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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".


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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.


Friday, November 10, 2006

A New Beginning

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah hitaala wabarakatu... Peace be upon you readers...

Today, after Friday prayers at a mosque in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, a suggestion by an uncle made during the first few days of Raya back in my kampung in Muar caught me once again. Knowing how vocal I have been in the past over a wide spectrum of issues ranging from philosophy and science up to religion and mysticism, and how frustrated I am with the current state of the world, the uncle who is a dean and an engineering professor at a local university suggested that I start making my own blog. Why? Because he himself has been quite a vocal person and pretty ill tempered in his youngers days, having been a prominent student leader among his peers in London in the 70s and idealistic in his outlook towards the world...

Knowing that I have been quite a firebrand myself but in the process of mellowing down, he related how his own experience starting a blog in the last few months or so have been soothing and theraupetic.

Mind you, this uncle has cooled down a lot over the last so many years and a good advice from him is worth taking note seriously as the man reflects his own beliefs in life...

Anyway, now that I actually started writing here, I admit feeling rather theraupetic... Come to think of it, the last time I actually wrote a full article in English was some 5 years ago! When I was still a journalist attached to The New Straits Times... The following years, I did write for my own viewing and satisfaction but instead of in English, I chose my mother tounge Malay especially when starting work on my first book titled "Berpetualang ke Aceh", hence the title of this blogspot...

The book could have been written in English as I am considered more adapt in this adopted language of mine having spent 4 years studying in London and living with the locals instead of fellow Malays... But I chose to write in Malay as it is a book about Malay, very Malay but not in the usual understanding of what a Malay stands for, rather a more egalitarian and global minded Malay... Insyaallah God-Willing, when the urge comes, I will explain more on that... Perhaps it might turn out to be an indirect attempt to write an English adaptation of the book written in novel form which is available at selected bookstores throughout Malaysia since June? Perhaps it will... Many have asked for an English translation, its just I'm still unsettled with a lot of things to actual carry out the task properly...

Anyhow this article is just my introduction into the world of blogging, being a first-timer at that... So don't expect the juice to come in flowing yet... Let me get used to writing in proper English again and in time everything will come out nicely to complete the jigsaw puzzle that is my life for others to view and make their own notes...

Hmm... Come to think of it, maybe I should post a few of my old articles from the NST days along with a few pictures... Yep... That should start the ball rolling... So don't stop reading yet OK cause I will return with more and more... Cheers moit!

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