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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.


Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Up and around Bukit (the hill of) Melaka

OK... Here, I feel like sharing some pictures around Bukit (hill of) Melaka. Actually this place is officially known as Bukit St Paul, after a 16th Century (or was it 17th Century) Christian priest who was said to be instrumental in preaching that faith in the Malay lands. On top of the hill was built a church dedicated to him hence the name. But me being a Malay is of the opinion that this guy was a usurper. So let me just tell the story in my own strange way ya, here goes...



I think most Malaysians or those who have visited Melaka know this sight very well. At the foot of the hill in the picture is the remains of the fort built by the Portuguese after they conquered the city of Melaka in the 1511 AD. The fort is known as the A Famosa... On top is the church of St Paul...


At the other side of the foothill is the replica of Malay palace from the old days of the Melaka Sultanate. Too bad, it is not as well-known as the A Famosa which is a symbol of the downfall of the Malays...


True to its name, the A Famosa is so famous as to be touted as the most major tourist attraction in Melaka...


Next to it is a road called Jalan (street of) Istana (palace) leading to the Melaka Sultanate palace replica. Again, too bad it is not as famous as the A Famosa...


Just look at the number of people going through its gates to get up the hill...


Ah... And so the solid remains of Western colonialism stays on unshaken watching over the Malay lands...



Just look at the sight it commands. Just slightly over 10 years ago or so, I still remember the field seen in the picture as lying next to the beach and the Straits of Melaka. Now with the advent of time, plenty of land has been reclaimed to make way for development pushing up the shore by more than a kilometre further!


Inside the remains of the church of St. Paul, I took the chance to hang out the latest promotional poster for my "Berpetualang ke Aceh" book series...


There... Caught a potential fan already...


Here is the old bell tower of the church...

And here is a plaque explaining the history...


For a better read, you can right-click this picture and open it in another window...


I sit inside and spent some time breathing the air and feeling the aura and the atmosphere of this place...


Outside, I saw this statue of St. Paul. Frankly the first thought that came to my mind was to spit on it then bang it down with something but that would be hooliganism... Why am I so angry? Because I know it for a fact, this top of the hill was actually the spot where the original Melaka Sultanate palace was built. At the foothill was the main mosque and next to it was the royal cemetery. As a Malay Muslim (especially of old Malay royal descend), of course I feel angry knowing how this place was turned upside down so to make way for symbols of Western imperialism. So what happened then?

Well, I think plenty of historians (except those bigotted agents of Western thinking and puppets of colonialism) know that all symbols of Malay history was thorned down and rend asunder after the Portuguese managed to subdue the old Melaka city. Then, they need material to built their fort and guess what... The easiest way is to tear the Malay buildings including parts of the main mosque, palace, even tombstones and used to stones to built their fort. That should be enough reason to make me so angry... Angry too at St. Paul for being a symbol of that conquest and destruction of Malay values but I chose to be sane... Instead of defacing the statue in any way, I decided to pose along with my "Berpetualang ke Aceh" promotional poster!


Despite my early foul mood, I left the place on a brighter note. I might not be able to change history or replace the building up here with the original Malay palace but I still can try to tell as many people as possible the real significance of this place... That it is a reminder of Western imperialism and how strong its influence on the common mind once its fangs has set in... The warning and message. Don't fall into the trap once again! Enough...


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