Blue Moon
by Joshua Parapuram

Details silverfishbooks

Started reading 9 May 2008
Finished reading 11 May 2008

A page turner. Maybe the subject matter is so close to home, the water dispute between Malaysia and Singapore. In this cautionary tale sometime in the future, Singapore has taken over the water supply area in Johor. The reader sees the leaders, their followers and others involved in this never ending saga. Each character is painted in general strokes, so we get a continuation of the accepted traits of each race in both countries.

What is most intriguing probably is the premise itself. Singapore taking a preemptive action in the style of the Americans invading Iraq on the pretext of destroying weapons of mass destruction. In this instance, water is the key.

A cautionary tale indeed. Something that leaders of both nations should take cognisance of in view of the umbilical cord that ties both lands to each other.

Mencari Jalan Pulang
by Kassim Ahmad

Details kinibooks

Started reading 4 May 2008
Finished reading 6 May 2008

The author is infamous for his left leaning ideas and the so- called book against the hadis (Prophet Muhammad's sayings). We see a life's journey that spanned nearly eighty years starting from a village boy with not a care in the world to a world renowned intellectual who champions the downtrodden.

This journey is an endorsement of the critical thinking and ever questioning mind of man. The seeds of that inquisitiveness was nurtured by books. The author's own thirst for knowledge and his propensity to challenge accepted ideas put him on that chosen path. His contemporaries during his student days were of equal calibre.

They were the pioneers of an independent nation. Their vision for an egalitarian state did not quite materialise as intended but it is never too late make the necessary changes. As long as we acknowledge that there are so many ways to that utopia in heaven or on earth, men with the same persuasion as the author must be nurtured and encouraged to bloom.

A colourful life with its many ups and downs, but never surrendering to the easy way out. Always on the less traveled path.

Social Roots of the Malay Left
by Rustam A. Sani

Details kinibooks

Started reading 1 May 2008
Finished reading 3 May 2008

This is originally the author's dissertation when he was preparing for his Masters programme at university. The author shows through his research of available information that the Malay Left did not start as the Left of the Western ideals.

The historical journey of Malaysian politics conveniently groups certain associations that do not belong to the ruling class as the 'other'. That in a sense germinated the seeds of the Malay Left.

The author is lucid in this detailed study. A good background material for those who want to delve deeper into other groups that exist in the Malaysian political landscape.