, resulting in theft and embezzlement amounting to RM2.67bn.

However, Murray concedes that Petronas, Maybank, Sime Darby are “run professionally by a groomed Malay professional class”.

The crippling corruption culture is found not just in the government sector but is prevalent in the private sector.

Murray writes that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Commission (MACC) has failed miserably to stem corruption.

However, he did not mention that the current chief commissioner, Azam Baki, who was himself embroiled in a corruption allegation, had his case quashed by the government.

Gloom and doom?

Not all will agree with everything written in Teck Ghee and Murray’s book.

But no one will deny that the authors have shown that a dark and deeply embedded Malaysian political culture of fake ethnic supremacy and debilitating and senseless religious intolerance, depicted by both authors, must be debunked before it is too late.

The fractious and divided Malaysian political class have failed Malaysians so far – so are we fated to a future of doom and gloom?

In this first volume, the authors have offered no solutions but in a second forthcoming volume, Malaysia Towards GE15 and Beyond, the two authors will show that hope for political change will rest on a younger generation of political leaders.

Originally published in Aliran 31 July 2022

← Will Arabs Help Rebuild The Jerusalem Temple? – OpEd
Palestinians Hold Political Cards Despite Israel’s Refusal To Engage – OpEd →

One thought on “ Dark Horizons Over Malaysia – Book Review ”

The authors’ Scenario 2063 is certainly disturbing and their scenario 2025 is justly fearful but perhaps needlessly alarmist. Perceptions of racial superiority, corruption and marginalization of minorities are, however, not unique to Malaysia alone, in fact, these less than desirable realities are nasty socio-political pandemics that afflict very wide swaths of the world. In most erstwhile 3rd World countries these manifest themselves in very crude ways but in countries of the First World and in countries that pretend themselves to that status these same socio-political EVILS thrive very much unprotested, even unrealised, under vaneers of sophisticatedly-configured legitimacy and internationally foisted geo-strategic cover. Even global regulatory institutions teeming with eagle-eyed specialists mysteriously go blind to even blatant cases in the latter !

9 Books By Malaysian Women That Capture the Essence of a Nation

July 5, 2023
Women Empowerment

In the past, female writers often concealed their identities behind pseudonyms, resulting in a literary landscape dominated by male perspectives. The shelves were filled with books that offered a singular male point of view on the nation and the prevailing social issues of the time, leaving the woman’s voice largely unheard.

However, the influence of women writers on a global scale has been nothing short of remarkable, giving rise to some of the most exceptional literary masterpieces. Books, in their essence, serve as vessels that encapsulate a nation’s identity, history, and the intricate fabric of society during a specific era. Examining these works from a female perspective provides us with invaluable insights into the sociocultural realities and historical representations that might have otherwise been overlooked.

With this in mind, we have curated a collection of nine captivating books that traverse different time periods in Malaysia’s history – from the past to the present and even the dystopian realm. These works offer a diverse range of narratives and themes, further enriching our understanding of the human experience across various contexts.

#1: Though I Get Home by YZ Chin

YZ Chin’s debut book is a collection of short stories centred on a young woman, Isabella Sin. She moved from her home town Taiping to Kuala Lumpur. The book narrates Isabella’s encounters with other characters, exploring themes such as identity and belonging in contemporary Malaysia [1] .

In the wider scope, the book addresses the effects of growing Western influence on Malaysia’s social and political landscape through minute details in the stories. “Though I Get Home”, touches on issues of politics, power struggles in the nation and censorship.

Though I Get Home won the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize, in honour of author Louise Meriwether.

#2: The Seat by Geetha K.

In her first novel published in 2020, Geetha K. transports readers back to the 14th General Election through the eyes of its protagonist, Satya. Derived from Geetha’s personal experience of growing up in Segambut Dalam (now rebranded as Mont Kiara) the book highlights the changing look of the place she grew up in.

Seeing the sorry state of the rivers in Mont Kiara (what used to be Segambut Dalam) was when I knew I wanted to dedicate my novel to the dead and dying rivers of my childhood. – Geetha K. [2]

The book is a trip down memory lane for Geetha as it is a reflection of the harsh reality facing many settlements in modern Malaysia.

#3: House of Koi by Lilian Li

A book born out of homesickness for her hometown, House of Koi is a dedication of its author, Lilian Li, to her grandmother in Penang. House of Koi , is a young adult novel that explores the concept of reconciling with your cultural roots and identity.

The book follows the journey of a young protagonist, Mila. Her present self grapples with conflicting identity as an international school student and her past self who spoke fluent Malay and Mandarin.

Forced to stay with her grandmother whom she has a strained relationship with, Mila attempts to embrace her heritage. Set in Penang, the book is chock-full of references to food, something most Malaysians are familiar with and love [3] .

#4: The Accidental Malay by Karina Bahrin Robles

The Accidental Malay , the winner of Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2022, manages one of the most sensitive issues in Malaysia: race privilege, womanhood, and religion.

I wanted to explore how a policy could tear down a woman’s life. – Karina Robles Bahrin [4]

The author, Karina Robles Bahrin, of Malay and Filipino parentage sees the book as a way of processing the pressing question of belonging in the community.

I felt that people saw me as only Malay when really that was only a part of my heritage, overlooking my Filipina upbringing. – Karina Robles Bahrin [4]

The story centres around Jasmine Leong, who was raised by her poh poh (grandmother) after her father’s passing during the May 13th riots. As her relationship with Iskandar, a Muslim man, deepens, complications arise. Jasmine’s revelation of her Muslim Malay heritage raises what-ifs and why’s.

The book may be controversial to certain layers of the community, however, to Karina, it is expected.

I know my story will trigger certain parts of the Malaysian community, but as authors, we should be prepared for how people will react. – Karina Robles Bahrin [4]

#5: The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

Hanna Alkaf’s young-adult novel debut revolves around its protagonist, Melati Ahmad, a music-loving teen with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), derived from a djinn who threatens her with images of her mother’s death unless she adheres to the compulsion of counting and tapping.

Against a backdrop of riots on May 13th 1969, Melati’s journey to return home to her mother is chronicled through a tumultuous time. Together with a Chinese-born, Melati fights her demons and prejudices to return to the person she loved most.

Our young people deserved a story about their own history, a story that explains the collective scars we carry. – Hanna Alkaf [5]

Hanna interviewed those who lived during the riots and included excerpts of real violence that took place during the time. These excerpts had often been diluted in mainstream conversation. The book skillfully explores pertinent issues such as the lack of understanding about mental health in the 60s, and the state of a divisive nation.

The Weight of Our Sky has been translated into Bahasa Malaysia and has been the recipient of accolades such as the 2019 Freeman Awards, and Young Adult/High School Literature.

#6: The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

In 2019, Yangsze Choo published The Night Tiger , which takes place in 1930s colonial Malaysia. This captivating novel tells the intertwined stories of Ren, an 11-year-old Chinese houseboy, and Ji Lin, a young woman who works as both a dancehall girl and a dressmaker apprentice. Their lives become connected when Ji Lin acquires a severed finger, rumoured to be the outcome of a supernatural tiger encounter.

The book expertly crafts a sense of suspension of disbelief through its vivid description, and magical realism weaving together folklore and historical details to tell a captivating tale.

Choo is also the author of The Ghost Bride , a historical fantasy set in the 1890s, in which a woman must marry the dead son of a wealthy family to pay her family debts. “The Ghost Bride” has since been adapted into a Netflix series and is a well-acclaimed read [6] .

#7: 912 Batu Road by Viji Krishnamoorthy

The first chapter of 912 Batu Road was a letter penned by the author Viji Krishnamoorthy as a gift to her husband, Ranjit.

I really had no idea, so I thought why not I write him a chapter as a letter. It was a pretty lame present, really! But I did it anyway! – Viji Krishnamoorthy [7]

However, Viji suffered bouts of self-doubt and put the book away, until she was urged to put it into the limelight by her publisher.

It explores moving away from the familial pain when caught in a forbidden love during two different timelines, one during wartime and one in modern Malaysia of 2008.

The present offers (I hope) the reader a window into the life of a Tamil brahmin family trying to hold on to traditional customs and values. And the war offered a platform of history and drama so I could create a melange of real and fictional characters and weave my story through the threads of a historical timeline. – Viji Krishnamoorthy [8]

Viji, who is an avid historical fiction reader, draws on national heroes such as Sybil Kathigasu, Gurchan Singh standing side by side with her fictional characters. She recreates the rich past setting.

#8: Iban Women by Golda Mowe

Iban Woman is the latest instalment in Golda Mowe’s Iban Dreams series. Golda, born and raised in Sibu, Sarawak ventured into writing in 2004 and published the first book in the series: Iban Dream in 2013 and Iban Journey in 2015.

Iban Woman chronicles the life of the character Ratai, 20, the eldest child of Nuing, an Iban warrior who travelled to the invisible world and returned alive. Ratai is also the granddaughter of Bujang Maias, the great headhunter who once was raised by apes. With the blood of greatness in her, Ratai, who is also an excellent hunter in her own rights grew frustrated with her inability to master weaving and gain a man’s heart [9] .

Readers are taken back on an immersive learning journey of Iban culture – learn to master weaving alongside Ratai, or tell the omens of bad weather and hunt animals and humans’ heads.

#9: The Food That Makes Us By Foong Li Mei & Sze Too Wei Wen

In the wake of her father-in-law’s death, Foong Li Mei realised that when someone passes away, they bring with them their creations. It was what was lamented by one of their relatives;

When he passed away due to a sudden heart attack, one of his relatives lamented that they had not only lost a man they loved, they would also not be able to taste his one-of-a-kind braised chicken feet with mushrooms dish anymore. – Foong Li Mei [10]

Li Mei started the project as a column in 2012. Soon, her project partner, Szetoo Weiwen embarked on a timeless journey to preserve family cooking recipes. The Food That Makes Us , is a collection of Malaysian stories and home-cooked recipes, from the native Semelai to suburban mothers – it covers all bases. Glimpse into the kitchens of households nationwide and the stories behind their family dishes.

Explore our sources:

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Associations. (2018). Book Review: “Though I Get Home” . Link
B.S. (2020). Immortalising the past. The Sun Daily. Link
S.Cheema. (2021). How To Embrace A Foreign Culture And Remain True To Your Own? Eksentrika. Link
J. Wee. (2022). On menopause and being Malay: Author Karina Robles Bahrin opens up on award-winning debut novel ‘The Accidental Malay’. Malay Mail. Link
JR Ramakrishnan. (2019). “The Weight of Our Sky” Uses Fiction to Reckon with Malaysia’s Unspoken History. Electric Literature. Link
Tatler. (n.d.) . Yangsze Choo. Link
I.M.Ahmad Kamal. (2021). 912 Batu Road, the Malaysian story that took 15 years to be born! New Straits Times. Link
K.Ng. (2021). Q&A: Viji Krishnamoorthy on her debut novel 912 Batu Road. First Classe. Link
The Star. (2019). Iban Woman. Link
E.Pikri. (2016). A Family Death Started This M’sian Recipe Book, Now It Preserves The Stories Of Others. Vulcan Post. Link

Stories You May Also Like:

Terms of service
Privacy policy
Mental Health
Period Poverty

Post a listing

Changemaker login

Wiki Impact is an online platform dedicated to the impact industry. We share stories and data on issues that matter, highlighting impact-driven organizations and changemakers on the ground. Now, everyone can experience the impact industry, get data to give effectively, and bring more fulfilment and purpose to life.

WIKI IMPACT PLT (LLP0025327-LGN)

Made with ❤️ by Rootcode

BURSA TOP 20: Who’s The most charitable?

[email protected]

Expats Around the World
Philippines
Home Exchange
Kirsten Who?
Hire Me, I’m Awesome

7 of the Best Malaysia Books to Leave You Breathless

Last Updated on December 26, 2023 by Kirsten Raccuia

There are A LOT of Malaysia books out there. And I did NOT read any of them before we decided to move here. I’m not bragging about that smart move of mine, just being honest. But in all fairness, we decided to move in December and left Chicago in August, so we were kind of busy.

I guess I did read a couple of books about our new home if you count a Malaysia guide book or the Lonely Planet about Penang. But I’m not talking about a Malaysia travel book. I’m talking about a novel, something spellbinding that leaves you breathless and gives you all the feels.

As soon as I got here, I thought it might be a good idea to learn something about my newly adopted home. Brilliant, huh? It’s not like I read the history part of any of those guide books. And so began my quest to read Malaysia books that could teach me something and keep me entertained.

For that very reason, historical fiction is my jam. I’ve tried a few history books about Malaysia and wanted to gouge my eyes out within the first five pages, but I tried.

There is no better way to learn about a country than to read books that transport you there. It satisfies my lust for travel, and it also quells it when we can’t.

So here is a small list with some big books that you should def read – and they are all written by Malaysian writers.

1. Gift of Rain

By Tan Twan Eng

Gift of Rain Book cover Best Malaysia books

“Accept that there are things in this world we can never explain and life will be understandable. That is the irony of life. It is also the beauty of it.” ― Tan Twan Eng

This was the first Malaysia book I read, and it gripped me right from the start. I found myself rereading specific passages – I didn’t want to miss a thing. Also, the story takes place in Penang (it’s where Tan Twan Eng is from) and has the names of influential families in it, so it’s familiar to me. However, that doesn’t matter, the book stands on it’s own, regardless if you’ve ever been to Penang.

It begins in 1939 with Phillip Hutton, a half-English, half-Chinese Malaysian teenager who doesn’t fit in. He befriends a Japanese man living on an island just offshore – which supposedly is the island I look at every day from my balcony. Endo-San becomes his mentor and a significant influence on his life. He teaches him an appreciation of Japanese culture, language, and the art of aikido.

When the Japanese invade the island, Phillip has devastating choices to make to protect his family. All of a sudden, the English-Chinese-Malaysian kid with a Japanese mentor is even more conflicted. Where do his loyalties lie?

It’s a story of a country divided with a web of cruelty, courage, love, and perseverance woven through it. It’s historical fiction, and what he described happening here during the war is factually correct. That makes the story all the more devastating and fascinating at once.

“The world goes by, the young and the hopeful, all head for their future. Where does that leave us? There is a misconception that we have reached our destinations the moment we grow old, but it is not a well-accepted fact that we are still travelling towards those destinations, still beyond our reach even on the day we close our eyes for the final time.” ― Tan Twan Eng

2. Evening is the Whole Day

by Preeta Samarasan

Evening is the Whole Day book cover Best Malaysia Books

“For that is what miracles are like sometimes: quiet, unheralded, unglamorous to all but the beneficiary,” ― Preeta Samarasan

Six-year-old Aasha has already had a rough life. She’s thrown off balance when Chellam, the family servant, is fired for crimes unknown. Her gramma mysteriously passes away, and her sister leaves immediately after.

The family saga is told through generations beginning with Aasha’s grandpa, who was a coolie.

There are a lot of guarded secrets in the family that get stripped away over time and with each family member. This book is a beautifully written emotional roller coaster set in Ipoh as Malaysia gains independence and tries to stand on its own.

I’m not a huge fan of books that pop back and forth through time, as this one does. If you get confused, just keep reading, it all gets cleared up as pages unfold.

“The smoke from the cement factories and the sharp odors of the pork van and the fish vendor are washed away before they can settle, but the moist air traps native sounds and smells: the staticky songs of one neighbor’s radio, the generous sweet spices of another’s simmering mutton curry. The valley feels cloistered and coddled. A quiet benevolence cups the morning in its palm.” ― Preeta Samarasan

3. The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds

by Selina Siak Chin Yoke

“Inside my soul there echoed the cry of a hundred elephants dying.” ― Selina Siak Chin Yoke

In the 1930’s Chinese merchants made their way along the spice route to Malaysia (then it was called Malaya). They married the local Malay women creating a hybrid culture called Peranakan. This book is about a Nyonya, or Peranakan girl (Baba is a boy) who struggles to embrace her identity.

She wants to go to school like her brother, but that isn’t in her cards. She has no choice but to become a cook and tow the cultural line.

Eventually, she marries a Chinese man and has a soccer team of kids. As she learns the culture through her cooking, she begins to envelop her family’s traditions. She realizes how important her heritage is as her kids start heading into a more Western world.

This book describes the fascinating Peranakan culture so beautifully. However, there are a lot of Manglish (Malaysian smashed with English) terms throughout the book, which makes it pretty entertaining after living here. She also uses a lot of other languages thrown in, as they do here. There is a glossary in the back to help out.

“Her ancestors would fight for her spirit, but so too would the white devils who had come to rule. They had taken first our land and then our souls.” ― Selina Siak Chin Yoke

4. Garden of The Evening Mists

by Tan Twan Eng

“Before me lies a voyage of a million miles, and my memory is the moonlight I will borrow to illuminate my way.” ― Tan Twan Eng

Another book by the lyrical Tan Twan Eng. There is just something about his writing that makes me swoon. It’s the little descriptions that he peppers the pages with that transport me to that very scene.

However, I must admit that this book was a little challenging for me. I’ve read it twice and this last time proved difficult. Not sure if it was the state of things or the state of me. It was just when the whole Covid thing started to set the world on fire, and I couldn’t get into it.

That being said, the first time I read it, I loved it, which is why it’s on this list.

The story takes place in 1949 in the Cameron Highlands and is told by Judge Yun Ling Teoh. She was the lone survivor of a Japanese war camp and spent her life prosecuting war criminals in court.

When she meets a Japanese gardener, she implores him to create a Japanese garden in memory of her sister, who died in the camp. Aritomo, the exiled gardener of the Emperor of Japan, denies Yun Ling but agrees to teach her how to create her own.

She finds herself inexplicably drawn to Aritomo, yet not really knowing who he is. In the backdrop, she is losing her memory. Guerrillas hiding in the jungle are seeking her out, and the story of how she survived the war is revealed.

“Memory is like patches of sunlight in an overcast valley, shifting with the movement of the clouds. Now and then the light will fall on a particular point in time, illuminating it for a moment before the wind seals up the gap, and the world is in shadows again.” ― Tan Twan Eng

5. Rice Mother

by Rani Manicka

“They didn’t finish each other’s sentences, rather it was the pauses they shared.” ― Rani Manicka

Lakshmi spent her early years running barefoot and carefree in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Until one day, her mom marries her off to a wealthy 37-year-old Malaysian. She crosses the ocean, excited to start her new life in her husband’s palace. Except she’s been hoodwinked. He is broke, she is pregnant, and doesn’t know a soul.

She gives birth year after year and becomes a force to be reckoned with. However, she has to protect her family during the horrors of the Japanese occupation of WWII. But that’s not all. Each child has layers of scars that she tries to care for in her own way through her love and betrayal, deceit and honesty.

It’s a compelling story told through the eyes of four generations of the family. It is her great-granddaughter, Nisha, who dissects the family and tries to put it back together again.

“Leaning against the doorframe, propping the heel of my left calf on my right, I listened in amazement as she sang songs I didn’t know she was hiding inside. I remember then it occurred to me that Mom was like the ocean. Deep and full of unknown things. I was even afraid I would never get to the bottom of it. I wanted to be a stream that would one day grow into a river and one day flow into the ocean. ” ― Rani Manicka

6. The Harmony Silk Factory

Harmony Silk Factory: Best Malaysia Books

“The gorgeous breathlessness and thrilling pulse — those are sensations that the years have layered on top of the initial emptiness, like sheet after sheet of silk covering a bare table. More than fifty years later I can only see the cloth; the table has been obscured.” ― Tash Aw

This book traces the lives of four interwoven people all telling their version of the story of Johnny Lim. Johnny is a textile merchant and hero who fought the Japanese when they invaded.

His son, Jasper, believes his father is a collaborator and a betrayer of the people he so claims to serve. Is the factory a front for all the illegal businesses that go on behind closed doors? Or does it really help the people?

Then there is Johnny’s wife, the beautiful Snow Soong who dies giving birth to Jasper. And who Kunichika, a Japanese officer, and Peter an Englishman are in love with. The webs of love, deceit, and cultural tensions are woven throughout.

Johnny is linked to them all, but no one really knows who he is, or do they?

“…he returned to his barricaded silence, locking me out of his world. The unfathomable, inscrutable East, I thought. I was cut adrift from the shores of understanding. The sea spread itself before me, leading to a blank, blank horizon.” ― Tash Aw

7. The Night Tiger

by Yangsze Choo

The Night Tiger Book Cover: Best Malaysia Books

“No, the dream-eater is a ghost animal. If you have nightmares, you can call it three times to eat the bad dreams. But you have to be careful. If you call it too often it will also gobble up your hopes and ambitions.” ― Yangsze Choo

Meet Ji Lin, a young Malaysian girl in the 1930’s dreaming the impossible: to become a doctor. To pay off her mom’s mahjong debts, she secretly works in a dancehall. When her partner gives her a severed finger, understandably, she freaks out. As a superstitious Chinese girl (or anyone for that matter), she has to figure out who the finger belongs to and reunite it with its other four.

Meet Ren, an 11-year-old houseboy whose master died missing one finger. His dying wish was to be buried with his finger within 49 days, or according to tradition, his soul will roam the earth forever.

And to make this peculiar Malaysian book even more unique, there is a tiger causing mayhem in the town.

This book is a New York Times Bestseller and one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks. It’s not a childish fantasy or YA book. It’s real-world blended with the supernatural bound by mythology all wrapped up in one.

“That’s where the were-tigers live, the harriman radian who change their shapes. Some people say that they’re beasts possessed by the souls of dead people.” ― Yangsze Choo

Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood and the World

by Tom Wright

This book tells the story of the biggest financial heist in history. It’s the story of the 1MDB scandal – how Jlo Ho (a social-climbing Malaysian ) and Goldman Sachs swindled 5 Billion, that’s with a B, right out from under the public eye.

The Consul’s File

by Paul Theroux

An American consul stationed in a small Malaysian town is supposed to close his post in the 1970s. It tells the stories of the unique people of all ethnicities that he meets during the post-colonial era.

Malayan Spymaster: Memoirs of a Rubber Planter, Bandit Fighter and Spy

by Boris Hembry

This a true story of jungle operations and spies in 1930’s Malaysia.

Clearly from the pic above, I’m an e-reader kinda girl. I could NOT live without it. I currently have a Nook from Barnes and Noble, but as soon as it goes kaput I’ll be buying this Kindle . If you still read paperbacks, I get it, but if you travel, e-readers are where it’s at!

So what do you think? Have you read any of these books? What’s your fave Malaysia book? Tell me in the comments below!

I’m a huge fan of Goodreads . If you want to connect, let me know.

Yay for transparency ! This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and buy one of the products on this page, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you!) This doesn’t effect my opinions or my reviews. Everything I do is to benefit you as the reader, so all of my reviews are as honest and unbiased as possible.

Like this list? Save it for later.

14 thoughts on “7 of the Best Malaysia Books to Leave You Breathless”

Hi Kirsten Just stumbled on your blog today and have enjoyed your posts on adjusting to life in Malaysia. I grew up there and know a little about it😁. I have to say you are mostly spot on.. I read both Tan’s books years ago and enjoyed them. I did have a problem with the way he portrayed some of the locals through extremely coarse language (in both Cantonese and Hokkien) they used in casual conversation. I absolutely loved Selina’s book which also takes place or at least started out in Penang. I am a big fan of nonya kueh and reading all about the main character’s struggles with her fledging kueh business was fascinating. There are a few on your list I have not heard of and look forward to reading them if I can find them in the libraries I belong to.. Cheers Mary

Hi Mary, Welcome! So glad you like my list! There are a lot of fab writers from your home country!

Just started Evening is the whole Day.. you’re right.. just the intro was absolutely breathtaking. KL was my second home and she absolutely nailed it.

So glad you’re loving it!

The last thing I needed right before moving across the US was a huge list of books to add to my collection!!

Ha! You are moving to Montana, not Mars. Do NOT buy another book until you get there. Then go balls-out!

So many awesome reads here, I’ll see if they’re on kindle to check them out. Thank you so much for sharing, I love hearing about the history of our adopted home!

Thank you, Wendy! I know, I love learning about Malaysia-it’s fascinating!

They are all online, so report back and let me know what you think!

The Billion Dollar Whale is interesting if you want to know the intricacies of the financial web that was spun, and the many fake companies which were established to hide the flow of money. It is not your regular novel, but reads more like “investigative journalism”. The disadvantage of the book is that it has been published a bit too soon: many things were not yet unraveled at the time of publication, and the whole 1MDB saga is still not fully resolved.

So true, Jeroen! Maybe I need to wait to read it until everything shakes out…if it ever does! We are living in interesting times, that’s for sure!

Great list to add to my shrinking list😉🤣🤣 I will pass this on to my friend Lean… I think she’s a reader🙏

That’s great, Sally. Def spread the book love around! I can’t wait to hear about what you read!

I’ve had no idea there were so many intriguing Malaysian books! Thanks for the write up – I will try to find some of these!

Hi Katerina!

Thank you for reading! This is only the tip of the iceberg! There are so many more. Not sure if you are an e-reader or book reader but they are all available on Amazon.

Report back after you’ve read one and let me know what you think! K

24 Jaw-Dropping Things to See in Mexico

5 de Diciembre Puerto Vallarta: Insider’s Neighborhood Guide

colorful building and street in San Miguel de Allende

11 of the Best Cities to Live in Mexico for Expats

Burda Luxury
Prestige Online
Pin Prestige
TRAVEL+LEISURE

6 must-read books by Malaysian authors

This Merdeka month, stock up on some of the best books by Malaysian authors.

Malaysian authors don’t get nearly enough credit for the prose they have painstakingly crafted. Far from the likes of Tash Aw’s internationally-acclaimed ‘The Harmony Silk Factory’, Malaysia is in fact, home to many talented authors.

Below, we’ve listed several books that are must-reads. From award-winning novels to stories that delve into culturally-significant events in Malaysia, you’ll need to add these books to your read list in conjunction with Merdeka month.

(Hero & featured image credit: Unsplash/ Nong Vang)

Jump To / Table of Contents

The rice mother by rani manicka, the weight of our sky by hanna alkaf, the ghost bride by yangsze choo, the gift of rain by tan twan eng, map of the invisible world tash aw, an ocean of grey by kamalia hasni.

This novel by Rani Manicka was inspired by her own family history and its Sri Lankan heritage. The Rice Mother is Manicka’s first novel and won a Commonwealth Writers Prize in 2003. The novel starts with the story of Lakshmi, a 14-year-old Sri Lankan girl who is married off to a supposedly wealthy man in Malaysia with the promise of a better life. Upon her arrival in Malaysia, she realises that it was not the case — Ayah, the man she marries, is neither rich nor reliable. She goes on to raise six children through World War II and the Japanese occupation with her own strength. These deep-seated trauma the family faces gets passed on from generation to generation, ending with Lakshmi’s great-granddaughter who researches into her family history.

As far as young adult novels go, there aren’t many written by Malaysian authors that cater to the youth of today with heavy topics. Hanna Alkaf’s debut novel, ‘The Weight of Our Sky’ is a refreshing change. The story’s premise surrounds a teenager with OCD (the actual mental health issue, not just the tendency for neatness) who does everything she can to get to her mother during the May 13th racial riots in 1969. It’s a refreshing and fast-paced novel that covers racism, the real effects of mental health from a first-person perspective, violence, and more.

Watched the Netflix series and hankering to know more details? Then you’ll definitely have to pick it up. The story revolves around Li Lan, a daughter of a family on the verge of bankruptcy during the colonial era in Malacca. To save her family, she has been tasked to become a ‘ghost bride’ for a wealthy family whose only son recently died under mysterious circumstances. Being a ghost bride is a traditional Chinese customs where a living person is wedded off to a spirit to ease its restless nature. By doing so, Li Lan is guaranteed a home and her family taken care of.

But what are the consequences of being a ghost bride? In the book, you’ll read about her ghostly encounters at night, from being pulled into the spirit world to gaining an attraction to the new heir at her in-laws. More than being a story about spiritual encounters, it also gives readers an insight into the Peranakan culture and how deep-rooted its traditions and superstitions are.

Before his acclaimed novel ‘The Garden of Evening Mists’ (which was recently turned into a beautiful movie), Tan Twan Eng’s first novel was ‘The Gift of Rain’. Set in the year 1939 in Penang, the story revolves around Philip Hutton and his relationship with Hayato Endo. Hutton, who is of Chinese-English heritage, befriends Japanese diplomat Endo who teaches him aikido. As the Japanese begin to invade Malaya, Hutton must choose where his loyalties lie. He ends up working for the Japanese to keep his family safe on the surface but secretly supplies insider information to the guerrilla fighters. It’s an engaging read, and you’ll be left hungry for information page after page, wondering if Hutton ever gets caught.

You probably already know Tash Aw’s iconic award-winning book, ‘The Harmony Silk Factory’. If you’re hankering to read something else from the author, might we suggest this one? ‘Map of the Invisible World’ centres on two brothers who were separated as children. Johan, the older brother is adopted by a wealthy couple to live in Malaysia, while younger brother Adam is orphaned again and again when Karl the Dutchman who raised him is arrested by soldiers in Indonesia. Read how both brothers’ stories intertwine as Adam goes on a journey to find Karl all alone in Jakarta while Johan’s seemingly privileged life is not all it seems.

If lengthy novels aren’t your thing, then allow us to point you in the direction of ‘An Ocean of Grey’ by Kamalia Hasni. This book contains a collection of prose and poetry themed around the aftermath of love and pain. It’s beautiful, haunting, yet altogether familiar. The perfect remedy for a broken heart.

PohNee Chin

Editor, Kuala Lumpur

Poh Nee is the editor and writes about travel and drinks. When she's not living out her holiday dreams via Google Earth and sipping on an Old Fashioned down at the local bars, you can find her snug at home bingeing on Netflix and mystery fiction.

Yes, I agree to the Privacy Policy

Most Popular

Recommended for you

Shōgun to The Last Samurai : 15 of the best Hiroyuki Sanada movies & shows

Best college romance K-dramas like Nevertheless to watch

What is the combined net worth of Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi? Let’s find out

Song Da Eun and BTS Jimin: A timeline of their rumoured romance

follow our daily snapshots at @lifestyleasiakl

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates.

You’re all set

Thank you for your subscription.

12 books by Malaysian authors you might like to read

This article is part of a regular ExpatGo editorial series on books, authors and reading in Malaysia and around Southeast Asia. To see more articles in the same series go to the reading series section.

Compilations, essays, historical fiction and more – this is a list of books by Malaysian authors that you might like to read, either to while away the hours by the beach or to immerse yourself in the essence of Malaysian living.

1. Life’s Like That

Diving in to the the Malaysian culture, Lydia Teh captures the essence of being a Malaysian in this witty and honest compilation of amusing meditations on the complexities of Malaysian living.

Lydia Teh wrote her first book in 2001 and has written eight books since then, including the best-selling Honk! If You’re a Malaysian.

Read review on GoodReads

2. The Gift of Rain

This is a story of betrayal, cruelty, courage and enduring love, set in the late 1930’s in Penang, just before the end of the Second World War. This retrospective narrative revolves around a young man, now elderly, named Philip Hutton and his entanglement in wartime deceits and loyalties. This debut novel earned Tan Twan Eng a spot on the long-list of the Man Booker Prize in 2007 and it has been translated into seven languages.

Read the review on GoodReads

3. As I Was Passing I and II

Back in the 1970s, Adibah Amin penned a weekly column in the New Straits Times under the pseudonym Sri Delima. In her columns, Adibah Amin made keen observations on human nature laced with humour and humanity. Those columns were compiled into two volumes in a celebration of Malaysian life through anecdotal essays that delve into the quirks of the Malaysian way of life in a patchwork of pre- and post-war stories that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

Read the review on GoodReads

4. 21 Immortals

This debut novel from Rozlan Mohamed Noor is a high-tech crime thriller involving a triad, hackers, and murder. Rozlan, an ex-police officer, digs into local and professional knowledge in this adventure as he gives readers a glimpse into world of the local CSI and hackers.

This novel earned Rozlan a nomination for the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize: Best First Book.

5. Sorcerer to the Crown

Having released a some short stories, and a novella, this is Zen Cho first novel, which is the first of a historical fantasy trilogy, Sorcerer Royal, set in London. A prominent and proficient magician sets off to find the reason behind England’s dried up magical stocks, and on his way, encounters some peculiar characters that could change the nature of magic forever. This book made was featured in a number of Best of 2015 lists including Barnes and Nobles and The Seattle Times .

6. New Malaysian Essays 1

This collection of non-fiction local works encourages Malaysian readers and writers to pay close attention to the vitality around them. This edition includes writings from Brian Yap, Aminuddin Mahmud, Amir Muhammad, Saharil Hasnin Sanin, and Sonia Rondhawa’s on topics ranging from the election-era to language.

7. The Rice Mother

Fourteen year old Lakshmi leave behind her childhood home in Ceylon as she is married off and sent to live in Malaysia where she soon finds out how difficult it is to raise a family in a foreign land that is both brutal and beautiful. Laksmi find strength through her struggles and grows into a formidable matriarch. This book is Rani Manicka’s debut novel and it earned her the 2003 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize.

8. New Malaysian Essays 2

Bigger than the first, this second edition includes writings on the politics of religion, critiques on ‘power architecture’, a journal of National Service, a rant on the Americanisation of pop culture, and more. Local writers featured this time around include Ridhwan Saidi, Yusuf Martin, Andrew Ng and a few others.

9. The Ghost Bride

This historical fantasy set in 1890s Malacca chronicles the the tale of a woman from a genteel but bankrupt family who receives a proposal to be a ghost bride of the wealthy Lim family’s deceased son. This traditional, but rarely practised, ceremony is employed to placate restless spirits, and though Li Lan would be guaranteed a a roof over her head, there is a terrible price to pay. This debut novel has received many accolades including a Carnegie Medal nomination and was on the NYTimes bestseller list.

10. Made in Malaysia: Stories of Hometown Heroes and Hidden Gems

In this compilation of her popular column in The Star, Navel Glazer, and other stories, Alexandra discovers Malaysia in a whole new light after she leaves her corporate job to be a writer. She collected a treasure trove of experiences from across the country including caving in Gua Musang with a French former nuclear scientist and experiencing a bout of culture shock at an Iban longhouse.

Get a copy from MPHOnline

Originally written in Malay, and subsequently translated to various other languages, Salina chronicles the post-World War II community in Singapore, with a special focus on the Malays in Kampung Kambing, covering issues of poverty, moral ruin and the fight to survive. A. Samad Said is a well-known and celebrated Malaysian poet and novelist, and he taps into his experiences as a child in Singapore during the Japanese occupation as well as the post-war recovery period to illustrate the struggles of the community at that time.

12. A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

This is the first book in a light-hearted crime series about Inspector Singh, a Singaporean police man who finds himself solving crimes in different parts of Asia. In this book, Inspector Singh is sent to solve a murder investigation in Kuala Lumpur involving a high profile Singaporean model, but the Malaysian police doesn’t want to cooperate. There are currently six book in this series by former lawyer, Shamini Flint, who also pens children’s books.

15 international authors inspired by Malaysia
Top 9 places for book lovers in Kuala Lumpur

Thanks for the plug!

I’ve read them all and liked none except New Malaysian Essays. The rest are mostly just orientalism. Thank god Trash Aw isn’t in here

Or “Don’t judge a country by its books.”

What about Tash Aw?

Which is his best book do you think Tan?

I like harmony silk factory

I really enjoyed the different perspectives in New Malaysian Essays. Pity they only stopped at two volumes.

And Brian Gomez’s Devil’s place?

Tunku Halim should be in here. Tash Aw was draggy.

Most Popular

Airport Autogate Facilities Extended to Nationals from 46 Countries

Burning Up the 5G Superhighway: Malaysia’s Speeds Are Second-Fastest in Asia Pacific

AirAsia Shifts Focus to Southeast Asia Region with New ASEAN Explorer Pass

Thailand to Recriminalise Cannabis by Year-End, Marking a 180-Degree Policy Change

Refresh your music with heineken.

Forest City’s Parent Company, Country Garden, Likely to Face Trade Suspension in China

Sabah Latest to Adopt a ‘Rich Tourists’ Pursuit?

100 Best Malaysia Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best malaysia books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Garden of Evening Mists

Twan Eng Tan | 5.00

See more recommendations for this book...

The Gift of Rain

Tan Twan Eng | 4.91

The Night Tiger

Yangsze Choo | 4.86

Ann Miurako @jamescham @yangszechoo Already read it! Fantastic book and highly recommend (Source)

Billion Dollar Whale

The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World

Tom Wright, Bradley Hope | 4.81

Bill Gates As Bad Blood is to biotech, Billion Dollar Whale is to international finance... a wonderful read... Thrilling. (Source)

Alexis Ohanian An incredible story.... If you need some billionaires to despise--look no further than these charlatans. (Source)

Morgan Housel This book on the 1MDB scandal was great, hard to put down. Low sophistication + huge brazenness is a powerful fraud combo. https://t.co/nYpIJffcb5 (Source)

The Ghost Bride

Yangsze Choo | 4.72

The Weight of Our Sky

Hanna Alkaf | 4.68

Adibah Noor finally finished reading this amazing book. my heart was racing from beginning to end. go get your copy now! you need to read this, like now!! especially now!!! https://t.co/yIOmEzxx1U (Source)

The Rice Mother

Rani Manicka | 4.65

A Town Like Alice

Nevil Shute | 4.64

A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder (Inspector Singh Investigates #1)

Shamini Flint | 4.57

The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds (Malayan #1)

Selina Siak Chin Yoke | 4.53

Don't have time to read the top Malaysia books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

The Harmony Silk Factory

Tash Aw | 4.45

Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1)

Kevin Kwan | 4.42

Tracy Chou @nelson @CrazyRichMovie yay i’m so glad you got to enjoy it!! lots of singaporeans do speak hokkien and eleanor does in the movie, i can’t remember if she does in the book (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar A couple of years after moving to Singapore I read Kevin Kwan's first book "Crazy Rich Asians". I've never laughed so much in my life and have been an advocate of the entire series. To this day, whenever someone has a copy in hand at the airport or in our regular store, I tell them how amazing the books area. Kevin is a genius, and his books are full of beautiful cultural insights from across the... (Source)

Evening Is the Whole Day

Preeta Samarasan | 4.41

The Glass Palace

Amitav Ghosh | 4.40

Ahmede Hussain What I really liked about this novel is the way it describes an individual’s place in history. It’s not so much that Ghosh makes a judgement on whether we are agents or victims of history, but he explores the different ways in which individuals react to particular incidents, and how some manage to overcome adversity. The Glass Palace follows the life of the last Burmese king and his family. It... (Source)

The Long Day Wanes

A Malayan Trilogy

Anthony Burgess | 4.40

Spirits Abroad

Zen Cho | 4.34

We, The Survivors

out of 5 stars | 4.34

In Search of Lost Time (6 Volumes)

Marcel Proust | 4.33

Alain de Botton About a search for how you can stop wasting your life and start to appreciate life and live fully. (Source)

Carlo Rovelli Proust’s reflection on the nature of time is deep and spread over his writing. (Source)

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger A famous masterpiece which is an excruciatingly detailed chronicle of Proust’s life in which every single element and thought is captured and retold. (Source)

Though I Get Home

YZ Chin | 4.30

A Malaysian Journey

Rehman Rashid | 4.30

Mitos Peribumi Malas

Robert Graves and Lucía Grave | 4.30

Stranger in the Forest

On Foot Across Borneo

Eric Hansen | 4.28

Old Filth (Old Filth, #1)

Jane Gardam | 4.28

Old Filth was nominated for the 2005 Orange Prize.

Yasmin How You Know?

Yasmin Mogahed | 4.27

Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal, #1)

Zen Cho | 4.26

Joseph Conrad, Cedric Watts | 4.24

Five Star Billionaire

Tash Aw | 4.23

The Separation

Dinah Jefferies | 4.22

Explosions of Joy

A Memoir of the Grief Counselor for Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

Paul Yin, Trina A. Kraus, et al. | 4.22

The Living Mountain

A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland

Nan Shepherd, Robert Macfarlane | 4.21

Robert Macfarlane This book is a geo-philosophical meditation on the Cairngorm landscape in particular, but more generally on how mind and place interpenetrate, as Shepherd puts it. It’s a sensual and, well, erotic text. Shepherd talks about tasting the landscape, and describes walking barefoot, sleeping out. It’s the record of a long-term and full-body immersion in a place. (Source)

Cal Flyn This slim work of nature writing, an account of gentle and repeated interaction with those same mountains in all seasons, requires total immersion. (Source)

What Your Teacher Didn't Tell You

The Annexe Lectures (Vol. 1)

Farish A. Noor | 4.21

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

Charles MacKay | 4.20

Jonah Lehrer A wonderful eclectic history of mass human irrationality, and a great history of financial bubbles. (Source)

Tom Joseph "Do you know who I am"- Trump cries a/b his status, Iran & Obama are panic b4 his bubble pops Mania's will end in panic as noted in a favorite book: Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay. Not a plug-written in 1841 Trumpmania is now Trumpanic https://t.co/WnVGJ8Hung (Source)

John Gapper It’s a very patchy book, but it leads off with three classic financial booms and busts – tulip mania in Holland, the Mississippi scheme in 18th century France, and the South Sea Bubble. MacKay was a journalist with a fine tabloid style, and he writes it all up very entertainingly. He gets the eyewitness quotes and he finds the human foibles. (Source)

Among the Believers

An Islamic Journey

V. S. Naipaul | 4.20

Sweet Offerings

Chan Ling Yap | 4.20

The Malay Archipelago

Alfred Russel Wallace | 4.18

Stories & Recipes from Peninsula Malaysia's East Coast

Bryan Koh | 4.18

A Fortune-Teller Told Me

Earthbound Travels in the Far East

Tiziano Terzani | 4.17

Floating on a Malayan Breeze

Travels in Malaysia and Singapore

Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh | 4.17

The Railway Man

Eric Lomax | 4.16

Salina Yoon | 4.16

Malaysian Maverick

Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times

B. Wain | 4.16

Mommy Sayang

Rosana Sullivan | 4.16

When the Future Comes Too Soon (Malayan #2)

Selina Siak Chin Yok | 4.15

Lake Like a Mirror

Sok Fong Ho | 4.15

Victorious Wives

The Disguised Heroine in Nineteenth-Century Malay Syair

Mulaika Hijjas | 4.14

How We Disappeared

Jing-Jing Lee | 4.13

Sharlene Teo How We Disappeared is a historical novel about the Japanese occupation of Singapore. It’s a sweeping epic and tells the tragic story of a young girl who gets taken as a comfort woman. This is an essential read. It’s a wonderful introduction to Singaporean literature and where Singaporean literature is headed. It’s incredibly beautifully written and very understated. (Source)

Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians, #3)

Kevin Kwan | 4.12

Lonely Planet The World

A Traveller's Guide to the Planet

Lonely Planet | 4.11

Lonely Planet Malay Phrasebook & Dictionary

Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo

Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan - Fully Revised Third Edition

Quentin Phillipps | 4.10

State of Emergency

Marc Camero | 4.10

Survivor on the River Kwai

The Incredible Story of Life on the Burma Railway

Reg Twig | 4.10

The War of the Running Dogs

How Malaya Defeated the Communist Guerrillas 1948-1960

Noel Barber | 4.10

A Traveller's Guide to the Planet (Lonely Planet)

Lonely Planet | 4.10

Every country in the world, in one guidebook: Lonely Planet delivers the first guide to The World .

We've taken the highlights from the world's best guidebooks and put them together into one 960-page whopper to create the ultimate guide to Earth. This user-friendly A-Z gives a flavour of each country in the world, including a map, travel highlights, info on where to go and how to get around, as well as some quirkier details to bring each place to life. In Lonely Planet's trademark bluespine format, this is the ultimate planning resource.

From now on, every traveller's...

From now on, every traveller's journey should start here...

About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in.

TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2012 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category

'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times

'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia)

Le tigri di Mompracem

Emilio Salgari | 4.09

Land Below the Wind

Agnes Newton Keith | 4.09

Autumn Cornwell | 4.09

Becoming Hannah

A Personal Journey

Hannah Yeoh | 4.09

The Terracotta Bride

Zen Ch | 4.08

The Casuarina Tree

W.Somerset Maugham | 4.08

The White Pearl

Kate Furnivall | 4.08

The Colour of Inequality

Ethnicity, Class, Income and Wealth in Malaysia

Muhammed Abdul Khalid | 4.08

Far Eastern Tales

W Somerset Maugham | 4.07

The Sarawak Report

The Inside Story of the 1MDB Exposé

Clare Rewcastle Brow | 4.07

The Singapore Story

Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew

Kuan Yew Lee, Lee Kuan-Yeu, Lee Kuan Yew | 4.07

The True Queen (Sorcerer Royal, #2)

Zen Ch | 4.06

Into the Heart of Borneo

Redmond O'Hanlon | 4.06

Kuala Lumpur Sketchbook

Chen Voon Fee | 4.06

Yasmin Ahmad's Films

Amir Muhammad | 4.06

Simply Malaysian Cookbook

Easy yet Delicious Classics from Malaysia

Stephanie Sharp | 4.06

My Life as a Fake

Peter Carey | 4.06

Devil's Place

Brian Gomez | 4.05

Finding Myself in Borneo

Sojourns in Sabah

Neill McKee | 4.05

Among the White Moon Faces

An Asian-American Memoir of Homelands

Shirley Geok-lin Lim | 4.05

Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife

Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam

John A. Nagl, Peter J. Schoomaker | 4.05

The Malaysian Islamic Party 1951-2013

Islamism in a Mottled Nation

Farish A. Noor | 4.04

Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei

Lonely Planet, Simon Richmond, et al. | 4.04

No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians

Thuan Chye Kee | 4.03

Ripples and Other Stories

Shih-Li Kow | 4.03

A Flutter in the Colony

Sandeep Ray | 4.03

Ghost Train to the Eastern Star

Paul Therou | 4.03

Creatures of Near Kingdoms

Kira Jane Buxto | 4.03

Some Aspects of Sufism as Understood and Practised Among the Malays

Muhammad Naguib Al-Attas | 4.03

Historical Fact And Fiction

Jeffery D. Long | 4.03

A Doctor in the House

The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad | 4.03

Prince of Pirates

The Temenggongs and the Development of Johor and Singapore, 1784-1885 (2nd Edition)

Carl A. Trocki | 4.03

Weapons of the Weak

Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance

James C. Scott | 4.03

Spirits of Resistance and Capitalist Discipline

Factory Women in Malaysia

Aihwa Ong and Carla Freeman | 4.02

The Jungle Is Neutral (Classics of World War II

The Secret War)

F. Spencer Chapman, Field Marshal Earl Wavell | 4.02

Asia's Cauldron

The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific

Robert D. Kaplan | 4.01

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide

Malaysia & Singapore

DK Eyewitness | 4.01

... And The Rain My Drink

Suyin Han | 4.01

Three Came Home

Agnes Keith | 4.01

Various and Amir Muhammad | 4.01

Penang in 12 Dishes

How to Eat Like You Live There

Red Pork Press | 4.01

Traditionalism and the Ascendancy of the Malay Ruling Class in Colonial Malaya

Donna J Amoros | 4.00

The Concubine's Child

Carol Jone | 4.00

In 1930s Malaysia, sixteen-year-old Yu Lan is in love with her best friend, Ming, whose father owns one of the busiest kopi shops in Petaling Street. But Ming's family don't see the apothecary's daughter as a suitable wife – for Yu Lan's father, Lim, spends more time playing mahjong than selling herbal remedies. It's not long before Lim makes a terrible decision that will change Yu Lan's life forever, selling her as a concubine to the wealthy, ageing Towkay Chan who is desperate for a male heir.

The consequences of Lim's betrayal resonate through four generations and into the...

The consequences of Lim's betrayal resonate through four generations and into the present day, where Yu Lan's great-grandson, Nick, is searching for his lost family history. His wife, Sarah, begins to be very afraid of what he will find as past and present meld into one.

Kuala Terengganu in 7 Days

Mimi Mashud | 4.00

Book Review— Malaysia: Islam, Society and Politics

Carole faucher.

Malaysia: Islam, Society and Politics Virginia Hooker and Norani Othman, editors Singapore / ISEAS Series on Islam, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies / 2003

Virginia Hooker sets the tone and form in the first chapter by presenting a thoughtful overview of Malaysian politics since the 1960s – the period during which Kessler initiated his fieldwork among Kelantanese Malays. In “Social Science Approaches to Understanding Religious Practices,” William Roff gives a detailed analysis of the Haj pilgrimage by testing influential theoretical frameworks on ritual, such as Van Gennep’s rite de passage and Turner’s communitas. Since there has been a lack of analysis on this “cryptic phenomena” in terms of ritual performance, one of the chapter’s obvious intentions is to remedy the deficiency. Years ago, when Roff was in a Malay village conducting historical research and learning the language, he observed that pilgrims always returned home changed. Among other things, they displayed transformation in a “variety of obvious and outer, symbolic ways”(49). Such transformation among pilgrims is not unique to the Malays, but can be observed in all Muslim communities. Celebrations preceding and following the pilgrimage may and do vary between localities, sometimes dramatically, but the essence of the Haj – personal transformation – seems to transcend cultural particularities while acting as a bridge between local and global Muslim communities: “[The pilgrims] are graduate members in consequence both of this larger community and of their own national, local, rural, or urban one and, by virtue of having re-enacted the origins of the faith at this front, they are uniquely capable of linking the two and revitalizing in their persons that to which they return” (49). Unfortunately, the author does not give us enough insight into how these processes of linking and revitalizing actually take place and operate once the pilgrims return to their homes. Extremely enlightening in its theoretical application, the chapter’s quasi absence of a proper Malaysian context is a little disappointing, especially for anyone familiar with Roff’s previous writings.

Other contributors examine the PAS-UMNO opposition in terms of leadership and discursive strategies. Such is the case with Farish A. Noor, who attempts to explain “the popularity and influence” (199) among ordinary Kelantanese of PAS’ Kelantan leader Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat by examining the discursive strategies he uses “to suit the needs and interests of his local audience” (211). The discussion finds some balance with Amrita Malhi’s chapter, which ponders the political strategies deployed by former prime minister Dr. Mahathir and the UMNO-led coalition Barisan National to marginalize PAS as “backward looking” (247), anti-progressive, against modernization, and thus deviating from the “true teaching of Islam.” Malhi’s defense of PAS rhetoric in terms of support for modernization, development, and “sensitivity to grass-root concerns” (255) is not always convincing; nevertheless, it is interesting, engaging, and provocative.

Shamsul A.B. explores the concepts and historical trajectories behind the academic fields of “Malay Studies” and “Malay World Studies.” He also examines the centrality of intellectuals, both Malays and foreigners, in Malay identity formation. His sharp analysis is, without a doubt, applicable to the field of areas studies in general. It is already a well-known fact that the field of area studies was created and shaped by colonial authorities to suit their own needs for categorization and control. Nevertheless, Shamsul’s application of Cohn’s concept of “epistemological space” to the Malay context is theoretically well informed. His argument is that the epistemological space of the Malays was invaded by British colonialists and that Malay studies was essentially shaped through colonial knowledge to serve colonial interests. By examining the “directional changes” experienced by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s ATMA (Institute of the Malay World and Civilization) over the past thirty years, Shamsul explores the shift from the politically-charged concept of Malay Studies, which continues to exist in its original colonial form, to “the conceptual unity labelled the ‘Malay world’” (115). He describes the “Malay world” as an “abstract, intellectual space as well as a physical location, not unlike the Mediterranean, where a number of civilizations came to meet over time” (116). The question that comes up is: is not this new “epistemological space” also politically oriented? The author does not tackle the question directly, but concludes by saying that this epistemological shift is consistent with “Malaysia’s current standing globally”(119). In this sense, the chapter can be seen to capture some of the important challenges now facing Malaysia’s current leaders, such as the effects of PAS’ attempts to redefine Malay identity according to a more global Islamic frame.

Joel Khan takes up the discourse of Malay exceptionalism, a concept that, in my view, situates Shamsul’s definition of the “Malay world” in an even greater level of complexity. Khan has chosen to “turn away from the political and intellectual elite” (150) by investigating the rapidly growing popularity of single-sex Nasyid bands, a new genre in Malaysian popular music that draws heavily on global Islamic representations. For his research, Khan compares Nasyid bands with the legendary Malay singer-actor P. Ramlee. He finds “certain senses in which Nasyid testifies to a radical change in popular musical styles, and also in the self-perceptions of ordinary Malays” (154). The sudden centrality of Islamic imagery reflects the swift Islamization of Malay popular culture. According to Khan, the “Malaysian others” are as much excluded by Nasyid groups as they were by P. Ramlee. However, his argument goes on to show that the Islamic frame of identity provides more grounds for acknowledging and accepting diversity than the Malay one. Interestingly, the “Malaysian others” are almost completely invisible in the book – with the exception of a few references made by Khan, Hooker, and Mila Stivens – despite the fact that the title does not preclude them. It is worth noting that Khan is the only author who mentions that “Malays are not the only Muslims in Malaysia” (157).

Anthony Milner pursues the topic of Malay identity by addressing the shift in focus from monarchy to race (bangsa) (172). Like Shamsul, Milner locates the development of important aspects of Malay identity in the British colonial era. By examining Malay texts of late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, he helps us understand that, contrary to what has been stated by other scholars, the survival of the sultanate with its ceremonial structure does not in any sense imply the continuity of the feudal system.

Only one chapter directly addresses questions pertaining to women’s rights. Mila Stivens discusses how activist groups such as Sisters in Islam are attempting to engage the state in a dialogue about women’s positions within the boundaries of complex political, cultural, and religious spaces by developing and deploying local versions of women rights.

This book constitutes an important contribution to studies on Malaysian politics, especially in understanding the prevailing complexity of political and religious articulations in relation to the ideological frameworks of the nation-state’s leaders. Many chapters forefront the tensions existing not just between UMNO and PAS but, more interestingly, between the elite and those at the grass-roots level, between universalism and particularism, and between traditional and modern ways of defining what it really means to be a Malay in Malaysia.

Carole Faucher Carole Faucher is visiting associate professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa.

Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia . Issue 5 (March 2004). Islam in Southeast Asia

12 Great Books on Malaysian History

The best history books on British Malaya, World War II Malaysia, and the top historical novels & comics. Chasing the restless tiger: 12 good books about the History of Malaysia

Malaysia is a beautiful tropical country composed of the southernmost section of the Malay Peninsula and Northern Borneo.

The Proclamation of Malaysia happened in 1963, but the country boasts a much longer history , spanning from early settlers to Indianized kingdoms which were later Islamized, leading to growingly complex political institutions.

Various European colonizers fought hard to acquire the geopolitically crucial Malayan Peninsula and the British eventually took over, to then leave the country after it gained independence.

The majority of the Malaysian population is Malay, but starting centuries ago, immigrants from China and India moved to the country, gaining Malaysian citizenship without merging with them.

This ethnic, cultural, and religious variety is what makes Malaysia unique .

In this article on the best books on Malaysian history, you will find a general section, one on the British domination, one on post World War II Malaysia, and one on Novels and comics related to Malaysian History .

General History

A short history of Malaysia

By virginia matheson hooker.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

In this ambitious and concise book, Professor Matheson Hooker presents a Complete History of Malaysia from its earliest human inhabitants to the 2000s .

Her deep knowledge of Malay Literature, coupled with her dissemination skills result in a versatile book, suitable for different categories of readers .

Whether you are planning a trip to Malaysia or you are an academic expanding your knowledge of the Country, we are sure this book will be your speed .

A great and accessible text that makes it one of the best Malaysia history books.

A History of Malaysia

By barbara watson andaya.

What makes this one of the best books on Malaysian history is Professor Watson Andaya’s unique approach. She gives great importance to geography which, she deems, was the ultimate trigger for the development of Malaysia .

A huge part of all trade in Asia had to (and still has to) pass through Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Sumatra island and this book gives you an idea of how international Malay Sultanates could be .

British Malaya

White Rajah

By nigel barley.

Before joining Malaysia in 1963, Sabah and Sarawak had their very own political institutions .

In 1841 Sarawak, an Englishman named James Brooke founded a dynasty of White Rajas , who ruled the State for more than one century, managing inter-ethnic relations to achieve peace.

In this book, the author Nigel Barley intertwines much-needed historical context with details on the personal life of Sir Brooke, without skimping on the gory details .

Out in the Midday Sun

By margaret shennan.

This book is a good introduction to the British domination of Malaya from 1880 to 1960.

Through multiple historical sources, as well as first-hand accounts of witnesses of the time, it retells the history of this tumultuous period , from the beginnings of 2 world wars until the first sprouts of Independence.

One of the best books on Malaysian history and a good compass to track the winding roads of the British diaspora .

Post Second World War

The war of the running dogs

By noël barber.

The “running dogs” Barber’s book title refers to are the Malaysians who remained loyal to the British after the end of Japanese occupation.

This is the way their communist antagonists used to call them. The civil war between the two factions lasted for 12 years (1948 to 1960) and Noël Barber’s book describes it in vivid detail, without losing sight of contemporary events unfolding in neighboring countries.

The Battle For Singapore

By peter thompson.

The fall of Singapore in February 1942 was one of the British Army’s greatest World War II disasters . Thompson thinks this single event buried the well-ingrained belief in the intrinsic military superiority of the West .

The gross underestimation of Japanese military capability led to a rapid defeat and subsequent retaliation on the local population . The geopolitical context and the aftermaths of this crucial event are also well explained in the book.

The Disappearing Act: The Impossible Case of MH370

By florence de changy.

To some of you, the name Malaysia only recalls distant tropical impressions and the tragic disappearance of the MH370 flight in 2014 .

This book by the French investigative journalist Florence De Changy deals with the latter. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, she started noticing inconsistencies and contradictions as well as the authorities’ weird behavior .

Instead of merely raising doubts, she offers her own explanation of this unbelievable event.

Novels and comics

The Night Tiger: A Novel

By yangsze choo.

Part ghost story, part thriller, part romance, this book starts with a severed finger in a jar and unfolds through the story of two characters.

One is Ji-Lin, half dressmaker half dancer, the other is Ren, the 11 years old servant of a British doctor .

The book is set in the 1930s Malaysia, a time when people’s life was still ruled by magic and superstition . A great introduction to Yangsze Choo ‘s work.

The Gift of Rain

By tan twan eng.

Set during Second World War in Penang island, this book tells the story of Philip Hutton, a sixteen years old half-Chinese, half-English rich boy who feels no belonging to either world .

He befriends a Japanese diplomat and shows him around the island, to then realize he is a spy . When the Japanese take over Malaysia, disappointed Philip decides to work in secret to save as many compatriot lives as possible.

A Flutter in the Colony

By sandeep ray.

This novel starts in 1956 when the Sengupta family decides to leave Calcutta for Malaysia .

Their fate is bound to these 2 countries: a famine-stricken Bengal torn by religious clashes and a seemingly quieter Malaysia, in fact undergoing struggle for independence and civil war.

Such crucial historical events put to test the Sengupta family, whose only choice is to adapt to their new country. Ray’s movie-making experience gives the book cinematic features.

The Weight of Our Sky

By hanna alkaf.

The setting of this book is 1969 Malaysia, home of 16 years old Mel . She alternates peaceful teenage life with severe OCD symptoms : a djinn (demon of the Islamic tradition) threatens her with recurring images of her mother’s plausible deaths .

Her condition worsens as racial riots hit Kuala Lumpur separating Mel from her mother until she realizes the only way to get her back is to revert to the djinn’s powers .

Kampung Boy

Sooner or later in life, every single Malaysian enjoyed Lat’s comics, and most of them read his classic, “Kampung Boy”.

This sketchy comic book hits the point better than many history books and this is why we included it in this selection of best books on Malaysian history.

In this largely autobiographic book, Lat sees the World through the eyes of a Kampung (countryside) boy, witnessing the clash between tradition and modernity .

15 Books about South Africa to Understand its Complexity

4 Best books about Canada
4 Best books about South America
Argentina’s Top 10 Fiction Books You Should Read Before You Die
The 7 Best Kenyan Writers and Their Books

9 of The Best Japanese Authors of All Time

Books about titanic: survivors, nonfiction, novels, children’s books and more.

9 of Our Favorite Books About Malawi, Our Home

11 Great Books About Palestine & The History of the Israel Conflict

I'm a former China and Malaysia expat who chose to move to the Sacred Hills of Central Italy for the next couple hundred years. I publish writings since the Myspace era, on new food regulations, Forgotten Gods, politics, and book reviews alike. I often play folk music and organize underground reggaeton parties. Nobody ever died from the food I cooked for them. Not even one person! Incurable optimist, I am a certified conspiracy theorist, Chinese speaker and olive estimator. All the cats in the World are my friends.

Top 10 Books About South Korea. Novels, Culture, Historical Fiction

The best books about South Korea! Popular and traditional culture, K-drama, novels, romance bestsellers, historical fiction, classical literature, & daily life It is undeniable that South Korean culture is spreading throughout the world. Whether you are one of the newcomers or if…

13 Must-Have Books about Karate! History, Katas, Practical Martial Arts

13 books about karate!The best karate books from beginner to advanced. Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, and more. Practical martial arts, kata bibles, and karate history As a martial art lover, I’ve always been fascinated by karate books. Displaying the best books about karate…

Privacy Overview

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Current Issue
Election 2024
Arts & Culture
Social Issues
Science & Technology
Environment
World Affairs
Data Stories
Photo Essay
Newsletter Sign-up
Print Subscription
Digital Subscription
Digital Exclusive Stories

CONNECT WITH US

Melded in Malaysia: Review of ‘My Mother Pattu’ by Saras Manickam

Stories that explore the everyday experiences of the indian diaspora in malaysia and question our notions of belonging and otherness..

Published : Oct 19, 2023 11:00 IST - 5 MINS READ

A devotee cries to a performer dressed up as a Hindu god during the Tamil festival, Thaipusam, a colourful annual celebration in honour of the deity, Subramanian, at Batu Caves, Malaysia. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/ iStock

The contemporary Malaysian poet Charlene Rajendran contemplates the messy notion of “authentic identity” in her creative oeuvre. A poem from her book Mangosteen Crumble (2000) goes:

So, mush of me

Really I am Malaysian,

Ceylonese, Tamil,

Anglophile, All.

Mingled by history

not choice.

Saras Manickam’s collection of stories My Mother Pattu is also about the complexity and “choice-lessness” of identity suggested by Rajendran’s poem. She explores the everyday experience of Malaysian Tamils in a multicultural landscape where “native” and “other” are not defined by historic claims to place alone but by one’s location in hierarchies produced by the criss-crossing of ethnicity, race, religion, and gender. Manickam’s protagonists, primarily women of the Tamil diaspora from the 1960s to the contemporary moment, negotiate contentious relationships within the family and a wider social milieu. The stories traverse multiple themes, places, and time frames but can be enjoyed as a whole—much like ice kacan , the iconic Malaysian dessert that layers a medley of flavours and colours into one delightful whole.

My Mother Pattu

Price: rs.399.

The opening story, “Number One, Mambang Lane”, is located in a small town that the teenaged protagonist refers to as “a stupid town with a stupid name”. Set in 1965, it is a charming tale of unrequited love—a favourite theme of romantic Tamil films of the 1960s. It introduces the reader to a diverse community where being Tamil, Chinese, Sikh, Malay, Muslim, or “Anglo”, and sometimes a little of everything, determines the course of your relationships. This is followed by a series of stories in which we repeatedly encounter Mambang characters, getting a closer look at their lives in different situations.

Cover of My Mother Pattu | Photo Credit: By special arrangement

Halfway through the book, Manickam’s plots move into brutal domestic scenarios: the unhappy single woman stuck in the past, adult prejudices that haunt the lives of children from the working-class quarters, the violence-ridden life of a young woman who must pay for being of “mixed race”. “The Princess of Lemut” foregrounds the divisions wrought by racial and religious identity in a community that is otherwise bound by its working-class status.

Also Read | Tyranny of the majority: Review of ‘Politics of Hate’ edited by Farahnaz Ispahani

Many of Manickam’s stories are about parents and children. The most powerful ones enter the mother-child dynamic and its potential for violence. The characters smack the reader in the face as they shatter idealised notions of selfless parental love. “Charan” and “Will you Let him Drink the Wind” are ruthless explorations of the anguish of parents struggling to bring up children with special needs. Manickam’s empathetic connection with children is visible in the way she channels their voices as they negotiate conflict zones that trap and victimise them. “My Mother Pattu”, the award-winning eponymous story, is a raw tale about the burden of honour and identity that express themselves as both violence and resilience.

“Many of Manickam’s stories are about parents and children. The most powerful ones enter the mother-child dynamic and its potential for violence.”

Although many of the stories delve into the shadows and fragility of human relations, they are not lacking in humour. “Dey Raju” is a quirky love story that meanders through filmi plots. The dey (that translates to “hey, you fellow”) captures the sonic vigour of an expression that to the Tamil speaker carries more meaning than a mere form of address. Manickam’s language is minimalist but evocative. Her teenage protagonists’ words land like sharp badminton smashes on an unsuspecting opponent. For instance, Lalita, the protagonist of the title story, describes Pattu as “the bile that I retched out after each of her visits”. The girl banished to her uncle’s home in “Number One, Mambang Lane” speaks of her resentment: “My exile, I wore like a black dog on my shoulders, feeding it with sultry defiance.” The affect of “Tamil-ness” that is central to her stories is conjured through references to popular Tamil culture, use of colloquial Tamil, food, and sartorial styles. The landscape of Manickam’s Malaysia, its smells and colours, is lushly etched.

The novel explores the everyday experience of Malaysian Tamils in the multicultural landscape of Malaysia.
Saras Manickam’s protagonists, primarily women of the Tamil diaspora from the 1960s to the contemporary moment, negotiate contentious relationships within the family and a wider social milieu.
The stories confront what Manickam refers to as “comfortable conventions” about race, religious/ethnic relations, and “belonging” that structure identities within a nation.

Structural discriminations

The second half is a selection of newer writings that move out of the home and into the “nation” to expose structural discrimination that challenges the Malaysian state’s professed celebration of diversity. We encounter “new” migrant workers—Bangladeshis, Indonesians, and Indians, among others—who are “invisible” but indispensable for building and maintaining the urbane life of Malaysian cities. The stories confront what Manickam refers to as “comfortable conventions” about race, religious/ethnic relations, and “belonging” that structure identities within a nation.

Also Read | Decoding Dalit politics: Review of ‘Maya, Modi, Azad’ by Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar

In an interview, Manickam spoke about the universality of prejudice: “I didn’t want accusations of racism (or patriarchy) to be something that is targeted at other people… those who scream injustice needed to confront their own personal prejudices, bigotry or intolerance in their own actions.” We see this in the concluding story, “Call it by its Name”, which ruminates on the dark aspects of migrants’ lives over centuries and the shifting yardsticks for measuring otherness. A young Tamil Malaysian woman, who has never stepped on Indian soil, is forced to confront her own prejudices after her friend uses a slur, keling , to call out her Indian origin.

Prejudice, fear of difference, and the facile construction of a unitary national identity are not concerns exclusive to Malaysian society or its Tamil diaspora. These issues were and continue to be increasingly relevant to our own social context. Manickam throws us the bait for plumbing our own depths and invites us to converse with our own shadows.

Usha Rao is an urban anthropologist, an independent media maker, and a freelance educator.

Conflating Hinduism with Vedic religion is a dangerous distortion

Journalists staging a protest against the arrest of NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and its administrative officer Amit Chakravarty on terrorism-related charges at the Press Club of India, in New Delhi on October 4.

Assault on NewsClick marks the lowest point for media freedom in India since Emergency

Members of the National Federation of Trade Union march from India Gate to Rajghat in support of the Mandal Commission report in New Delhi on November 18, 1992. The Mandal Commission’s recommendation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs has been in place since 1990..

Is this Mandal 2.0?

Residential buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in Zahra City, in southern Gaza City, on October 19, 2023.

The Gaza crisis was a ticking time bomb

During a meet on the implementation of “Value Education” in schools, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru in January, Vishweshwar Hegde Kager (centre), then Karnataka Assembly Speaker; with Dr Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Sri Skeshtra; and Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji, pontiff of Sri Suttur Math.

How Karnataka’s maths reflect the interplay of power, piety, and politics

‘the dystopian times’ by appupen, ‘a herd of men’: a tamil story in translation.

An ancient mural in a Beijing temple depicts the nirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Buddha, Bollywood-style: Review of ‘Siddhartha’ by Advait Kottary

Congress party chairperson Sonia Gandhi with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, and Telangana party chief Revanth Reddy during the “Vijayabheri Maharally”, in Ranga Reddy on September 17.

Telangana might deliver the most significant result in the State elections

BJP’s subversion of the electoral process and Modi’s communal rhetoric undermine credentials of democracy in India

It is not the act of voting that makes for a democracy but ensuring that the act is protected.

Editor’s Note: The fall of the Election Commission

Bookmark stories to read later.
Comment on stories to start conversations.
Subscribe to our newsletters.
Get notified about discounts and offers to our products.

Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment

BOOK REVIEW | Murray Hunter’s latest work on this still sensitive subject - the evolution of the deep state - is presently available as a pdf volume for public viewing and dissemination.

Produced by OVI (door in English) a Finnish multilingual non-profit daily publication that carries articles related to human rights, inequality, discrimination, and other contemporary hot-button subjects, the collection appropriately opens the door to information, analysis, and questions about the working and ramifications of a key shadowy player in the nation’s history and development.

The articles in the volume were initially intended as part of the two-volume published set, ‘Dark Forces Changing Malaysia’, and ‘Malaysia Towards GE15 and Beyond’.

However, discretion proved the better part of valour in deciding what to include and exclude. The availability of these pieces on the internet hopefully will ensure the wide readership that the work thoroughly deserves.

Murray’s work is not just about...

Please join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news and views that matter.

KL-based Sabahan brings Borneo's literary treasures to life through Bundusan Books

Bundusan Books founder Jesse Joy (centre) during the launching of its first publication "Cerita Dusun dari Kota Belud" in conjunction with Jesselton Artisan Market 7th anniversary here yesterday. Present are the book editor Ricardo Unto (right) and illustrator Anas Hussain (left). - NSTP/ OLIVIA MIWIL

KOTA KINABALU: What began as a personal quest for resources has blossomed into a cherished haven for Borneo literature enthusiasts.

Jesse Joy, a graphic designer and artist from Putatan, founded Bundusan Books in 2022 following the release of his documentary film "Finding Bundusan."

His journey to unearth Borneo's rich heritage has now become a gateway for others to explore the region's vibrant history and culture through books.

"I started Bundusan Books after I realised how difficult it was to find resources for my documentary.

"I began collecting books about Borneo and sharing them online. When people started asking where they could get copies, I saw an opportunity to provide these books, and thus, Bundusan Books was born."

Bundusan Books boasts a diverse collection, with hundreds of titles focusing on Borneo, both old and new.

Jesse's passion for literature extends beyond Borneo, encompassing various genres and subjects such as the Orang Asli, art, architecture, fiction, and children's books, predominantly authored by Malaysians.

"I contact suppliers and authors to see if they still have certain books in stock, but I also enjoy visiting book fairs to discover new titles for my (virtual) shop.

"The books I sell range from RM10 to hundreds of ringgit. The most expensive book I've sold was a collectible called 'Hornbill and Dragon,' which was RM800."

Jesse, who is based in Kuala Lumpur and frequently participates as a vendor at events nationwide, often hears from people impressed by the range of books available about Borneo.

"They share their own stories and experiences, recalling old books they read or events that happened in their kampung.

"A lot of my customers are repeat buyers, and I want to offer them something new each time they visit my booth.

Despite the aspiration, Jesse said running Bundusan Books comes with its challenges, especially with the slim margins in the book-selling business.

He handles most operations himself, balancing his role as a graphic designer for a publishing company to cover bills, while all the income from book sales goes back into running the store.

He occasionally hires part-time assistants for events.

"Selling books is tough. The margins are small, and I do most things by myself. I rely on my full-time job to cover bills, and all the income from selling books goes towards running Bundusan Books."

Jesse also hopes to showcase the potential of local publications and inspire trust in his ability to help others tell their stories.

With a background in broadcasting, film, and a flexible career in graphic design, the 33-year-old Jesse Joy is determined to ensure that the literary heritage of Borneo is preserved and accessible for generations to come.

"I also aim to cultivate an ecosystem in Sabah with skills and expertise in publishing – editing, layout designing, illustration. It's not that we lack these talents, but it's beneficial to highlight them."

Yesterday, Bundusan Books launched its first publication "Cerita Dusun Dari Kota Belud" in conjunction with Jesselton Artisan Market's 7th anniversary at Riverson near here.

The book was translated from the English version by journalist Ricardo Unto and illustrated by Anas Hussain.

"Through the publication of the book, I hope that people can see the potential of their book and trust Bundusan Books to help them tell their stories."

RM100 student book vouchers begin rolling out

Saturday, 01 Jun 2024

Related News

More than 23,000 book vouchers redeemed by students via Delima app, says Education Ministry

Rm100 book vouchers for tertiary students to be given out in stages, says zambry, rm100 book vouchers for standard four pupils and higher starting may 31, says anwar.

PUTRAJAYA: The RM100 book vouchers for tertiary education students will be distributed in stages, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

The Higher Education Minister said the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang will announce the distribution method as soon as possible.

“The Prime Minister wants it (the book voucher distribution) to begin this evening,” he said after attending the ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday.

Zambry said the distribution will be in stages, with priority on the use of the vouchers at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival 2024, which ends tomorrow.

“The rest of the distribution will be done at higher education institutions,” he added.

Zambry expressed hope that any past issues encountered in previous voucher distribution could be avoided this time.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that students from Year Four until tertiary level education will receive book vouchers worth RM100.

He said the vouchers would come with a recommended reading list including the works of national laureates Datuk Seri A. Samad Said, Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan and the late Datuk Dr Shahnon Ahmad.

“I have suggested that when we give them the leeway to use the vouchers, we also provide a list of classic novels such as (Hikayat) Hang Tuah or books written by our national laureates.

“We also proposed that the vouchers be used to purchase titles on technology because we need our children to understand the basics of digitalisation and artificial intelligence,” he added.

In 2012, then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched the Baucar Buku 1Malaysia scheme to help students purchase books and academic materials.

However, issues arose when these vouchers were sold to others for money.

Zaini said all 1.2 million Malaysian students studying in local higher education institutions will receive the vouchers.

“International students and Malaysians studying overseas will not get it,” he added.

In a statement, the Higher Education Ministry said those attending the book fair can purchase their books through the BookCapital platform.

“The selection of BookCapital, under the management of KL International Book Festival 2024 co-organiser Perbadanan Kota Buku, is to facilitate users throughout the duration of this book festival. The use of other platforms will be used in the next phase,” it said.

In a separate statement, the Education Ministry said Year Four to Year Six pupils and students at the ministry’s institutions can log into the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (Delima) platform to claim and use their RM100 vouchers. (See steps in infographic.)

They could log in from yesterday.

“The Prime Minister’s announcement coincides with the Education Ministry’s continuous efforts to improve the reading culture among pupils and students through the organisation of various encouragement programmes at every level,” it said in a statement.

On another matter, Zambry said the ministry has been having in-depth discussions with various ministries including the Investment, Trade and Industry; Economic; and Human Resources ministries on the country’s manpower needs.

He said they are “taking a proactive approach” to ensure that the country can meet the manpower needs of industries, especially those receiving foreign direct investments.

Tags / Keywords: Book Voucher , Education Ministry , Higher Education Ministry , Schools , HEIs , IPTs

Found a mistake in this article?

Report it to us.

Thank you for your report!

RM100 student book vouchers begin rolling out

KFC was never on the boycott list, says BDS

Next in nation.

Trending in News

Air pollutant index, highest api readings, select state and location to view the latest api reading.

Select Location

Source: Department of Environment, Malaysia

Others Also Read

Best viewed on Chrome browsers.

We would love to keep you posted on the latest promotion. Kindly fill the form below

Thank you for downloading.

We hope you enjoy this feature!

IMAGES

10 Best Books About Malaysia: Read Before You Go!
Read Insight Guides Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook) Online by APA
Malay novel
Learning About Malaysia through Malaysian Children's Books
Best Malaysian books to read before your visit to Malaysia
Ten essential books by Malaysians for Malaysians

VIDEO

Why You SHOULDN'T come to MALAYSIA...

COMMENTS

15 Books on Malaysia That'll Spark Your Wanderlust
Written by Yangsze Choo, The Ghost Bride takes the reader back to 1893 to the city of Malacca. The book is part adventure and part supernatural.Some will enjoy the story of ghosts and the afterlife; others won't.. As for me, I surprisingly liked the book a lot even though I don't usually like unrealistic stories about ghosts and spirits,. The main character is Pan Li Lan, the younger ...
19 Best Books on Malaysia for your Armchair Wanderlust
Sister Swing. By Shirley Geok-lin Lim, Marshall Cavendish, 2006. Shirley Geok-lin Lim is a legendary writer and this may be one of her best novels. "Sister Swing" follows the story of three sisters, moving from the comfort of Malaysia to the harsh reality of the United States.
21 Books About Malaysia to Add to Your Reading List
Books set in Malaysia (Fiction) 1. The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds by Selina Sian Chin Yoke (2016) The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds (The Malayan saga) Amazon Kindle Edition. Yoke, Selina Siak Chin (Author) English (Publication Language) $3.99. Buy on Amazon.
50 Judul Buku Terbaik Malaysia 2021
Baru-baru ini, Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia (MBKM) telah menyediakan senarai 50 judul buku terbaik Malaysia tahun 2021. Senarai buku ini disenaraikan dalam 50 Best Malaysian Titles for International Rights 2020/21. Kami pasti, anda nak tahu apakah tajuk-tajuk yang mendapat pilihan panelis yang memutuskan mengikut genre masing-masing. Terdapat sebanyak 30 rumah penerbitan dengan judul masing ...
Best Malaysian books to read before your visit to Malaysia
2) Tan Twan Eng - The Garden of Evening Mists. . Whereas The Gift of Rain showed me pain, The Garden of Evening Mists showed me beauty. There is beauty in the world and in people even though it is not always easy to see. It's Malaya, 1949.
9 New Books By Malaysian Writers in 2020 To Read To #SapotLokal
4. We, The Survivors by Tash Aw. Image credit: @lauren.reads.books. Notable Malaysian author, Tash Aw of The Harmony Silk Factory, returns to the literary scene with his newest crime thriller. We, The Survivors follows Ah Hock, an uneducated Malaysian man from a fishing village who is trying to make a living in the city.
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW | 'Sang Kancil' is unlike any book I have read on Malaysia and Malaysians - it is a book of hope, deliverance, and how all of us can, by small acts, make badly needed change happen.
Book Review: Local books worth reading
The name Cold Eye had stuck in my mind since. I only learnt he was the editor-in-chief of Nanyang Siang Pau in 1990 when I read the book. He was in The Malaysia Book of Records for possessing the largest collection of company annual reports — he had amassed more than 10,000 copies over 30 years — and was employed by Tan Sri Vincent Tan to identify investment opportunities in Southeast Asia ...
Book Review: The Best of Malaysian Short Fiction in English 2010-2020
WHAT MAKES A short story successful? In reading The Best of Malaysian Short Fiction in English 2010-2020 (which, as an aside, has a really gorgeous cover), I found my own answer to this question shifted and challenged with every new encounter - each of the 19 stories seems to answer this particular question in its own way.To feel like a story is successful, we must first have a sense of what ...
BOOK REVIEW
Updated: 12:56 AM. BOOK REVIEW | Lim Teck Ghee and Murray Hunter have written a new book 'Dark Forces Changing Malaysia' (SIRD, 2022), which in this collection of 34 essays, the authors mince ...
Dark Horizons Over Malaysia
Dark Horizons Over Malaysia - Book Review. Lim Teck Ghee and Murray Hunter have written a new book Dark Forces Changing Malaysia (SIRD, 2022), which In this collection of 34 essays, the authors ...
9 Books By Malaysian Women That Capture the Essence of a Nation
The Accidental Malay, the winner of Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2022, manages one of the most sensitive issues in Malaysia: race privilege, womanhood, and religion.. I wanted to explore how a policy could tear down a woman's life. - Karina Robles Bahrin The author, Karina Robles Bahrin, of Malay and Filipino parentage sees the book as a way of processing the pressing question of belonging ...
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW | How do we begin talking about Malaysian art?. June Yap's Retrospective: A Historiographical Aesthetic in Contemporary Singapore and Malaysia, gives this challenge a try. The result ...
7 of the Best Malaysia Books to Leave You Breathless
7 of the Best Malaysia Books to Leave You Breathless. * indicates required. /* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */. Best Malaysia books to read before your trip. Or when you can't travel but need a fix. They with leave you breathless and transport you to another world.
6 of the best books by Malaysian authors to read this Merdeka
The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka. The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng. Map of the Invisible World Tash Aw. An Ocean of Grey by Kamalia Hasni. 1 /6.
12 books by Malaysian authors you might like to read
This article is part of a regular ExpatGo editorial series on books, authors and reading in Malaysia and around Southeast Asia. To see more articles in the same series go to the reading series section. Compilations, essays, historical fiction and more - this is a list of books by Malaysian authors that you might like to read, either to while away the hours by the beach or to immerse yourself ...
100 Best Malaysia Books of All Time (Updated for 2021)
The Gift of Rain. Tan Twan Eng | 4.91. Set in Penang, 1939, this book presents a story of betrayal, barbaric cruelty, steadfast courage and enduring love. The recipient of extraordinary acclaim from critics and the bookselling community, Tan Twan Eng's debut novel casts a powerful spell.
Book Review— Malaysia: Islam, Society and Politics
The book is divided into parts on Islam, society, and politics, themes that are brought together in most of the chapters as well. The authors write largely about current political issues, with the rivalry between the ruling party UMNO and the country's major opposition party PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) serving as a main focus.
Book review: Reading Malaysian Literature in English
group o f univ ersity students' experimental narratives in the 1940s, captures the. polemic of a multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multireligious Malaysia. Within this. tradition, the 2021 book ...
12 Great Books on Malaysian History
This book is a good introduction to the British domination of Malaya from 1880 to 1960.. Through multiple historical sources, as well as first-hand accounts of witnesses of the time, it retells the history of this tumultuous period, from the beginnings of 2 world wars until the first sprouts of Independence. One of the best books on Malaysian history and a good compass to track the winding ...
Melded in Malaysia: Review of 'My Mother Pattu' by Saras Manickam
Charlene Rajendran's creative oeuvre contemplates the messy notion of "authentic identity". Saras Manickam's collection of stories, "My Mother Pattu", explores the everyday experience of Malaysian Tamils in a multicultural landscape. The stories traverse multiple themes, places, and time frames, and are full of humour.
BOOK REVIEW
Updated: 8:30 PM. BOOK REVIEW | Murray Hunter's latest work on this still sensitive subject - the evolution of the deep state - is presently available as a pdf volume for public viewing and ...
A History of Malaysia by Barbara Watson Andaya
3.97. 89 ratings11 reviews. Malaysia's multicultural society supports one of the most dynamic economies in Asia. This completely revised new edition of the standard text, first published twenty years ago, traces the history of the country from early times to the present day. The authors give particular attention to the evolution of Malay ...
KL-based Sabahan brings Borneo's literary treasures to life through
"The books I sell range from RM10 to hundreds of ringgit. The most expensive book I've sold was a collectible called 'Hornbill and Dragon,' which was RM800." Jesse, who is based in Kuala Lumpur and frequently participates as a vendor at events nationwide, often hears from people impressed by the range of books available about Borneo. ...
RM100 student book vouchers begin rolling out
PUTRAJAYA: The RM100 book vouchers for tertiary education students will be distributed in stages, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
Parents, student groups welcome revival of RM100 book voucher
Book vouchers were first introduced by the Najib Razak-led Barisan Nasional government in 2016 as the 1Malaysia Book Voucher programme. However, it was only given to students in Form 6 and ...

15 Books on Malaysia That’ll Spark Your Wanderlust

Fiction Books on Malaysia

5. The Casuarina Tree

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

19 Best Books on Malaysia: Novels, Short Stories and Non-Fiction for your Armchair Wanderlust

Best Malaysian Novels

The Malayan Trilogy

Sister Swing

Evening Is the Whole Day

The Garden of Evening Mists

Nazi Goreng: Young, Malay, Fanatic, Skinheads

The Sum Of Our Follies

Once We Were There

We, the Survivors

The Weight of Our Sky

Telltale Food: Writings from the Fay Khoo Award 2017–2019

Lake Like a Mirror

A History of Malaysia,

Towards a New Malaysia?: The 2018 Election and Its Aftermath

Becoming Arab: Creole Histories and Modern Identity in the Malay World

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

21 Books About Malaysia to Add to Your Reading List

Books set in Malaysia (Fiction)

2. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (2013)

3. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo (2019)

4. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint (2010)

5. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng (2009)

6. The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (2012)

7. The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw (2006)

8. Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho (2020)

9. The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf (2019)

Books set in Malaysia (Non-Fiction)

11. Floating on a Malayan Breeze: Travels in Malaysia and Singapore by Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh (2012)

Books on Malaysian politics

13. Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope (2018)

14. The People’s Victory: How Malaysians Saved Their Country by Kee Thuan Chye (2018)

15. The Malay Dilemma by Mahathir Mohamad (2012)

Books on Malaysian History

17. A History of Malaysia by Barbara Watson Andaya and Leonard Y. Andaya (2017)

18. Crossroads: A Popular History of Malaysia and Singapore (4th Edition) by Jim Baker (2020)

Essential travel books about Malaysia

20. Lonely Planet Best of Malaysia & Singapore by Lonely Planet (2019)

21. Malaysia – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture by Culture Smart! and Victor King PhD (2021)

My favorite Malaysian authors and poets

1. Yangsze Choo

2. Tunku Halim

3. Kee Thuan Chye

5. A. Samad Said

Must-read books about Malaysia – Pin it!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

50 Judul Buku Terbaik Malaysia 2021 – Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia

Kanak-kanak / Komik (Children/Comics)

Pergi Covid-19! Jangan Datang Lagi!

Kelembai: Ceritera Tidak Terhikayat

Hendak Ke Mana Gagak?

Damia dan Kuda Kepang Ajaib

Music and My Friends

Gaja Loves The Sea

Pendidikan (Educational)

Islam dan Mata Wang Kripto

The Theory of Wealth Circulation and The Risk Sharing in Islamic Finance

Raising Your Child with Special Needs: Guidance & Practices

Islamic Financial System: Theory and Practice

Seeking Hang Tuah

Halal Governance & Management: Malaysia & Asean Countries – Intermediate to Advance

Bah Kuning 2014 di Kelantan

Entelah: Warisan dan Hubungannya Dengan Kepercayaan Masyarakat Iban

Potential Aquaculture Species in Malaysia

Managing Durian Orchards in Malaysia

Keris: Warisan Melayu

63 Tumbuhan Ubatan

Archaeology in Malay Archipelago and Beyond

Kebijaksanaan Pemerintahan Sultan Melaka (1446 – 1488)

Tioman My Beautiful Island

Lipur Lara Nusantara

Fiksyen (Fiction)

Jejak Hilang Yang Pulang

Puisi Untuk Maharani

Selamat Tinggal Purnama – Strain Pertama

PERSIS (Persist)