Book Launch: LETTERS TO HOME: YOUNG MALAYSIANS WRITE BACK!

Despite the desperate political situation in Malaysia, we still have a bit of hope among the young people. Or do we? More than twenty bright young Malaysians offers the views of the next generation in this book, on issues ranging from Malay supremacy to environmental damage, JPA scholarships to pitfalls of our education system, the experience of a school teacher in rural area and stories of moving away from one’s home, from Kelantan to Sarawak to United States, Canada and Japan.

Are young people hopelessly idealistic or cynical about the possibilities of change? What can they do, and what are they doing, to do their part for change? Join us and have a chat with the authors and editors about the vision of the young.

Book Description:

24 universities. 7 countries. 1 hope. These are the voices of young Malaysians all over the world--penning down their dreams, fears, concerns, aspirations, and hope to our nation, our home.

Featuring letters by: Azalia Zaharuddin, Fikri Fisal, Ng Jung Kian, Aish Kumar, Zaryff Razali, Tan Heang Lee, Billy Hoo, Nurul Ismawi, Ooi Kok Hin, David Lim, Rexy Prakash, Tharmelinggem Pillai, Abdul Rahman Shah, Shamil Norshidi, Shahir Shukor, Benedict Weerasena, Nik Mohamed Rashid Nik Zurin, Achmad Bakhtiar M Yuni, Justin Lim Jia Tian, Sarah Syahirah binti Abdullah, Nizhan Faraz Rizal and Eddy Arief Zulkifly, Asyraf Muiz Roslan, Hasbullah Faudzi, Ian Chew, Izzat Adha, Puteri Eleni Megat Osman, Mohamad Syazwan Abdul Rahman and Mohd Izzuddin Ramli.

Panelists Bio:

Amir Muhammad is a Malaysian writer, filmmaker and publisher. He is the founder of two publishing houses, Buku Fixi (fiction) and Matahari Books (non-fiction). His latest film, “Kisah Pelayaran ke Terengganu”, a travelogue juxtaposed with text narratives by Munshi Abdullah, is inspired by the fact that he has never visited Terengganu previously.

Azalia Zaharuddin is a Masters student at the University of Science Malaysia. She spent four years in Kagawa, Japan and was president of the Foreign Students Association. She freelances as a writer for Taiken Japan Travel Blog and Talent Corporation Malaysia.

Rexy Prakash Chacko is an Engineer by training and an environmentalist by passion. A member of the Penang Forum, he helped set up the Penang Hills Watch (PHW), a citizens’ initiative to monitor hill clearing activities in Penang. Most of all, he enjoys the great outdoors!

Ooi Kok Hin is a political and social analyst at the Penang Institute. Formerly a columnist at The Malaysian Insider, he is the co-editor of “Letters to Home” and author of the book, “Aku Kafir, Kau Siapa”.