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

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.


Friday, September 21, 2012

A visit to Pudu Jail

This is something fresh from 13 hours ago.


Yesterday as I was walking along Jalan (street of) Pudu towards the Berjaya Megamall in Kuala Lumpur I saw an opening leading into one of the city's most well-known landmark.


I'm talking about the now-defunct Pudu Jail.


For a century it used to house some of the most notorious criminals in Malaysia, robbers, murderers, even practitioners of black magic gone awfully awry!




It was also the place where very serious offenders were executed in the gallows.


In 1996 the place was closed to make way for the more modern Sungai Buloh prison some 20-30 km away. A portion of the inmates were transported to Kajang prison also about 20-30 km from here but on the opposite direction out of Kuala Lumpur.


In 1997 Pudu Jail was turned into a museum. That was the first-time the public got to see what's inside, guided by people who knew the way such as prison wardens of course.


But that happened only for a short while. The area here being situated at a very prime part of the city was earmarked for development and the jail was intended to be demolished.


However for reasons unclear the main buildings still stood until today albeit ruined and there was I taking a solo personal tour down its corridors.




Frankly I did felt a bit scared when I first stepped inside the main building.


For the record when I took the stairs up I was actually walking into the darker parts. Just look at this room...


You can't see much without flash.


Imagine yourself doing what I did then. Sitting alone in the dark, on a bed which used to house God knows what sort of criminals...


Bear in mind Pudu Jail has a nasty reputation for being haunted. And I can feel many presence...


That could explain why it is still not demolished or developed. For haunted places tend to drive away prospective developers...




Oh. Here I was looking at the much brighter main right corridor.


I could take clear pictures of the rooms without flash.




And I could ponder better from inside.


Walking to the end of the corridor I saw a room with elaborate Arabic writings on the wall.




I don't know what it was for. What I noticed is the room is twice bigger than the others. What came to mind is this could either be the special room for a last 'luxury' night before one is put to death... or it is the designated place to strip black magic practioners off their power so that they won't be a threat to the wardens and other inmates.




1 comment:

Anonymous said...

salam. rasanya bilik ni tempat shooting filem mantra, lakonan zul handyblack, hasnul rahmat dll...