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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.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Talking about clash of civilisations - Words of wisdom from a 84-year old mathematician

Returning back to what's happening in Malaysia...


Last Thursday I went to the law faculty of the International Islamic University of Malaysia in Gombak.


I wanted to attend a talk titled "Clash of Civilisation". I understand it is part of a series. The day's talk is on the Sunni-Syiah schism in Islam with parallels to be made between the Protestants and Catholics in Christianity.


I came in late. The talk or you can call it a  lecture was already more than halfway through.


The speaker is Professor Dr. Johan Galtung, a world class intelectual. Born in Norway 84 years ago (yes! the man is that old), he has a PhD in Mathematics (1956) and another in Sociology (1957). 


I might have missed most of the lecture. But I could catch enough to know that he has a deep understanding of world history, economics and comparative religion. The flavour and feel of the whole proceedings reminded me of a lecture of a local world-class intelectual. Look at An evening with the eminent Professor Syed Naquib Al-Attas. When comes the question and answer session, I took the opportunity to ask his opinion, how the Muslims could bring the return of the Caliphate given the current circumstances such as division between the Sunni and the Syiah. The man who hold the Tun Mahathir Perdana Global Peace Foundation chair for Global Peace took a few minutes to elaborate before ending it with a simple solution that many might have forgotten. Get back the feeling of togetherness between the Muslims, that should eventually do the job he practically said.


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