This article defines Malay identity through their portrayal of the Malay Other – the Arabs, Indian Muslims and the Europeans. The Arabs and Peranakan Arabs were identified as foreigners in disguise, the Europeans colonisers as harbingers of modernity. From this perspective not much has been written, using editorial cartoons in Malaysia. This arti

Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas’ writings have developed a framework and theoretical perspective in responding to the Western worldview and scholarship. This is another layer in the trajectory of his works which has mainly gone unnoticed from the beginning. His systematic corpus on the Anglo-Saxon West encompasses, among others, the philosophical a

The National Postgraduate Medical Curriculum (NPMC) for General Surgery is the culmination of a collaboration between the General Surgery Conjoint Board, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Ministry of Health Malaysia, (MOH). It provides a structured and unified curriculum for the training of General Surgery specialists throughout the c

Rantau and merantau has been embedded this region since time immemorial. It manifests the spirit of the homeland long before the arrival of the Europeans, and other Asian communities. In the consciousness of the Malays in Malaysia, the practice has long been associated with the Minangkabaus. It is not peculiar to the Minangkabaus. Merantau is also

In his Mencari Bako (Searching for Roots), published in 1983, a memoir of his journey in search of origins and ancestors, Abdul Aziz Ishak tells us the story about his larger family, his encounters with fellow Minangkabaus and community, and the history of the Malays. His ancestors traversed their way to what is now North Sumatra from Pagaruyung, a

A grandson of a well known Minangkabau figure in Kuala Lumpur history originating from Batusangkar, once shared a statement describing his ancestors: “They are subtle colonisers of the Malay Archipelago.” And indeed they are. The Minangkabaus are cultural shapers of the Malays. The Minangkabau narrative is dominated by at least two practices �

Mental health is every human's right. Physical health cannot be achieved without a healthy mind. Good mental health helps dealing with the stress of life, affects physical health, and allows building and maintaining strong human relationships. Individuals with a healthy mind can be a valuable part of society and contribute to their community wh

To this day, the Filipino is still seeking his identity. The ghost of the Spanish colonial order lingers on. I have encountered colleagues and acquaintances from the Philippines over the years. Many still wonder on their roots. Some like Joan Valenzuela, a colleague from a previous university was ambivalent. He (yes, Joan is a ‘he’) delved into

I begin with an old narrative. I am rehearsing this week’s column with the mention on the history of Penang, or of George Town. Immediately one sees the image of Francis Light, as ‘founder’ and ‘discoverer.’ That image lends a powerful story on the ‘origins’ of the island, completely severing it from Kedah. And even when I wrote criti

Siamese forces invaded Kedah in 1821 – to be exact on 12 November. That turned out to be the most brutal, bloodiest, protracted war the country has ever seen. It lasted until 1841. That war is the story of Kedah’s resistance to Siamese occupation. It has passed virtually unknown in the annals of the nation’s history. Siam’s aggression and s