Telling It Straight

by Marina Mahathir

An outspoken commentator on Malaysia's social and political affairs, Marina Mahathir was named UN Person of the Year by the United Nations in Malaysia in 2010. She is also the daughter of the country's longest-serving prime minister.

In Telling it Straight, Marina takes on the contemporary issues, ideas and institutions of the day. She highlights unpalatable truths,derides tired old ways and challenges the status quo. She asks the questions that need to be asked - and is unafraid of proposing solutions.

In the process, she touches on subjects as varied as
*human trafficking
*the underclass
*flashmobs
*Islamic law enforcement
*corruption
*pain idiocy

Throughout, Marina defends the rights of the discriminated, advocates individual integrity and makes clear her respect for diversity and the right to dissent.

Indispensable to every Malaysian and everyone who wants to know Malaysia, Telling it Straight is a lively exploration into the nation's psyche and a common sense manifesto for a better future.

Genres: Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Marina is well known as a leader in many non-governmental organizations such as the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and is currently an active socio-political blogger. She also writes in her bi-weekly column called Musings in The Star newspaper since 1989. Some of her pieces in the column have been published in her books such as 50 Days: Rantings by MM, published in 1997 and Telling It Straight, published in 2012 by Editions Didier Millet. The latter is a selection of her articles published in her column between 2003 and 2012. It includes a foreword by Dr. Farish A. Noor, a local political scientist and historian. It contains 90 articles which are written thematically including a special written introduction on the topics discussed in the book. It also includes two previously unpublished articles.

She is an active campaigner for women's rights. In 2006 she has described the status of Muslim women in Malaysia as similar to that of the Black South Africans under apartheid.

Marina has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientations in 1998 and 1999.

She had appeared in Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's Documentary released in late 2009 with the rest of the members of the Mahathir Family.

In 2010, she was awarded UN Person of The Year for her volunteer work in combatting HIV/AIDS

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutsy, serious feminist journalist publishes some of her columns previously published in Malaysia (and some not -- some were turned down by her publisher). Subjects covered include education, sexual politics, politics, religion, piety, HIV/AIDS, health education, censorship, religious police, protest movements ... in modern Malaysia. An excellent and easy-to-read introduction to anyone curious about today's Malaysia and the shortfalls that many Muslim women are experiencing. It is important that such brave women as Marina Mahathir, Hend Badawi, and Mona Eltahawy continue to speak up and tell their stories. From listening to them we find that many are sincere Muslims, but feel that the societies they live in do not live up to Muslim ideals of fairness and justice to all its members, especially women, who experience sexual aggression and unwarranted brutalities far too often from men who are not only fellow Muslims but members of groups who are supposed to be protecting women and children (the military, police, the Muslim Brotherhood).

[Lyana Khairuddin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first met Marina Mahathir in 1998. There are 2 reasons why I remember the meeting clearly, (1) It was old girls day at college and we had water restrictions throughout the year, so I was really conscious to be meeting the then PM's daughter, who shared her alma mater with me, when I and my friends were bathing from pails of water distributed to us by oil tankers once a day and (2) During her talk about HIV/AIDS awareness, she handed me a piece of paper that read "HIV +". From that day on, I can never forget the lesson in empathy, the thirst for knowledge and to seek awareness which she, and other mentors I have been lucky to meet along my journey through life so far; which I learnt.

As a (youngish) female Malay Muslim in Malaysia, Marina is prominently a person whom I look up to. For her column to go on for 20 over years is proof that such a voice is much needed in our country, if not for the sheer rationale and compassion she shows in nearly every article. I also enjoy her snide remarks and sarcasm in some articles, hell, maybe I enjoy these the most. This collection of her articles from 2003-2012 will evidently make every Malaysian giggle, laugh, lament, and facepalm- for they speak about us. All of us, and sometimes I had to just nod while reading. I am grateful that these articles are compiled into a book, as there are articles which I missed having been away from the country for 4 years or just overlooked; while a number of articles were not published or were not published in their entirety by The Star.

While the reason why I enjoy this compilation tremendously is perhaps because I agree to most of Marina's ideas, I can't help but feel a bit let down with Malaysia as the issues brought up in this compilation are still ongoing, and for some, are worse nowadays than merely as recent as a couple of years back. It scares me to think that such issues will be ever relevant to our society- it's as if, we have failed ourselves in not improving. Yet, another chance encounter over Hari Malaysia with another prominent Malaysian, Pete Teo; left me with these comments "Malaysians need to stop looking for a hero, we need to each be our own heroes, that's the only way we can better this country."

I walk away from this book today with hope. I am sure that every Malaysian who read this will, too. Marina did spread her sprinkle of activism fairy-dust to most of us, after all. :)

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid follower of her blog and an occasional reader of her newspaper column, I felt compelled to read this book. I have never met Marina Mahathir in person but I'm generally in awe with this woman. She has the guts to comment and criticize Malaysian government and policies for quite some time now without fear of prejudice or prosecution.

The book is divided into several themes; and the theme that is of interest to me is certainly Gender Policies. I love how articulate Marina is in her writings and although most of her articles are just a few paragraphs long, we get the gist of her thoughts. Eventhough I did not necessarily agree with all her arguments and points but I have to hand it to her for having the courage to say what she thinks which is wrong with the country. But I really must concur on her views regarding the general state of our education system and also the many limitations put upon by Malaysian society towards its female citizens.

Particularly on the fact that working women did not receive much support or understanding from the men..yes that is too common. Females are the majority in Malaysian universities and we earned distinguished degrees but we are still required to cook and clean when we came home from work. Gender bias? Tell me about it. It is too long ingrained on the minds of men (and yes women too) that the proper place for a women is in the kitchen. So what's the point of telling us to study hard and sending us to colleges then?Why not just send us of to finishing schools or even to culinary academy?

Now, I'm left wondering and desperately waiting for a female Minister or even politician to have even half of the intelligence/bravery of our dear Marina Mahathir.

P/S: My dear hubby, I love you but I'm just too tired (and lazy) to cook after work every day. Sorry. :)

[Lyla Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thought-provoking book, to say the least. Big Kudos to her for her guts to voice out her opinions on various delicate matters that happen in our country. A very eye-opening read. Recommended to all.

You can choose to agree or not to agree with her. Whatever it may be, the issues she brought up in this book does happen in our country on a daily basis so we need to take the effort to acknowledge them.

[MamaErra · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far... this book is fine to me, for someone who just wanna read something other than fiction novels. For sure it took almost a year to complete... what a shame huh? At least I tried...

[Fikri Fadzil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been eyeing this book for a while, but when I stumbled upon it in a public book donation box, I quickly grabbed it and brought it home.

This book is a compilation of thoughtful writings by Marina Mahathir spanning from the early 2000s to the early 2010s. As a mother, an activist, the daughter of a giant of Malaysian politics, and a keen observer of Malaysian society, she muses on many different topics, with my favourites being public health and gender issues.

Marina is an incredibly empathetic human being, and reading this book made me realise that there are so many things we, as individuals, can do to make our society a little better. Even though the issues she wrote about were at least a decade ago—and many positive changes have happened since—there is still room for improvement. I hope there will be an updated edition of this book someday.

[Goh Jiayin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how she pens her thoughts for the columns. Her witty, sarcastic and full of opinion essays shows that she truly cares for Malaysia and the people. Enjoyed reading her work.

[Steffi Jenali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marina presented an idea that is out of the box. I recommend this book to those who craving for a truth. No hiding. Just truth about Malaysia.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken an amazingly long time to finish this book, partly because sometimes some of the observations were so disturbing but mostly because it needed to be savoured. Loved it!!! It's an accurate account of what goes on in this beloved country of ours..... One that most people are too afraid to express. Kudos to the writer. Still follow her weekly articles and will do so for as long as she continues writing.

[Shirin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compilation of her weekly column in the local papers with discussion about politics, health care with focus on HIV/AIDS, women issues, mostly issues affecting Malaysians from all walks of life.

[tskumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Infomative

[Najwa Wira · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book to read and thought provoking too.

[Hadaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a 19 y/o girl it would be absurd on how I get amazed interest towards dis book. excellent well written by an outspoken woman. it worth to read

[Muhd Shamil]

amazing book. amazing.

[Sharina MS · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were to compare Marina's vision, capability, common sense and guts with our very own women ministers; I find myself asking this question: SHOULD I LAUGH OR CRY???

[Sue Abideen]

I've always loved her writings. Her thinking is nothing rocket-science and it's bewildering to read about the common (non)senses that she had to comment on.

[Hj Epol Hj Kasim]

i dont really agree with marina especially when she tried to encourage people about HUDUD implementation and some topic that she brought.

[Amir Fahmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very articulate and brainstorming book. I idolize her because I would agree with almost all of her points regarding issues both local and global.