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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, March 15, 2022

Successful defense of thesis proposal with ISTAC

Peace be upon you. Glad to inform that today I successfully defended my thesis proposal with ISTAC, the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the current Covid-19 situation it was conducted online via Zoom. Nevertheless it is a very happy episode for me as it is a very significant milestone and progress in my post-graduate studies. This is because the defense should have been done over a year ago. I am overdue because of the Covid situation plus some personal problems.



Without realising it my wife recorded the session. Watch the video above. It's just she recorded only 30 minutes of it so missed the best parts in which I answered my critics  to the point that I am acknowledged as having successfully defended my proposal. Earlier a PhD student had made his defense under the same session. For the record this is the first thesis proposal defense with ISTAC for the year 2022. Only two presented, me and that student. 

Each part comprised a Powerpoint presentation by the student followed by comments and feedbacks which could be critics from two readers of sufficient academic standing. The student may answer or give comments. Other academics can also chip in. The idea is the student must verbally defend what he intends to write in the face of criticism there and then. Whether he is allowed to continue with his present course or must make significant changes depends on how well he defended his defence proposal. 

Lastly my thesis has something to with a presentation I made as an invited speaker at ISTAC almost 4 years ago. Look at the old article Syarahan "Prophet Adam and the Malays 60,000 Years Ago - Aligment of Time, Revealed Knowledge and Science" di ISTAC in the blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU followed by Prophet Adam and the Malays 60,000 Years Ago : Alignment of Time, Revealed Knowledge and Science. It is not exactly as presented then but a variety with a different approach, more academic and philosophical. Of course I could not reveal beyond that... :]