The idea of this novel was questioning ‘What makes us Muslim’? Is it just by our name, our faith or it was just by our heritance? When read about the title of this novel, people might have a doubt because this novel was not a discussion about religious, because as what she mention, this is just a selfish series of her journey explores her religion.
She set the issue of modernization versus traditional religious idea. Not to argue or doubt about the practices, but it is more on knowing why we do particular things in our practices. She also put a spotlight on the theme of practices of Islam by Malaysian Muslim. She critical and sarcastically make us think, that they are different thought of Islam.
Besides, we are thought since our childhood about the pillars and faith about Islam. But yet, out of Malaysian, and perhaps in Malaysian too, not all of our children were able to recite Al-fatihah in a good way. As we turn our head around, we can also see about any other issue that we doubt was this a Muslim country?
This book is written full in social aspects that we can see influence her a lot. It was a great book for adult and university student.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Introduction on "I am Muslim"
“I am Muslim” is a work by Dina Zaman. The book was set to be launched during the Kuala Lumpur International Literary Festival 2007(Klif07). “I am Muslim” can be found in major bookstore all around Malaysia. Most of Dina Zaman works has been published locally and internationally. The book “I am Muslim”; originally was an edited collection of Dina Zaman writing for a column at an on-line news portal, Malaysiakini.com from 2004/2005. From there she started blogging and have quite number of fan but now her blog have been closed. In this book, she discussed the life of Muslims in Malaysia today. She brings upon the lives of society whose living in Kuala Lumpur. She shared her adventures, thought, and experiences in the book. Besides that, in the book, she also put in some works from people she knows from before who wrote and share their thought, their view of faith and how they are being a Muslim in Malaysia. She used it as an eye opening for all her readers to have a clearer thinking about Islam in Malaysia.
The Apparent Writer
Dina Zaman, a widespread name in Malaysian literature in English panorama; was born in 1969 has shaped a piece entitled “I am Muslim”. It has clearly discussed a thin-skinned issues such as homosexuality, pre-marital sex, adultery and most prominently is Muslim in Malaysia.
Dina Zaman writes both fiction and non-fiction; meets shaman, nationalist, moderates and gets into all sort of episode in her life that make her discover and composed a book that included all her experience and view.
Dina confessed that she's always felt a sense of vagabond like pirate ship in the sea. She felt that she have no fixed place for her because of her father profession “Because of my father’s work, I’d change schools and there were times I didn’t go to school (!), so I was pretty lonely”.
The idea of her being a writer was influenced by her father. When she was young and experiencing the life in various part in the world; she felt lonely, so her father by her a journal and ask her to write. However she thinks that the actual reason her father by her a journal is so that she can practice her penmanship. Since then, she started writing about the snow, her cats and until in universities.
Dina Zaman writes both fiction and non-fiction; meets shaman, nationalist, moderates and gets into all sort of episode in her life that make her discover and composed a book that included all her experience and view.
Dina confessed that she's always felt a sense of vagabond like pirate ship in the sea. She felt that she have no fixed place for her because of her father profession “Because of my father’s work, I’d change schools and there were times I didn’t go to school (!), so I was pretty lonely”.
The idea of her being a writer was influenced by her father. When she was young and experiencing the life in various part in the world; she felt lonely, so her father by her a journal and ask her to write. However she thinks that the actual reason her father by her a journal is so that she can practice her penmanship. Since then, she started writing about the snow, her cats and until in universities.
Reflection on Malaysian Literature in English by Mohd Syahir B. Hamzahtulhikmal
Reflection on Malaysian Literature in English (MLIE)
Obviously before I learn MLIE, I have inadequate information on what is MLIE because; before this I only learn and know about few Malaysian piece that have been translated from Malaysia Language to English Language which I learned in secondary school and some of the western literature and writer such as Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and many more that I learnt in the past two years. In general I know that MLIE is the ground where Malaysian writer writes about Malaysian issue in English language. The English language that being used usually have Malaysian language element embedded in it.
After I heard of the existence of MLIE, the desire to know more about MLIE emerges. There are a lot of question struck into my mind concerning MLIE such as why did I never heard about this field? Why did I never notice about our nation literature? Who are the writers? Do they gain (money) a lot on their work? Do they have any problem in their work field? What are the issue that being discuss? Does their work being recognize by the outsider? This entire question runs through my head at that very moment, but I think the most important question is what the future hold for MLIE?
` For the past few months, I have join MLIE class. The class is becoming interesting by time to time. As I learn MLIE, the situation of literature in English language in our homeland becoming comprehensible. My entire question on MLIE was answered. The situation of MLIE was crucial at the moment when after post Independence because the appearance of two act that is National Language Act 1967 and the Amendment Act 1971 that made the writer to felt alienated and marginalized. The effect of this situation is some of the writers migrate to other country and some of them change to writing in Malaysia Language. But after Dr. Mahathir, the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia proposed the idea of Vision 2020; the importance of English Language came back to catch up with the developed country and to be global. Another situation that the MLIE writer have to encounter is the freedom of speech. A writer in Malaysia write about many issue that happen in this country but there are some issue that is forbidden to spoke and discuss as the means not to influence the reader about the wrong idea such as issue that relate to the government. In addition there are situation where a work that written in English language is difficult to be publish than work written in Malaysian language. This has limited the production of MLIE.
There are several way how I learn MLIE, one of them is by using the previous knowledge on literature and apply it on MLIE. For your information, the sources and validity of MLIE is limited. If I want to know about the Western literature I would just search it on internet but if it is MLIE the availability of the particular work information is very limited. So to cover this weakness, I take another action that is to buy the book itself. In my opinion it is not a waste to buy these books because it can enrich our mind with knowledge some of the books make us more aware about the situation in Malaysia. The last resort how I learn MLIE is to ask my lecturer who act as a facilitator to help us understand better.
As a conclusion, I as a student majoring in literature have to take part in the effort to take MLIE to the higher level.
By Mohd Syahir B. Hamzahtulhikmal
Obviously before I learn MLIE, I have inadequate information on what is MLIE because; before this I only learn and know about few Malaysian piece that have been translated from Malaysia Language to English Language which I learned in secondary school and some of the western literature and writer such as Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and many more that I learnt in the past two years. In general I know that MLIE is the ground where Malaysian writer writes about Malaysian issue in English language. The English language that being used usually have Malaysian language element embedded in it.
After I heard of the existence of MLIE, the desire to know more about MLIE emerges. There are a lot of question struck into my mind concerning MLIE such as why did I never heard about this field? Why did I never notice about our nation literature? Who are the writers? Do they gain (money) a lot on their work? Do they have any problem in their work field? What are the issue that being discuss? Does their work being recognize by the outsider? This entire question runs through my head at that very moment, but I think the most important question is what the future hold for MLIE?
` For the past few months, I have join MLIE class. The class is becoming interesting by time to time. As I learn MLIE, the situation of literature in English language in our homeland becoming comprehensible. My entire question on MLIE was answered. The situation of MLIE was crucial at the moment when after post Independence because the appearance of two act that is National Language Act 1967 and the Amendment Act 1971 that made the writer to felt alienated and marginalized. The effect of this situation is some of the writers migrate to other country and some of them change to writing in Malaysia Language. But after Dr. Mahathir, the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia proposed the idea of Vision 2020; the importance of English Language came back to catch up with the developed country and to be global. Another situation that the MLIE writer have to encounter is the freedom of speech. A writer in Malaysia write about many issue that happen in this country but there are some issue that is forbidden to spoke and discuss as the means not to influence the reader about the wrong idea such as issue that relate to the government. In addition there are situation where a work that written in English language is difficult to be publish than work written in Malaysian language. This has limited the production of MLIE.
There are several way how I learn MLIE, one of them is by using the previous knowledge on literature and apply it on MLIE. For your information, the sources and validity of MLIE is limited. If I want to know about the Western literature I would just search it on internet but if it is MLIE the availability of the particular work information is very limited. So to cover this weakness, I take another action that is to buy the book itself. In my opinion it is not a waste to buy these books because it can enrich our mind with knowledge some of the books make us more aware about the situation in Malaysia. The last resort how I learn MLIE is to ask my lecturer who act as a facilitator to help us understand better.
As a conclusion, I as a student majoring in literature have to take part in the effort to take MLIE to the higher level.
By Mohd Syahir B. Hamzahtulhikmal
Reflection on Malaysian Literature in English by Helmy Nadzrin Ahmad Yusoff
Reflection on Malaysian Literature in English (MLIE).
Malaysia literature in English was normally talked about Malaysia scene, whether in politic, culture and also current issue of our respective country. Malaysian culture, however, was the simplest thing that the Malaysian writer going to write because the uniqueness, and the harmony that we had although we live in multiracial society. As example, they loved to talk about the 3 major races in Malaysia which is Malay, Chinese and Indian and in shorts as MaChIn. Malaysia Literature in English (MLIE) is also basically publish locally and was not found international. The language that was use and also the issue was simple and easy to understand, due to Malaysians level of English. The issue was also just about a lighter and simple issue because it will be marketable since it reading was just a leisure hobby for Malaysian. Thus, it was also not the favorable reading tools for Malaysian because they refer more of for comics and entertainment magazine. Besides than that, it was hard to find resources about MLIE because there is not much information given especially in the Internet. Therefore, when student try to make research they face hard time. Despite than that, MLIE was most bilingual and a translated work.
Most of all, I want to know about the future of MLIE. Was it going to rose up and have the same standard like other famous literature or it will die slowly until we do not have any root of own identity in English literature? In the future, will there be more new fresh writer with fresh idea and bring it to the eye of the world? I also want to know why it was not recognize globally. Besides than that, I also want to know why MLIE are seldom appreciated and recognized. Now, when I finish my syllabus of MLIE, I learn that we are still too young in the literature. In other words, we do not have strong background of literary independency like American. I also noticed that Malaysian had recognized the important of English language due to era of globalization. Yet, Malaysian had put English literature as a syllabus at school. This open greater chance of Malaysian English literary writer to have a good career because had a support by government. The MLIE, in the other case was not recognized because their works are seldom published because the publisher thought it would not give any profit.
After learn about MLIE, I learn that to appreciate the piece of works by MLIE writer. I learn that it was not easy to become a successful English literature writer in a country that make English as second language. More than that, I also learn the difficulties faced by the new and old generation of MLIE writer. They had been through hard time to publish their work and some of them are marginalized and move to other country that value them. Malaysian writer was usually had a narrow topic for their piece of work, but yet there are some writer that are bold to pick a new topic like Karim Raslan and Dina Zaman. Yet, Malaysia had slowly accepted their piece of work and some of them are also award as a token of appreciation.
The resource for MLIE piece of work was hard to find. Therefore, I had to struggle a lot to find a resource. I study the way they write literature and they style that each of them have. But yet, there are still blogs and web in the internet that publish their work because Malaysia had recognized MLIE as their own literature.
By Helmy Nadzrin Ahmad Yusoff
Malaysia literature in English was normally talked about Malaysia scene, whether in politic, culture and also current issue of our respective country. Malaysian culture, however, was the simplest thing that the Malaysian writer going to write because the uniqueness, and the harmony that we had although we live in multiracial society. As example, they loved to talk about the 3 major races in Malaysia which is Malay, Chinese and Indian and in shorts as MaChIn. Malaysia Literature in English (MLIE) is also basically publish locally and was not found international. The language that was use and also the issue was simple and easy to understand, due to Malaysians level of English. The issue was also just about a lighter and simple issue because it will be marketable since it reading was just a leisure hobby for Malaysian. Thus, it was also not the favorable reading tools for Malaysian because they refer more of for comics and entertainment magazine. Besides than that, it was hard to find resources about MLIE because there is not much information given especially in the Internet. Therefore, when student try to make research they face hard time. Despite than that, MLIE was most bilingual and a translated work.
Most of all, I want to know about the future of MLIE. Was it going to rose up and have the same standard like other famous literature or it will die slowly until we do not have any root of own identity in English literature? In the future, will there be more new fresh writer with fresh idea and bring it to the eye of the world? I also want to know why it was not recognize globally. Besides than that, I also want to know why MLIE are seldom appreciated and recognized. Now, when I finish my syllabus of MLIE, I learn that we are still too young in the literature. In other words, we do not have strong background of literary independency like American. I also noticed that Malaysian had recognized the important of English language due to era of globalization. Yet, Malaysian had put English literature as a syllabus at school. This open greater chance of Malaysian English literary writer to have a good career because had a support by government. The MLIE, in the other case was not recognized because their works are seldom published because the publisher thought it would not give any profit.
After learn about MLIE, I learn that to appreciate the piece of works by MLIE writer. I learn that it was not easy to become a successful English literature writer in a country that make English as second language. More than that, I also learn the difficulties faced by the new and old generation of MLIE writer. They had been through hard time to publish their work and some of them are marginalized and move to other country that value them. Malaysian writer was usually had a narrow topic for their piece of work, but yet there are some writer that are bold to pick a new topic like Karim Raslan and Dina Zaman. Yet, Malaysia had slowly accepted their piece of work and some of them are also award as a token of appreciation.
The resource for MLIE piece of work was hard to find. Therefore, I had to struggle a lot to find a resource. I study the way they write literature and they style that each of them have. But yet, there are still blogs and web in the internet that publish their work because Malaysia had recognized MLIE as their own literature.
By Helmy Nadzrin Ahmad Yusoff
Reflection on Malaysian Literature in English by Muhammad Ikram B. Mustafa
Reflection on Malaysian Literature in English (MLIE)
What I know about Malaysian Literature in English (MLIE)? First of all, MLIE is works of art by our Malaysian writer such as Mohd. Hj Saleh, Shirley Lim, Dina Zaman and Adibah Amin. It should be quite clear that the language is English and the writers will be of Malaysian nationality. The language bit seems quite straightforward and easy to accept. Malaysian literature is concerns more about Malaysian cultures, religions and races. It is obviously affected by our mother tongue and it varies according to the writers races whether they are Malay, Chinese or Indian. Besides that, some of the works by Malaysian writers are translated work from foreign writers.
What I want to know about MLIE? Why is that our work of art or in other word our Malaysian literary canon is not recognized at international level? How can we make our Malaysian literary canon well known at international level? What does motivate the writer to write in English? What are the obstacles faces by Malaysian writer? Why not the MLIE works profitable? When will the freedom of expression given to MLIE writers? What is the future for MLIE writers?
What I learned? As I studied MLIE, I learned that in Malaysia writers who choose to writes in English will face difficulties more compared to those who choose to writes in Malays. That is because of the mindset of the society towards English language. They are afraid of the history of colonization by the western be repeated. The culture and belief of different races limits ability of the writers to writes about them. They are also difficult to writes about sensitive issues such as religious and races because as they write about sensitive issues they will only get criticized and negative feedback from the readers. Moreover, the policy of the government that has limit the freedom of the Malaysian writer to writes about sensitive issues happened in the country. The rules and regulation set by the government because of the fear that one day English will take over Malay language as the primary language in the country. Therefore, mostly writers who writes in Malay has been given a lot of advantages in order to make sure that the culture of this country is not affected by English language. This has restrained many English writers from keep on doing their writing in English as they need to market their works to earn for their living. WE could say that political agenda of the government has stopped the evolving of MLIE in this country.
How I learn MLIE? The limited resources of MLIE works in the internet are the difficulties that I have to face as I studied MLIE. Most of the resources in the Internet that I could find are only the findings or review of our Malaysian writer’s works. The validity of the review depends on the side chooses by its writers whether they are supporters of the Malaysian writers or opposing. Therefore, to widen my knowledge about MLIE I need to buy their pieces of works from major bookstores and the availability of the work is also limited due to the lack of reading activities by our Malaysian society. Besides the attitude of Malaysian writer on reading activities, the acceptance of Malaysian towards MLIE writers because of their prejudices of English language as they see English as a threat to our country.
In conclusion, we as students who studied Malaysian writers work should take part to change the society negative perception towards English language. To learn more than one language does not mean that we are not nationalists. Instead we should take it as an advantage to learn new knowledge and technologies from different cultures.
By Muhammad Ikram B. Mustafa
What I know about Malaysian Literature in English (MLIE)? First of all, MLIE is works of art by our Malaysian writer such as Mohd. Hj Saleh, Shirley Lim, Dina Zaman and Adibah Amin. It should be quite clear that the language is English and the writers will be of Malaysian nationality. The language bit seems quite straightforward and easy to accept. Malaysian literature is concerns more about Malaysian cultures, religions and races. It is obviously affected by our mother tongue and it varies according to the writers races whether they are Malay, Chinese or Indian. Besides that, some of the works by Malaysian writers are translated work from foreign writers.
What I want to know about MLIE? Why is that our work of art or in other word our Malaysian literary canon is not recognized at international level? How can we make our Malaysian literary canon well known at international level? What does motivate the writer to write in English? What are the obstacles faces by Malaysian writer? Why not the MLIE works profitable? When will the freedom of expression given to MLIE writers? What is the future for MLIE writers?
What I learned? As I studied MLIE, I learned that in Malaysia writers who choose to writes in English will face difficulties more compared to those who choose to writes in Malays. That is because of the mindset of the society towards English language. They are afraid of the history of colonization by the western be repeated. The culture and belief of different races limits ability of the writers to writes about them. They are also difficult to writes about sensitive issues such as religious and races because as they write about sensitive issues they will only get criticized and negative feedback from the readers. Moreover, the policy of the government that has limit the freedom of the Malaysian writer to writes about sensitive issues happened in the country. The rules and regulation set by the government because of the fear that one day English will take over Malay language as the primary language in the country. Therefore, mostly writers who writes in Malay has been given a lot of advantages in order to make sure that the culture of this country is not affected by English language. This has restrained many English writers from keep on doing their writing in English as they need to market their works to earn for their living. WE could say that political agenda of the government has stopped the evolving of MLIE in this country.
How I learn MLIE? The limited resources of MLIE works in the internet are the difficulties that I have to face as I studied MLIE. Most of the resources in the Internet that I could find are only the findings or review of our Malaysian writer’s works. The validity of the review depends on the side chooses by its writers whether they are supporters of the Malaysian writers or opposing. Therefore, to widen my knowledge about MLIE I need to buy their pieces of works from major bookstores and the availability of the work is also limited due to the lack of reading activities by our Malaysian society. Besides the attitude of Malaysian writer on reading activities, the acceptance of Malaysian towards MLIE writers because of their prejudices of English language as they see English as a threat to our country.
In conclusion, we as students who studied Malaysian writers work should take part to change the society negative perception towards English language. To learn more than one language does not mean that we are not nationalists. Instead we should take it as an advantage to learn new knowledge and technologies from different cultures.
By Muhammad Ikram B. Mustafa
Content Question
1. What common issues are highlighted in MLIE?
Malaysian literature in English has a wide scope of issues that is being used by the writer. This issue is often sensitive in the eye of Malaysian who has conservative thinking. English language writer usually more open minded than the Malaysia language writer because they are educated with overseas university. The issues that being uttered in Dina Zaman book as example is homosexuality, premarital sex, adultery and the justification of Islam itself.
2. How are the issues related to the past and the present?
As we know, the issue that I mention before is sensitive topic that often not being converse by the Malaysian. This issue can be link to the past and present, for example in her book “I am Muslim”; she discuss about gay and lesbian. In the year of 21st century, this sensitive issue is being discuss outspoken by Dina Zaman in her interview with a lesbian girl where in the past this issue is rarely discuss nevertheless if there were a Malaysian writer that include homo sexual issue in his or her piece before the 21st century; I doubt that if it will going to be publish. Another example that we can take is sex, in her book she spoke about sex education; as a means to educate the teenage in Malaysia about six concepts: human development, relationships, family and marriage, interpersonal skills, health and behaviour and society and culture. Contraception is to be explained to those between the ages of 13 - 19, while abortion is going to be elaborated in a general context. Sex education has not been expressed by the government in the old days. It is only in the 21st century it is being proposed. Clearly, the issue that voiced by Dina Zaman have connection between the past and present.
3. How are the issues relevant to the future?
The issue of finding the right of faith and the true meaning of Islam was always relevant, not just for the present times, but also for future. As we know, the moral values of our generation had become worst day by day. The lost their old on religion and was finding the true way of faith to back home. Dina Zaman, therefore, was bold enough by reviewed and questioning about the issue of practices in Islam. As in the future, we can find the answer about all the practices in Islam that we do since our childhood. Besides that, the issue of which type of Muslim was also relevant to future because reader will asking themselves which category are they in to and what had they do be the right one. A matter of point, religion issue was always relevant throughout the tomes because as human, we believe in God and we live with it.
4. What issues are typical for particular race?
As Malay itself, Dina Zaman was doing well in knowing the typical Malay. The issue rise up by her is the issue of no question in Islam. We just had to believe and no questioning about what we practice in Islam. We just had to obey the practice because it was by generation been followed. Besides than that, the issue of myth and supernatural power was brought in because Malay was typically known as believe hard on he supernatural power, although they are supposedly rely on God for their prayers.
5. Why are some issues common for particular race?
Malaysia writer are from multiracial, jus to name a few, some of them are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Each race in Malaysia has unique traits. As a writer, they try to introduce this uniqueness by their writings. In their writings, a typical issue was profound as a trademark of their own respective race. As example, Shirley Lim usually talks about Baba Nyonya and Karim Raslam was known by the Malay issue.
6. What does the issue hold for MLIE?
MLIE will have a brighter future because Malaysian had new the important of English. Government had made English literature as a syllabus in school and honoured MLIE writer with some award. Besides than that, we can see more new writer was born from MLIE because younger generation had appreciate about the independence in literature, especially in English. They want to make a strong root for MLIE so that the other generation will benefit and know about our own identity of MLIE.
Malaysian literature in English has a wide scope of issues that is being used by the writer. This issue is often sensitive in the eye of Malaysian who has conservative thinking. English language writer usually more open minded than the Malaysia language writer because they are educated with overseas university. The issues that being uttered in Dina Zaman book as example is homosexuality, premarital sex, adultery and the justification of Islam itself.
2. How are the issues related to the past and the present?
As we know, the issue that I mention before is sensitive topic that often not being converse by the Malaysian. This issue can be link to the past and present, for example in her book “I am Muslim”; she discuss about gay and lesbian. In the year of 21st century, this sensitive issue is being discuss outspoken by Dina Zaman in her interview with a lesbian girl where in the past this issue is rarely discuss nevertheless if there were a Malaysian writer that include homo sexual issue in his or her piece before the 21st century; I doubt that if it will going to be publish. Another example that we can take is sex, in her book she spoke about sex education; as a means to educate the teenage in Malaysia about six concepts: human development, relationships, family and marriage, interpersonal skills, health and behaviour and society and culture. Contraception is to be explained to those between the ages of 13 - 19, while abortion is going to be elaborated in a general context. Sex education has not been expressed by the government in the old days. It is only in the 21st century it is being proposed. Clearly, the issue that voiced by Dina Zaman have connection between the past and present.
3. How are the issues relevant to the future?
The issue of finding the right of faith and the true meaning of Islam was always relevant, not just for the present times, but also for future. As we know, the moral values of our generation had become worst day by day. The lost their old on religion and was finding the true way of faith to back home. Dina Zaman, therefore, was bold enough by reviewed and questioning about the issue of practices in Islam. As in the future, we can find the answer about all the practices in Islam that we do since our childhood. Besides that, the issue of which type of Muslim was also relevant to future because reader will asking themselves which category are they in to and what had they do be the right one. A matter of point, religion issue was always relevant throughout the tomes because as human, we believe in God and we live with it.
4. What issues are typical for particular race?
As Malay itself, Dina Zaman was doing well in knowing the typical Malay. The issue rise up by her is the issue of no question in Islam. We just had to believe and no questioning about what we practice in Islam. We just had to obey the practice because it was by generation been followed. Besides than that, the issue of myth and supernatural power was brought in because Malay was typically known as believe hard on he supernatural power, although they are supposedly rely on God for their prayers.
5. Why are some issues common for particular race?
Malaysia writer are from multiracial, jus to name a few, some of them are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Each race in Malaysia has unique traits. As a writer, they try to introduce this uniqueness by their writings. In their writings, a typical issue was profound as a trademark of their own respective race. As example, Shirley Lim usually talks about Baba Nyonya and Karim Raslam was known by the Malay issue.
6. What does the issue hold for MLIE?
MLIE will have a brighter future because Malaysian had new the important of English. Government had made English literature as a syllabus in school and honoured MLIE writer with some award. Besides than that, we can see more new writer was born from MLIE because younger generation had appreciate about the independence in literature, especially in English. They want to make a strong root for MLIE so that the other generation will benefit and know about our own identity of MLIE.
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