How to get the remaining copies of the first edition

I have 73 copies left of the first edition of 120 Malay Movies. (I had 75 this morning.) If you'd like to order directly from me, fret not! you can still do so.

Email info@mataharibooks.com to order directly from me. Offer valid for Malaysian residents only, alas. Because people overseas have Amazon!

The first edition is also stocked in the following shops (each has fewer than 50 copies):

1. Kinokuniya KLCC
2. Silverfish Books
3. Da Huang Pictures
4. Kinibooks

The second edition, when it eventually comes out, will be more widely available.

Three reviews are now online:
- Farish A. Noor
- The Malaysian Reader
- Ajami Hashim (even though he says he hasn't finished it yet).

I have started writing a new book (it is not cinema-related). Extracts from the first draft will be posted online, on a daily basis, starting Wednesday Monday 16 August. Selamat menyambut bulan Ramadhan, yo!

* photo by Liza Manshoor from the KL launch.

MALAYSIA'S GREATEST HITS 2 - a YouTube video festival

YouTube is only 5 years old but it's changed the way we view things so much that you feel like using the words that politicians (or their speech-writers) use: sea-change, future, limitless. You don't have to be Susan Boyle to appreciate its impact.

For example, take the case of Raja Bersiong (1968). When it was released, it was the most expensive Malay film to date. Due no doubt to religious sensitivities (another politician word), it is now not available on legitimate video or shown on TV. This despite the fact that it was written by our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. But now, the whole thing can be viewed on YouTube, starting here!

In fact, I am sure at least 20 of the 120 Malay Movies are available there, if you don't mind the sometimes dire quality, or the experience of watching them in 10 parts. (Then again, legitimate VCDs are sometimes dire, too, AND you need to watch them in 2 parts.)

With this in mind (politician again!), I'd like to invite you to this event on Saturday, in which I present a hour-hour's worth of Malaysia-centric YouTube material. (No, I won't be showing Raja Bersiong). This project was initiated by Mark Teh and there are 3 other curators, so expect 2 hours of fun. The revolution may not be televised, but it will be embedded.

The venue is CHAI, 6 Jalan 6/3, off Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya.  

You may confirm on Facebook here. 

Sandwiched between tasawuf and tarikh lahir

MPH Best-Sellers List for Week Ending Aug 1, 2010

1. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Safiyyah

2. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato’ Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen

3. Indahnya Amalan Doa by Dato’ Ismail Kamus

4. Life is an Open Secret: Ramadan Special – 25 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary Life Experiences by Zabrina A. Bakar

5. Jadi Cool + Positif: Psikologi Suka-Suka (Kompilasi Ruangan Psikologi Majalah Remaja) by Editor-Wan Erni Liza Mat Izatzi

6. Murabbi Cinta: Andai CINTA Ingin Dibawa Ke Syurga, Kenapa Dibiarkan Cinta Itu Ada Noktah dan Hujungnya? (Aku Terima Nikahnya # 3) (Kemudi Rumah Tangga) by Hasrizal Abdul Jamil

7. Perubatan Islam Menangkis Kejahatan Makhluk Halus by Sharhan Shafie, Fakhrul Ridzha Abd Rahman

8. Tasawuf Kontemporari: Implementasi, Tasawuf dalam Dunia Kini by Mohammad Midzam Abd Kadir

9. Rojak: Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad

10. Bongkar Misteri Tarikh Lahir Anda by Rozzani Din

Back from the printer

At 11:15 am today, the books were delivered by the printer. This is good news because the launch in Singapore is 4pm tomorrow!

It looks and feels pretty good. I really like publishing hardcovers and plan to do more!

Sandwiched between fardu ain and kaum pupus

MPH Bestsellers for the Week Ending 25 July

Local Authors

1. Perubatan Islam Menangkis Kejahatan Makhluk Halus by Sharhan Shafie, Fakhrul Ridzha Abd Rahman

2. Life is an Open Secret : Ramadan Special – 25 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary Life Experiences by Zabrina A. Bakar

3. The Quran and I by Anas Zubedy

4. Engkau Memang Cantik: Kerana Kamu Tidak Pernah Tahu Betapa Cantiknya Dirimu by Burhan Sodiq

5. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato’ Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen

6. Rojak : Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad

7. Kaum-Kaum Yang Pupus by Harun Yahya

8. Pemilik Cintaku Setelah Allah dan Rasul by Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

9. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Safiyyah

10. Diari Sufi by Siti Munazakiah

Sandwiched between makhluk halus and Dr. Mahathir

MPH Bestsllers List for Week Ending July 18, 2010

Local Authors

1. Perubatan Islam Menangkis Kejahatan Makhluk Halus by Sharhan Shafie, Fakhrul Ridzha Abd Rahman

2. Rojak : Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad

3. Through My Lenses by Mahathir Mohamad

4. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato’ Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen

5. Palestin tak Pernah Gentar! Fatwa Kontemporari dan Penyelesaiannya (Memburu Menang atau Syahid) by Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri; Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

6. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Safiyyah

7. Kaum-Kaum Yang Pupus by Harun Yahya

8. Pemilik Cintaku Setelah Allah dan Rasul by Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

9. The Secrets of a Young Millionaire: How to Build a Successful Multi-Million Dollar Business from Nothing, Even During an Economic Downturn by Ray Ling

10. Bila Allah Menduga Kita by Syed Alwi Al-Atas

Benjamin McKay (1964-2010) on Malaysia-Australia ties

When Benjamin McKay wrote this for the June 2010 Off the Edge, he had no way of knowing it would be the magazine's final issue. And when people read his warmly anecdotal piece on how ordinary people can (and often do) triumph over the petty dictates of grandstanding political divisiveness, they also had no way of knowing he would be gone forever just a month later.

I knew Benjamin for over 5 years. He had a tremendous enthusiasm for life and things that made life worth living; chief among those things would be an independence of spirit (as represented, to him, by the spirit of independent cinema). He had many plans to write beyond academia; although these projects will never be realised, I think Malaysians are all the richer for having had this quirky mat salleh in our midst for a few years. His many students and friends will attest that he was a man of self-deprecating humour, of principle, of true generosity. This article shows how much he wanted to share, and for us to continue sharing: 

On a personal note, the topic of his thesis - Malay cinema of the 1950s and 1960s - was one of the key inspirations for me to embark on 120 Malay Movies. I never got a chance to read his thesis (it took forever to go through the process of academic approval before he could get his PhD) but I hope to do so. Perhaps his review of Mukhsin here is a hint as to its tone and content. Do any Malaysian reviewers ever mention Siti Tanjung Perak in any context? But he could, and his ability to draw parallels (across cultures, across time) is proof of not only his intellectual agility but of his instinct for honing in on what mattered.

Rest in peace.