Yudistra Darma Dorai’s impressions of Rehman Rashid’s latest book.

When Rehman Rashid’s A Malaysian Journey first hit us, we were smitten. No one had written about Malaysia like that before. Reading it as know-it-all, pseudo sophisticate school leaver, and being a patriot at the time, which only those of that age can be, I loved it. Read again, longingly, in my own years of exile, urging non Malaysians to read it to “understand my homeland”. Reading it today, we have a different take. Still, it remains the best book on a Malaysia on the cusp of her short-lived finest hour.

Mr. Rashid’s new book, Peninsula, talks of what happened since. Well, sort of. It’s a travelogue plus plus. 19th century Selangor is stated to be a “wretched hive of scum and villainy”. It still is.

This is a descriptive book. There’s the po faced description of how his own return to the New Straits Times was a political appointment by Badawi. There’s the confident gospel that Malaysia today was built by Umnoputras like Halim Saad, and that what went wrong was due to the financial crisis, and not their fault. Of course, Halim Saad and many such were Mr. Rashid’s mates at school.

A lot of the history here is pat. Almost like it’s taken off a Form 5 textbook. There’s the superficial argument that the NEP was a good thing, until it was effed up by latter leaders, that Tun Razak and Tun Ismail meant well and were merely trying to redress the balance and reacting to May 1969. Well, perhaps, but we’ve heard that before. More, please. There’s the view that Templer’s New Village programme was a case of hit the communists hard, treat the non-commie Chinese well. That’s it? Really? Uncles today who lived through those times would tell you how New Villages changed the Chinese in Malaysia forever.

Then, there’s the three consecutive chapters on each of three biggest races, titled Boomiputras (Halim Saad and his ilk), DAPenang (his friend, Lim Guan Eng), and Swarnabumi (Indians are either high-flying professionals, or thugs. No stereotyping there Mr. Rashid).

There’s the condescending put-down of the Low Yat 2 affair and Red Shirt rally. Oh these Malays, come on guys, the Chinese work hard for their money (yup, no superficial lazy analysis there Mr. Rashid).

He does slightly better with our Orang Asal. There’s a bit of good history and social analysis there. With the story of him being approached in his flat by two Orang Asal teenage girls asking to learn English. Nice.

Mr. Rashid does, however, seem to know the next generation. The chapter on the mixed race, middle class, international/overseas school educated next gen Malaysians was excellent. He names them the “Fourth Constituency”. His chapter on our overseas diaspora was just as good. That lot is unique, our diaspora is different from Sino émigrés, Bollywood Silicon Valley types, Ceylon tamils, and refugees. A former lawyer of Raja, Darryl & Loh gets a mention.

He is at his best in his travelogue moments. Writing fondly of cycling around KKB, and driving around the Malay heartlands speaking to traders. Beautiful writing.

This isn’t an indepth book. It’s touch and go stuff. He says the future of UMNO is Zahid Hamidi, seems to hint at this offering us hope, but then only writes four paragraphs on him.

Still, there is no better Malaysian writer. Our very own Paul Theroux; and Thoreau. I can’t give higher praise than that. His books remain the best writing on Malaysia, in a milieu where most such books are truncated academic treatises, with their 2.6 billion footnotes and indexes.

10/10 for readability.

Yudistra is a member of the Malaysian Bar.

44 replies on “Peninsula — A Review”

  1. I found this is an informative and interesting blog so I think so it is very useful and knowledgeable. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this blog. We also provide blog CDR Australia.
    visit : http://www.needcdrreport.com/

  2. Admiring time and energy you put into your website and detailed information you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Great work keeps it up.

  3. An immaculately written resume can make huge first impression for any applicant whether you are looking at an ordinary placement or executive level placement. Thus, it is crucial to locate a professional resume writing service that can produce your resume in such a way that it leaves a mark on the hirer in just a few moments in time that he scrutinizes your resume.

  4. A well-written resume with your specific career objective and attainments is very significant if you want your resume to grab your recruiter's attention long enough to inspect fully and think about giving you a call. A resume writing service might just be what you want…

  5. An immaculately written resume will build Brobdingnagian initial impression for any applier whether or not you're watching a normal placement or government level placement. Thus, it's crucial to find knowledgeable resume writing service which will manufacture your resume in such how that it leaves a mark on the employer in precisely some moments in time that he scrutinizes your resume.

  6. An immaculately written resume will build Brobdingnagian initial impression for any applier whether or not you're watching a normal placement or government level placement. Thus, it's crucial to find knowledgeable resume writing service which will manufacture your resume in such how that it leaves a mark on the employer in precisely some moments in time that he scrutinizes your resume.

  7. Many thanks for sharing this very diverse opinion post where each expert has no doubt shared his best knowledge on the topic. Have more success in your journey.

  8. The mission statement you craft at the BEGINNING of your business is critical to a successful ending. This article examines why you need a good mission statement and how to put one together that perfectly articulates the heart and soul of your business.

  9. Writing a resume may seem like a daunting task but if you follow these guidelines you'll have it done faster than you thought possible.

  10. Singapore has been voted by foreign expatriates as one of the top locations to migrate to in Asia. Singapore has always prided itself for having one of the best and strictest law enforcement regulations in the region, which is why one would hardly find protests or strikes taking place on the streets.

  11. Students take up much time in solving the math problems as their homework and this let them left with very few time to complete their other homework on time, so therefore they help the student to do their math homework or assignments on time and in the best way. please visit our site if you want to know more about college homework help

  12. There’s a bit of good history and social analysis there. With the story of him being approached in his flat by two Orang Asal teenage girls asking to learn English.

  13. Maybe you've have also been the unwilling recipient of an injury caused by means of someone’s negligent behavior? Then locating apersonal personal injury lawyer is phase 2 you ought to take to receiving this financial pay out you ought to get. <a href="http://www.electionlawchannel.org” target=”_blank”>www.electionlawchannel.org

  14. The preparation capacities establishment has some lovely advantages for help for understudies those solicitation homework assignment offer us to create and straightforward availability for exams.

  15. A fabulous union region of Asia, Andaman and additionally Nicobar Destinations is several multiple islands that wasthat's used as being a definite infamous prison usually in the British Colonial regulation in Asia. Despite all the horrid recognition, it is about the best tourist destinations for most people in Asia.always travel

Comments are closed.