-----------------------

This blogspot is a medium to share my thoughts and adventures apart from promoting my books. Below are the books which have been written or authored and published by myself.


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Mencari Diri dan Erti".

ISBN 983-42031-0-1, Jun 2006


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Membela Syiar yang Asal"

ISBN 983-42031-1-x, May 2007


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Sirih Pulang ke Gagang?"

ISBN 978-983-42031-2-2, November 2007


It is interesting to note that while these books were written in Malay it has gained enough attention to merit being part of the collections of the American Library of Congress and National Library of Australia. Look here and here.


While the first three books were published by my own company, the fourth titled "Rumah Azan" was published in April 2009 by a company called Karnadya with the help of the Malaysian national literary body Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. It features beautiful pictures along with stories behind selected mosques which could be related to the history of Islam and the Malays alongside the formation of the Malaysian nation. Look at the article A collaboration of old collegemates - the book "Rumah Azan".


My fifth book "Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and Malay Sultanates", an English translation and adaptation of the Malay book "Ahlul Bait (Keluarga) Rasulullah SAW dan Kesultanan Melayu" authored by Hj Muzaffar Mohamad and Tun Suzana Othman was published early 2010. Look here... My 5th book is out! Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and the Malay Sultanates... . For more information check out my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU.



Like my fourth book "Rumah Azan", the sixth book "Kereta Api Menuju Destinasi" is also a coffee-table book which is published by the company Karnadya with the cooperation of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (the main Malay literary body in Malaysia). Coming out January 2011 it features pictures and stories on the adventure travelling by train to all of Peninsular Malaysia along with the interesting places which could be reached this way.


My seventh book "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" in turn is a coffee-table book which is written, editted, designed and has pictures taken by me. Coming out of the factory October 2011, this book which combines family history with history of places such as Singapura, Johor, Batu Pahat, Muar and in fact the history of the island of Java and England has been reviewed with me interviewed live in the program Selamat Pagi Malaysia at RTM1. Look at the article Siaran langsung ulasan buku "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" dan temu ramah di Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Some selected contents have been featured in Sneak peek "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah".


-----------------------


The "Berpetualang ke Aceh" series of novels could be obtained in e-book form. Enter http://www.e-sentral.com/, click general novel and go to page 4. You can also type the word "Aceh" at the search box. Or click straight Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3.


Saturday, May 14, 2011

The nostalgia that is Stadium Merdeka

On to some activities did recently in Kuala Lumpur...


Last Sunday I brought the wife and baby for a drive around KL. Suddenly I felt like having a look at the Merdeka Stadium... let's use the Malay pronounciation Stadium Merdeka (not much difference except order of the words).



For information Merdeka is the Malay word for independence. This stadium was built and then official opened on 31st August 1957 in time for the announcement of the independence of Malaysia (then known as Federation of Malay states) from the colonial rule of the British (or rather English as Great Britain is actually ruled by Englishmen).



Thus Stadium Merdeka became the nation's main venue for top flight events especially inter-nation sports and soccer matches. That is until the 1990s when bigger stadiums like the one in Bukit Jalil began to be built leaving this aging stadium almost obsolute... so obsolute that it was almost demolished to make way for high-rise buildings if not for its inherent historical value which some believe must be preserved.

I understand now it has been declared as a natural heritage. Efforts are underway to preserve it to its former glory reminiscent of its original and debutal role... that is the public place where the independence was openly declared with those magical words... "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!"



Let's go inside.



There are montages of pictures regarding the independence on display.












The montages are displayed at the hallway. That's baby Al-Rasyid a year and a half old walking around...



Now let's have a look at the field and arena.



A look to the left.



A look ahead.



A look to the right.



The last three pictures where taken from the grandstand.



Al-Rasyid posing as a spectator... or sorts... :]






Then I saw this platform. I thought hey... is this the place where the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!"?


Then as I made my way to the men's room I saw this picture taken on 31st August 1957.



It seems the declaration of independence was made on a make-shift platform down the grandstand.

It should be positioned at this part of the field.

Al-Rasyid pondering things to come? For its hard to picture him getting nostalgic as in 1957 he should be -55 years old or so, if there is such a term and way to describe things at all. Hmm. For the record this is the 767th article in this blogspot :]



2 comments:

Carmen Ngau said...

Hi, is it okay if I use some of the pictures here to put on my blog? I need to describe a scene during my recent experience in a concert in Stadium Merdeka.

Would appreciate it if you'd allow, thanks! :)

Radzi Sapiee said...

Sure, no prob. Please give due credit to this blog...