Matahari Books

15/05/2024

Review of IVY ON STONE by Matthew Thomas in Kenya's Awaaz magazine!

Full review:

https://www.awaazmagazine.com/volume-20/issue-3-volume-20/book-reviews-issue-3-volume-20/ivy-on-stone

09/05/2024

Ebook PERCUMA kini ada di . Sila-sila. Memuatkan 12 esei dan diselenggara

24/04/2024

This Saturday: A discussion of our book THE END OF THE NINETEEN-NINETIES!

Book Sharing: The End of The Nineteen-Nineties
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A captivating exploration of Malaysia's journey from the hopeful heights of the 1990s to the complex realities of today.
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From the euphoria of the Thomas Cup victory to the aspirations of Wawasan 2020, join Hafiz as he discovers how these pivotal moments have shaped Malaysia's identity.
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Are we still on track to realize our collective dreams? 💭
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Date: 27 Apr 2024 (Sat)
Time: 2pm-4pm
Venue: eslite Forum, The Starhill Bukit Bintang
Speaker: Hafiz Noor Shams
Moderator: Lutfi Hakim
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Fixi

19/04/2024

Matahari Books titles are among those selected for the Malaysian pavilion of the Beijing Book Fair - for consideration for libraries in China.

16/04/2024

Next Saturday - discussion of with Hafiz Noor Shams and at

13/03/2024

Interview on BFM Radio - The Business Station on THE END OF THE NINETEEN NINETIES.

We take a trip down memory lane tonight by going all the way back to the 1990s, exploring key events

10/03/2024

Review of THE END OF THE NINETEEN NINETIES in NST Online!

I REMAIN deeply committed to the belief that Malaysia, the land of my birth, merits every effort to uphold and protect. The divisions we face now seem unparalleled, a far cry from the days of my youth, when racial differences were secondary to our collective pursuit of Wawasan 2020 and the dream of....

04/02/2024

Review of THE END OF THE NINETEEN NINETIES from Free Malaysia Today!

Part autobiography, part political-historical commentary, Hafiz Noor Shams’ book is an engaging look back on the years that shaped the Malaysia of today.

26/01/2024

Join us on the last Saturday of Feb to meet the author of our latest book!

Update: We're sold out of tickets. Thank you all!

JOIN US on Saturday 24 Feb, 2024 at 8pm for an insightful session with economists Hafiz Noor Shams and Ooi Kok Hin, who will discuss the central thesis of Hafiz’s book, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣-𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, which links the resurgence of extreme conservatism in Malaysia with the bursting of the Asian economic bubble at the end of the last millennium. Moderated by Fong Min Hun, the session will cover recent historical ground, both personal and national, and seeks to answer the question that Hafiz poses at the end of the book: Is it too late for a progressive Malaysia?

There will be an audience Q&A as well as book signing after. Tickets are RM10 and you will receive a RM10 voucher to use on event day. Spaces are limited so do purchase your tickets early. https://litbooks.com.my/product/author-event-hafiz-n-shams/

Get the book here: https://litbooks.com.my/product/the-end-of-the-nineteen-nineties/

22/01/2024

Kami ingin keluarkan satu ebook PERCUMA bulan depan.

Tajuk:
Penyelenggara: Zoul Yazix

Kami alu-alukan rencana santai dalam Bahasa Melayu mengenai filem MENTEGA TERBANG. Khas untuk mereka yang pernah tontonnya dan ingin menulis sesuatu tentangnya.

Kami inginkan variasi pendapat. Bukan sekadar sinopsis filem atau rumusan "apa orang lain kata." 500-1,500 patah perkataan. Kami akan pilih hanya 12.

Walaupun ebook nanti PERCUMA, kami akan bayar token RM100.

Sila emel [email protected] selewatnya 31/1/2024 - sertakan rencana, nama anda & bio 1 -2 ayat juga. Hanya yang terpilih nanti akan diminta butir akaun bank.

[Kali terakhir kami cuba pendekatan ini adalah 2011 dengan ebook percuma SEMANGKUK INTERLOK - boleh cari di alam maya]

07/01/2024

BOOK REVIEW | Author explores issues that led to country’s decline.

15/12/2023

04/12/2023

We have review copies to be posted to people in Malaysia who would like this book. Email us ( matahari.books gmail ) by 10 Dec with your address, phone no & links to recent reviews you have done on any platform (goodreads, public social media, etc). We will pick 20 people. 😃

Our latest book is now available for pre-order on Shopee. It is also sold on Amazon & Kindle.

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Title: THE END OF THE NINETEEN-NINETIES

Writer: Hafiz Noor Shams

Publisher: Matahari Books

Pages: 360

ISBN: 978-967-0042-65-7

Price: RM40


When Malaysia won the Thomas Cup in 1992, the whole nation celebrated as one. And for most of that decade, we did seem to have reasons to celebrate: We had a national car, a national goal in the form of Wawasan 2020, and the future seemed as bright as KLCC lights.

The economist Hafiz Noor Shams belongs to that generation that sang the Wawasan 2020 song in school assemblies. And he asks: What has happened to us since then?

The End of the Nineteen-Nineties places the decade within the context of our pre-colonial and post-colonial history, underscoring that brief, bright spark of optimism in the Malaysian journey. It also mourns the apparent collapse of the incipient Bangsa Malaysia ideal, which has since given way to ethnocentric silos.

In weaving together personal, national and global events to contextualize and understand tensions that exist within Malaysian society, he asks: Do we still have a chance?

(Cover by Sharon Chin)

01/12/2023

Our latest book is now available for pre-order on Shopee. It is also sold on Amazon & Kindle.

*

Title: THE END OF THE NINETEEN-NINETIES

Writer: Hafiz Noor Shams

Publisher: Matahari Books

Pages: 360

ISBN: 978-967-0042-65-7

Price: RM40


When Malaysia won the Thomas Cup in 1992, the whole nation celebrated as one. And for most of that decade, we did seem to have reasons to celebrate: We had a national car, a national goal in the form of Wawasan 2020, and the future seemed as bright as KLCC lights.

The economist Hafiz Noor Shams belongs to that generation that sang the Wawasan 2020 song in school assemblies. And he asks: What has happened to us since then?

The End of the Nineteen-Nineties places the decade within the context of our pre-colonial and post-colonial history, underscoring that brief, bright spark of optimism in the Malaysian journey. It also mourns the apparent collapse of the incipient Bangsa Malaysia ideal, which has since given way to ethnocentric silos.

In weaving together personal, national and global events to contextualize and understand tensions that exist within Malaysian society, he asks: Do we still have a chance?

19/10/2023

Meet Matthew Thomas next Saturday!

October Readings@Seksan. Come join us!

15/10/2023

NST article on our book IVY ON STONE by Matthew Thomas.

https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2023/10/967292/retired-lawyer-78-honours-late-wife-touching-memoir

AS the late afternoon sun bathes the patio, we dine leisurely at the Royal Lake Club Kuala Lumpur. 78-year-old Matthew Thomas gazes into the distance and sighs: “How I wish she were here today...”

14/10/2023

A whole lotta pix from the full-house launch of Matthew Thomas's IVY ON STONE -- a memoir about life with his late wife. Thanks to all who came!

04/09/2023

Our next book is IVY ON STONE, a memoir by the Malaysian writer & lawyer Matthew Thomas. Available now on Amazon, will be in Malaysia by the end of September.

amazon.com/dp/B0CGYYRVFF

03/07/2023

101 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE I DIE featured in the NST!

I MADE it a point to listen to some old songs recently, in part, thanks to Martin Vengadesan’s 101 Albums You Need To Hear Before I Die. As I sat down to listen to the late Bessie Smith’s iconic Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, I could feel her palpable pain as she sang the words mou...

14/04/2023

Our latest book is 101 ALBUMS YOU NEED TO HEAR BEFORE I DIE by Martin Vengadesan!
Online sales start 3 May, launch is 6 May at Merdekarya

31/03/2023

is nominated! Do vote for it if you wish 😁 https://bookfest.popular.com.my/readerschoiceawards?l=12

05/01/2023

FINAL 10 DAYS:
Crowdfunding for "MENGAPA KITA TAK BOLEH BERLEBIHAN? (WHY CAN'T WE TAKE MORE?)")
The crowdfunding campaign for our 4th picture book ends on 15 Jan. Thanks to all who have given so far!
Enclosed are two of the double-spread illustrations in the book.

***

It is the same size and format as our previous books THE MALAY TALE OF THE PIG KING, WANTED: BOTAK CHIN and THE LAST JEWS OF PENANG. They have a common theme of being 'suitable for children of all ages' and also 'explorations of less-explored themes.'
This is an environmental book centred on the Orang Asli Batek community. It is bilingual (Malay and English) with a glossary for Batek terms and pronunciation. The illustrations of the community's way of life are particularly gorgeous.
Since we see this book as an educational tool, we have modified most of the tiers (Tier 1-4) so that the number of books you buy will be matched with the number of books we will donate to schools and Orang Asli centres.
This is the form to contribute:
https://forms.gle/DPjns6qrhhpmqUuM7
Here are bios of the main people involved:
Dendangan Hep is a writing collective comprises long-time friends Booi Carlyn and Wong Pui May. Carlyn is a teacher and writer. Pui May works in nature conservation and enjoys learning from Batek friends. (Hep, pronounced h**p not hehp, means forest in Batek language.)
Lye Tuck-Po is an environmental and visual anthropologist at Universiti Sains Malaysia and long-term (29 years) student of the Batek of Pahang. She has four published books under her belt and numerous academic publications. Her photography work can be found at www.instagram.com/tplye.
Rionna Muniandy is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, who has an affinity towards detailed work and mixtures of textures, colours or techniques. She is also skilled in various art styles. Her portfolio can be seen at www.riomuniandy.com.

17/12/2022

CROWDFUNDING FOR "MENGAPA KITA TAK BOLEH BERLEBIHAN? (WHY CAN'T WE TAKE MORE?)")

We are pleased to announce that the crowdfunding campaign for our 4th picture book starts now.

It is the same size and format as our previous books THE MALAY TALE OF THE PIG KING, WANTED: BOTAK CHIN and THE LAST JEWS OF PENANG. They have a common theme of being 'suitable for children of all ages' and also 'explorations of less-explored themes.'

This is an environmental book centred on the Orang Asli Batek community. It is bilingual (Malay and English) with a glossary for Batek terms and pronunciation. The illustrations of the community's way of life are particularly gorgeous.

Since we see this book as an educational tool, we have modified most of the tiers (Tier 1-4) so that the number of books you buy will be matched with the number of books we will donate to schools and Orang Asli centres.

This is the form to contribute:

https://forms.gle/DPjns6qrhhpmqUuM7

Here are bios of the main people involved:

Dendangan Hep is a writing collective comprises long-time friends Booi Carlyn and Wong Pui May. Carlyn is a teacher and writer. Pui May works in nature conservation and enjoys learning from Batek friends. (Hep, pronounced h**p not hehp, means forest in Batek language.)

Lye Tuck-Po is an environmental and visual anthropologist at Universiti Sains Malaysia and long-term (29 years) student of the Batek of Pahang. She has four published books under her belt and numerous academic publications. Her photography work can be found at www.instagram.com/tplye.

Rionna Muniandy is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, who has an affinity towards detailed work and mixtures of textures, colours or techniques. She is also skilled in various art styles. Her portfolio can be seen at www.riomuniandy.com.