The Accidental Malay

by Karina Robles Bahrin

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Karina Robles Bahrin got her first break as a writer when she guest edited a weekly teen column in The New Straits Times a very long time ago. Her short fiction has been published in venues such as Urban Odysseys: KL Stories, KL Noir: Blue, A Subtle Degree of Restraint & Other Stories and Malaysian Tales: Retold & Remixed. She is a former columnist with The Heat, a weekly by Focus Malaysia. She currently lives and works on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. The Accidental Malay is her first novel.

Reviews

[Marsilla Dewi-Baruch · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first ever book I have given bad review. I feel the author hypes up the Malay agenda, ketuanan Melayu and everything negative from it to catch the attention of the readers. The approach to building plot based on racism, theocratic manipulation and fear-mongering is outrageously unethical. On that basis, I dont believe this book should be circulated in Malaysian market.

Quite a waste of THB 550. I can ship this book for free to anyone who wants to read it. Dont intend to keep it in my possession.

[Aude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
I can't figure whether this book is racist or not. I am not Malaysian and don't know much of the country.
After reading different opinions from Malay it seems like no, but I was still very uncomfortable throughout most of the book. All Muslims in it being depicted in a negative way.
Besides this, the story doesn't hold for me.
She's the CEO of a successful company and spends no time at work. She instead spend most of her time in restaurants.
And everything turns out always fine for all these rich people with their Maserati.
Quite shallow in my opinion

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

not it! sorry!!

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was ok. Not quite what I expected.