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Straits Eclectic
Straits eclectic: an architectural style which combines diverse elements - fusing Chinese forms with Western ornament; incorporating climate adaptations from the Indian sub-continent and Malay archipelago; reflecting the 'rojak' nature of Malaysia.
"Whenever the idealistic among us speak about a better Malaysia, we tend to focus on the thing that unite us: the food, the festivals, the cultural experiences that bind us together in a shared national fabric, ignoring the yawning gaps that weaken the weave and keep us from achieving lofty visions of development and progress.
"Straits Eclectric is a collection of essays by young Malaysians who stare straight into the void and attempt to understand the divides that exist between us, whatever East and West Malaysian and the rest of the world, between East and West Malaysians, between Malays and Chinese and lndians and Dan Lain Lain, between religion and culture, between past and present, between the person you were when you left and the person you had become by the time you returned.
"Too often we dismiss the voices of those who have 'tasted less salt', mistaking age for wisdom. Straits Eclectric proves that our young Malaysians - proud and pertinent and eloquent and passionate - can dish out as much salt as they take. For once, listen to what they have to say."
- Hanna Alkaf, author of Gila: A Journey through Moods and Madness
"Whenever the idealistic among us speak about a better Malaysia, we tend to focus on the thing that unite us: the food, the festivals, the cultural experiences that bind us together in a shared national fabric, ignoring the yawning gaps that weaken the weave and keep us from achieving lofty visions of development and progress.
"Straits Eclectric is a collection of essays by young Malaysians who stare straight into the void and attempt to understand the divides that exist between us, whatever East and West Malaysian and the rest of the world, between East and West Malaysians, between Malays and Chinese and lndians and Dan Lain Lain, between religion and culture, between past and present, between the person you were when you left and the person you had become by the time you returned.
"Too often we dismiss the voices of those who have 'tasted less salt', mistaking age for wisdom. Straits Eclectric proves that our young Malaysians - proud and pertinent and eloquent and passionate - can dish out as much salt as they take. For once, listen to what they have to say."
- Hanna Alkaf, author of Gila: A Journey through Moods and Madness
- GenresNonfiction
123 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 19, 2017
Used to think why I hate this country so much, but this book reminded me why this land is beautiful, and I shouldn't leave. Thank you for the beautiful stories!
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July 19, 2024malaysians and their love-hate relationship with malaysia is truly a phenomenon that needs to be studied because through these essays, it becomes so clear (even though i felt like it was basically crystal clear, especially being in KL) that malaysians love their country so much but also can't stand the fact it doesn't feel like it loves any of us. i think this is one of the only compilations of essays that i felt really connected to and didn't feel like it was dragging too much so i really appreciated it for catching my eye when it was at a local independent book store i visited with a friend. there is a reason why i always say i love my fellow malaysians even if i don't know if i love malaysia cause the way i see malaysia, its merely a concept. and im not exactly a concept can love people the way people can love a concept.
December 14, 2018
Malaysia and Brunei are similar enough that I can relate to many things and issues that are Malaysian, but the two countries are so different in some fundamental ways that these dissimilarities are always a surprise, refreshing, and distant enough for me to view objectively. From this position and as an academic I full-on devoured this book, which is packed with well-written, thoughtful and thought-provoking pieces from contributors of different backgrounds. All the pieces touch on identity politics, taking disparate approaches and yet coming to the same conclusion that racial and class divides woefully exist in Malaysia, create palpable tension and should be overcome, but also that the meltingpot of backgrounds, languages and cultures make the country vibrant and what it is. Highly recommended.
February 16, 2020
Straits eclectic: an architectural style which combines diverse elements - fusing Chinese forms with Western ornament; incorporating climate adaptations from the Indian sub-continent and Malay archipelago; reflecting the 'rojak' nature of Malaysia.
I believe seldom some books are meant for you to read at a certain point in your lifetime; this is one of them for me. I like reading essays written by the youth because they tend to see the flaws in society better than the older generations and won’t hesitate to call out if changes for the better are needed. They tend to tackle the issues head-on and won’t be reluctant to create ripples. I'm an Indonesian, but I have my share of being mistaken as a Malaysian when I'm abroad. It kinda rubbed off on me over time and cultivated my curiosity on the socio-political life in Malaysia. Reading this collection of essays further supports my view that Indonesians and Malaysians share similar traits when it comes to practical politics. Some of the problems told in this book such as narrowly-defined identities, development gap (centralised in the capital only), the harrowing divide between Muslims and non-Muslims, etc., can easily be found in Indonesia, too. This book is well written, very inclusive because of the diverse backgrounds and topics covered by the authors. My favourites are Zedeck Siew’s, because of the way it’s written, and Muhd. Febriansyah’s, because of his experience being a Malay by ethnicity and an Indonesian by nationality living in Malaysia for a long time.
I believe seldom some books are meant for you to read at a certain point in your lifetime; this is one of them for me. I like reading essays written by the youth because they tend to see the flaws in society better than the older generations and won’t hesitate to call out if changes for the better are needed. They tend to tackle the issues head-on and won’t be reluctant to create ripples. I'm an Indonesian, but I have my share of being mistaken as a Malaysian when I'm abroad. It kinda rubbed off on me over time and cultivated my curiosity on the socio-political life in Malaysia. Reading this collection of essays further supports my view that Indonesians and Malaysians share similar traits when it comes to practical politics. Some of the problems told in this book such as narrowly-defined identities, development gap (centralised in the capital only), the harrowing divide between Muslims and non-Muslims, etc., can easily be found in Indonesia, too. This book is well written, very inclusive because of the diverse backgrounds and topics covered by the authors. My favourites are Zedeck Siew’s, because of the way it’s written, and Muhd. Febriansyah’s, because of his experience being a Malay by ethnicity and an Indonesian by nationality living in Malaysia for a long time.
May 13, 2018
I recovered this book under a pile of junk on my desk and made a push to finish the last two essays. Like most multi-author compilations, there are stories I can relate to and others that I don’t get at all. The last one struck me the most in this post-BN administration. Marvin Wong’s Occupying Spaces is a snapshot of an era we hope to see the last of.
August 13, 2020
If you're having a love-hate relationship with Malaysia, you will love this book. Some of the stories are written in the place of privileges and some are not. Some felt isolated and some felt abandoned by this land that we called 'NegaraKu'. My favorite pieces of writing in this book would be 'Meritocracy and Malaysian Chinese' and 'Malaysian First, Muslim Second, Malay Third'.
October 8, 2018
Modern writings on Malaysia - a country reimagined, swept by tides of change steep with cultural nuances
May 20, 2023
Hanya Alkaf writes that we should listen to what they have to say, and this reader wholeheartedly agrees.
The essays present a heartfelt and insightful look into the psyche of various young educated Malaysians with their own personal viewpoints on diverse and important subjects, but what binds them is their love for Malaysia, which is home, whether by default or by circumstance.
Readers will appreciate the various writing style and voice that the writers have employed effectively in order to articulate their thoughts and deliver their message, and as such, each reader will have their favourites depending on their personal preferences. Rest assured, there's something for everyone: from pragmatic to romantic, from factual to descriptive, and of course, a mixture of everything.
Spoilers below?:
This reader particularly enjoyed 'Slowly, Slowly into the Night', a 2nd person descriptive narrative (this reader hopes he got it right) that immerses the audience in the iconic train ride along the west coast peninsular, offering a glimpse into the real Malaysia, as seen from the lenses of an expatriate Malaysian. Exhibiting masterful control of language, technique and point of view, as well as incredible depth and breadth of detail, and restraint, the story has also made us reflect on and internalise the experience, which could very well be ours. It delightfully subverts any prior expectation and instead, rekindles the romance and sense of wonder inherent in all of us. By the end of the journey, which also serves as a metaphor (of whatever special importance it is to you), the transformation is complete: this is home, and there's no place like home, for all its idiosyncrasies, quirks and overwhelming, underlying beauty, that is Malaysia.
It is an artistic masterpiece as well as a sublime read that transcends the boundaries of the written word, elevating it beyond the impressive visual medium that it is into something else entirely, which this reader, in his ignorance, has not been able to sum up in a word or phrase or even a sentence.
This essay deserves to be canonised in the annals of modern Malaysian literature.
Overall, the book is a must-read for Malaysians, young or old, especially the young I suppose?
The essays present a heartfelt and insightful look into the psyche of various young educated Malaysians with their own personal viewpoints on diverse and important subjects, but what binds them is their love for Malaysia, which is home, whether by default or by circumstance.
Readers will appreciate the various writing style and voice that the writers have employed effectively in order to articulate their thoughts and deliver their message, and as such, each reader will have their favourites depending on their personal preferences. Rest assured, there's something for everyone: from pragmatic to romantic, from factual to descriptive, and of course, a mixture of everything.
Spoilers below?:
This reader particularly enjoyed 'Slowly, Slowly into the Night', a 2nd person descriptive narrative (this reader hopes he got it right) that immerses the audience in the iconic train ride along the west coast peninsular, offering a glimpse into the real Malaysia, as seen from the lenses of an expatriate Malaysian. Exhibiting masterful control of language, technique and point of view, as well as incredible depth and breadth of detail, and restraint, the story has also made us reflect on and internalise the experience, which could very well be ours. It delightfully subverts any prior expectation and instead, rekindles the romance and sense of wonder inherent in all of us. By the end of the journey, which also serves as a metaphor (of whatever special importance it is to you), the transformation is complete: this is home, and there's no place like home, for all its idiosyncrasies, quirks and overwhelming, underlying beauty, that is Malaysia.
It is an artistic masterpiece as well as a sublime read that transcends the boundaries of the written word, elevating it beyond the impressive visual medium that it is into something else entirely, which this reader, in his ignorance, has not been able to sum up in a word or phrase or even a sentence.
This essay deserves to be canonised in the annals of modern Malaysian literature.
Overall, the book is a must-read for Malaysians, young or old, especially the young I suppose?
May 15, 2021
Straits Eclectic
by Lily Jamaludin, Rayner SY, Zedeck Siew, Muhd Febriansyah, Sally Sloth, Ho Yi Jian, Soon-Tzu Speechley, Jonathan Yong, Azira Aziz, William Tham Wai Liang, Marvin Wong, Wan Phing Lim
edited by Nine
Published by Gerakbudaya Enterprise
Goodread's Rating: 4.21/5
My Rating: 4.45/5
"I'll give you another confession: That echo I feel whenever I sing the national anthem isn't a lack of love for arbitrary borders that make up Malaysia; it's the reverse. It's the feeling that I've learnt to love something that doesn't actually exist. A concept thrust upon me by people who do not understand me. Who does not care for me. A toxic relationship."
Pieces of me resonate with many stories in this book, something I do not want to elaborate on or explain why as it can be painful. "Maybe it's just me. Somehow feeling that the entirety of my spirituality, creativity, sexuality and other identities struggle to find their fullest forms in the boxes of Malaysian identity. Maybe it's just me - but I doubt it."
"Corruption is like a big, fat tub of chocolate fudge. You think you will not succumb to it; you say you can resist it. Next thing you know, your face is stuffed full and you are now making excuses for why you needed it. Or, in some circumstances, how everybody was doing it and you had no choice."
📸: @atiqahnikghazali
#MalaysiaMembaca
by Lily Jamaludin, Rayner SY, Zedeck Siew, Muhd Febriansyah, Sally Sloth, Ho Yi Jian, Soon-Tzu Speechley, Jonathan Yong, Azira Aziz, William Tham Wai Liang, Marvin Wong, Wan Phing Lim
edited by Nine
Published by Gerakbudaya Enterprise
Goodread's Rating: 4.21/5
My Rating: 4.45/5
"I'll give you another confession: That echo I feel whenever I sing the national anthem isn't a lack of love for arbitrary borders that make up Malaysia; it's the reverse. It's the feeling that I've learnt to love something that doesn't actually exist. A concept thrust upon me by people who do not understand me. Who does not care for me. A toxic relationship."
Pieces of me resonate with many stories in this book, something I do not want to elaborate on or explain why as it can be painful. "Maybe it's just me. Somehow feeling that the entirety of my spirituality, creativity, sexuality and other identities struggle to find their fullest forms in the boxes of Malaysian identity. Maybe it's just me - but I doubt it."
"Corruption is like a big, fat tub of chocolate fudge. You think you will not succumb to it; you say you can resist it. Next thing you know, your face is stuffed full and you are now making excuses for why you needed it. Or, in some circumstances, how everybody was doing it and you had no choice."
📸: @atiqahnikghazali
#MalaysiaMembaca
March 17, 2025
This was the most beautiful read I've had in forever!
I've always had complicated feelings of love for Malaysia as my country because it was always laced with a doubt or a gaping hole or just left me feeling like something was missing all the time. And having never been able to articulate such feelings before, man was it amazing to read it through so many writings of just that. With different perspectives and experience of all the writers, the various questions raised and the other answers spoken, I won't ever regret impulsively buying this book simply for sharing the same name as my favourite architectural style.
I've always had complicated feelings of love for Malaysia as my country because it was always laced with a doubt or a gaping hole or just left me feeling like something was missing all the time. And having never been able to articulate such feelings before, man was it amazing to read it through so many writings of just that. With different perspectives and experience of all the writers, the various questions raised and the other answers spoken, I won't ever regret impulsively buying this book simply for sharing the same name as my favourite architectural style.
December 31, 2020
Finished reading this one! Despite there were few essays that didn't work that well with me, I enjoyed this book tremendously. The introduction was strong and powerful, and I can definitely see myself revisiting this book once in a while reading my favourite pieces.
My top 5 favourite essays would be:
1. Understanding Return - Lily Jamaludin
2. Malay in Inverted Commas - Muhd Febriansyah
3. Nirvana - Lily Jamaludin
4. Slowly, Slowly into the Night - Wan Phing Lim
5. Occupying Spaces - Marvin Wong
My top 5 favourite essays would be:
1. Understanding Return - Lily Jamaludin
2. Malay in Inverted Commas - Muhd Febriansyah
3. Nirvana - Lily Jamaludin
4. Slowly, Slowly into the Night - Wan Phing Lim
5. Occupying Spaces - Marvin Wong
April 11, 2018
I gave 5 stars because Nine is my friend and I'm bias like that.
July 14, 2019
A book about our love-hate relationship with Malaysia. If you read for the sake of escapism, this may not be for you. Contains voices worth listening to.
November 11, 2020
This collection is a hit and miss for me. Most were really good and honestly written but I do find the style of writing a bit 'pretentious' in an essay or two.
February 10, 2025
okay lah
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews