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15 results in Local History and Memoirs

As Empires Fell
  • As Empires Fell
  • The Life and Times of Lee Hau-Shik, the First Finance Minister of Malaya
  • Kee Beng Ooi
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 24 November 2020
  • Print publication: 22 June 2020
  • View description
    To understand how independence was gained for a politically complex country such as Malaysia, and how its structure took form requires familiarity with the key players involved. More importantly, only by locating these actors within the changing socio-political context in which they specifically lived does their influence both before and after the birth of the country become clear. Having written potent biographies about Malaysian and Singapore leaders such as Ismail Abdul Rahman, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia who died in 1973, Goh Keng Swee, the economic architect and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Singapore, and Lim Kit Siang, the unwavering opposition leader of Malaysia, Ooi Kee Beng now tells the story of Lee Hau-Shik, based on the latter's extensive private papers housed at ISEAS Library, Singapore. Born in Hong Kong to a highly prominent family at a time when the Qing Dynasty was falling, Hau-Shik received degrees in Law and Economics in Cambridge and became a successful tin miner in British Malaya and an influential member of Kuala Lumpur's colonial society. After the Second World War, his influence in elite circles in China, Britain and Malaya allowed him to play a key role in the gaining of independence for Malaysia. He was one of the founders of the Malayan Chinese Association, and served as the country's first Minister of Finance."Ooi Kee Beng's new book on H.S. Lee provides a remarkable picture of an "unlikely politician" who made major contributions to the formation of the early Malayan state. It adds another dimension of study to the formidable task of nation building in a multi-communal society and is an excellent follow-up to his widely praised study of Tun Ismail as the 'reluctant politician'." -- Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore"Set against the global turbulence that marks the birth of modern Malaysia, Ooi Kee Beng has given us a compelling account of Sir Henry Lee Hau Shik's personal life and political career, his role in the move to independence and the indelible imprint he left on the country's history. In highlighting and contextualizing H.S. Lee's own papers, As Empires Fell should be read by all those interested in how Malaysia came to be." -- Barbara Watson Andaya, University of Hawaii
The Diplomat-Scholar
  • The Diplomat-Scholar
  • A Biography of Leon Ma. Guerrero
  • Erwin S. Fernandez
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 12 January 2018
  • Print publication: 27 April 2017
  • View description
    Leon Ma. Guerrero (1915-82), a top-notch writer and diplomat, served six Philippine presidents, beginning with President Manuel L. Quezon and ending with President Ferdinand E. Marcos. In this first full-length biography, Guerrero's varied career as writer and diplomat is highlighted from an amateur student editor and associate editor of a prestigious magazine to ambassador to different countries that reflected then the exciting directions of Philippine foreign policy. But did you know that he served as public prosecutor in the notorious Nalundasan murder case, involving the future Philippine president? Did you also know that during his stint as ambassador to the Court of Saint James he wrote his prize-winning biography of Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal? Learn more about him in this fully documented biography recounting with much detail from his correspondence the genesis and evolution of his thinking about the First Filipino, which is the apposite title of his magnum opus.
Penang Chinese Commerce in the 19th Century
  • Penang Chinese Commerce in the 19th Century
  • The Rise and Fall of the Big Five
  • Yee Tuan Wong
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 19 May 2017
  • Print publication: 20 October 2015
  • View description
    The story of Penang would be incomplete without the Big Five Hokkien families (the Khoo, the Cheah, the Yeoh, the Lim, and the Tan). It was the Big Five who played a preponderant role not only in transforming Penang into a regional entrepot and a business and financial base, but also in reconfiguring maritime trading patterns and the business orientation of the region in the nineteenth century. Departing from the colonial vantage point, this book examines a web of transnational, hybrid and fluid networks of the Big Five comprising of family relationship, sworn brotherhood, political alliance and business partnerships, which linked Penang and its surrounding states (western Malay states, southwestern Siam, southern Burma, and the north and eastern coasts of Sumatra) together to form one economically unified geographical region, having inextricable links to China and India. With these intertwining networks, the Big Five succeeded in establishing their dominance in all the major enterprises (trade, shipping, cash crop planting, tin mining, opium revenue farms), which constituted the linchpin of Penang's and its region's economy. By disentangling and dissecting this intricate web of networks, this book reveals the rise and decline of the Hokkien mercantile families' nearly century-long economic ascendancy in Penang and its region.
Drifting into Politics
  • Drifting into Politics
  • The Unfinished Memoirs of Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman
  • Edited by Tawfik Ismail, Kee Beng Ooi
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 19 May 2017
  • Print publication: 15 October 2015
  • View description
    This is the unfinished autobiography of Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, the medical doctor who held key government positions in the first two decades of Malaysian nation building, and who was an important early player within UMNO, the country's dominant political party. Drifting into Politics was found among the private papers that were handed over to the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in 2005 by Tun Dr Ismail's eldest son, Mohd Tawfik.

    The family has asked for it to be published in 2015, this year being the 100th anniversary of Tun Dr Ismail's birth. This is an apt time indeed to make his reflections on his own life available to the world. This is also the third book to come out of the Tun Dr Ismail papers which are kept at ISEAS Library.
    The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time, the biography written by Ooi Kee Beng and published in 2006 is ISEAS's all-time bestseller, and it brought Tun Dr Ismail back with great impact into Malaysian political analysis and discourse. It has been translated into Malay and Chinese. The second book – Malaya's First Year in the United Nations – has also been welcomed by scholars of Malaysia's foreign affairs and diplomacy. This present volume continues Malaysia's rediscovery of Tun Dr Ismail.
A History of Classical Malay Literature
  • A History of Classical Malay Literature
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 01 July 2013
  • View description
    This is a detailed, narrative-based history of Classical Malay Literature.It covers a wide range of Malay texts, including folk literature; the influence of the Indian epics and shadow theatre literature; Panji tales; the transition from Hindu to Muslim literary models; Muslim literature; framed tales; theological literature; historical literature; legal codes; and the dominant forms of poetry, the pantun and syair.The author describes the background to each of these particular literary periods. He engages in depth with specific texts, their various manuscripts, and their contents. In so doing, he draws attention to the historical complexity of traditional Malay society, its worldviews, and its place within the wider framework of human experience.Dr Liaw's A History of Classical Malay Literature will be of benefit to beginning students of Malay Literature and to established scholars alike. It can also be read with benefit by those with a wider interest in Comparative Literature and in Southeast Asian culture in general.
Zubir Said, the Composer of Majulah Singapura
  • Zubir Said, the Composer of Majulah Singapura
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 27 September 2012
  • View description
    Zubir Said is best known as the composer of Majulah Singapura, the national anthem of Singapore; Semoga Bahagia, the Singapore school anthem; and Melayu Raya. Born into a humble and religious family in Sumatra where music was considered haram, at 21 he set out to seek his fortune in Singapore, attracted initially by the glittering lights and the availability of butter and kopi susu, but soon by the opportunities it offered him to pursue his dreams. Armed with his first musical instrument, a bamboo flute he had carved himself, and a basic knowledge of music number notations, Zubir taught himself to read, write and compose music. Despite the many challenges he faced, he became a musical icon of the 1950s and 1960s on both sides of the Straits of Johor, at a time when Independence was the clarion call and nationalist fervour was running high.The nationalist sentiments nurtured in Zubir's youth during the Dutch and Japanese occupations of Indonesia were channelled into his numerous compositions of national songs. Highly acclaimed at the time, some of the compositions later became a source of discontent and a platform for political debate. During a period in the wilderness, he immersed himself in the world of films, composing songs and background or "mood" music, and pioneering voice dubbing. The advent of recorded music in films, however, led to a third career. During the lean post-war years, he had mastered the art of photography and became a busy freelance photographer. He developed a unique method of teaching music, the SOLMISASI system of number notations, to nurture talent and a love of music among young children.This book, which includes numerous photographs, documents, musical scores and articles, as well as a CD of a selection of Zubir Said's compositions, vividly reveals one of Singapore's leading composers as family man, friend, composer and mentor. It also accords Zubir Said his rightful place in the history of Singapore.
The Shan of Burma
  • The Shan of Burma
  • Memoirs of a Shan Exile
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 30 April 2010
  • View description
    In this highly personal account, the author, Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, a son of the first President of the Union of Burma, tells of his youth and involvement in the Shan resistance movement. He gives his version of Shan history and explains the complexity of Shan politics covering the issues of autonomy, Shan-Burmese relations, opium, and other contraband trade. He discusses the personalities involved in the war that is now more than twenty years old. The final part of this book is a compendium of who's who in Shan history and politics. The author passed away in July 2004.
Malaya's First Year at the United Nations
  • Malaya's First Year at the United Nations
  • As Reflected in Dr Ismail's Reports Home to Tunku Abdul Rahman
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 26 November 2008
  • View description
    Dr Ismail's writings and speeches, and his letters to the Tunku, covering a variety of foreign policy issues, are a valuable asset in understanding the unique role he played in the nation's history. He was without doubt the primary architect of Malayan (Malaysian) Foreign Policy.– Tengku Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen, Former Foreign Minister of MalaysiaNot only was Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman Malaysia's first ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations, he was also Foreign Affairs Minister in 1959-60. Later, as long-time Home Affairs Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and occasionally Acting Prime Minister, he played a decisive role in making neutrality the pillar of Malaysia's foreign policy.This important collection of notes he wrote to the Tunku in 1958 and of his speeches made in 1957-58 at the UN are being published for the very first time. It gives us a window into his seminal thinking and makes us understand the contribution he made to Malaysian nation-building in the early years. Tawfik Ismail and Ooi Kee Beng deserve kudos for compiling these into one volume and for providing elaborate footnoting that presents the reader with an intriguing picture of the Cold War year of 1958. The book is a "must read" for the diplomatic corps and Malaysian foreign policy analysts.– Johan Saravanamuttu, Former political science Professor and Dean, Science University Malaysia (USM)
Dr Maung Maung
  • Dr Maung Maung
  • Gentleman, Scholar, Patriot
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 01 April 2008
  • View description
    Dr Maung Maung (1925–94) was a man of many parts: scholar, soldier, nationalist, internationalist, parliamentarian, and public servant. His life spanned seven decades of political, economic and social turbulence in the country he loved and served, Myanmar. A pioneer amongst post-colonial journalists in Southeast Asia, he was equally at home in the libraries and seminars of universities in the United States, Europe and Australia during the Cold War. As a jurist, Dr Maung Maung knew the law must remain relevant to changing societal requirements. As an author, he wrote weighty scholarly tomes and light-hearted accounts spiced with his wry observations on human foibles. He was a keen observer of human strengths and weaknesses. A loyal friend, he never maligned his critics or denied their merits. As a man of affairs, he was capable of understanding the weaknesses of the institutions that he served and that ultimately failed to live up to their ideals. This book collects together a number of his now obscure but important historical and journalistic essays with a full bibliography of his works.
The Reluctant Politician
  • The Reluctant Politician
  • Tun Dr Ismail and His Time
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 03 January 2007
  • View description
    This is the long-awaited biography of Malaysia's powerful Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, who passed away of a heart attack on 2 August 1973. It is based on his private papers and on numerous interviews with his relatives and with people who knew him well, including Ghafar Baba, Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Robert Kuok, Lee Kuan Yew and Ghazalie Shafie. New perspectives are provided about the struggle for independence, Malaysia's relationship with Singapore, the origins of Southeast Asian regionalism, the internal conflicts of the ruling party UMNO, MCA-UMNO ties, the fatal illness of Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the May 13 riots, and the New Economic Policy. This book contains not only new facts about Malaysian and Singaporean history, but also insights into the processes of decolonization and nation building.
Bank Indonesia and the Crisis
  • Bank Indonesia and the Crisis
  • An Insider's View
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 12 September 2005
  • View description
    This important book is set to be a key document for those interested in Indonesia's recent economic and political history. There have been many unanswered questions about exactly how the regional currency crisis snowballed into a full-scale banking crisis in Indonesia, coupled with a total loss of credibility within a short time. This record by the official in the midst of the banking crisis, the ex governor of Bank Indonesia, gives a fuller and intriguing picture of the events, including the actions of President Soeharto, as well as a balanced account of the much criticised interventions by the International Monetary Fund. The author also analyses the lessons for monetary policy to avoid future such crisis. This is essential reading for economists and Indonesia watchers.
Recollections
  • Recollections
  • The Indonesian Economy, 1950s–1990s
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 29 September 2003
  • View description
    This collection of memoir-style articles is based on extended interviews with a number of eminent Indonesians who have played an important role in influencing the evolution of Indonesia's economy."Thee Kian Wie, one of Southeast Asia's most eminent economists, has provided a great service to the research and policy communities with an interest in Indonesia. In this fascinating volume, we get 'up close' to many of the most influential architects of economic policy during the Soeharto era -- their backgrounds, their world views, and their reminiscences about government."Hal Hill, H.W. Arndt Professor of Southeast Asian EconomiesAustralian National University
Boria
  • Boria
  • A Form of Malay Theatre
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 01 January 1987
  • View description
    Boria is a popular form of Penang Malay theatre performed at weddings and other social functions. There are two parts – a farcical comic sketch, and a song and dance sequence. This study covers some of the sketches, songs, audience reaction, and the actors and performers.
Like Tigers Around a Piece of Meat
  • Like Tigers Around a Piece of Meat
  • The Baba Style of Dondang Sayang
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 01 January 1986
  • View description
    Throughout Malay-speaking Southeast Asia, the Malay pantun has long provided a medium for social intercourse between people of varied ethnic backgrounds. One of the most elaborate forms of pantun singing is Dondang Sayang. With a focus on Baba Chinese contributions, Like Tigers around a Piece of Meat traces the history of Dondang Sayang and analyses through texts from Singapore and Malacca how the poets achieve works of profound meaning.
Tangled Worlds
  • Tangled Worlds
  • The Story of Maria Hertogh
  • Published by: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
  • Published online: 21 October 2015
  • Print publication: 01 January 1980
  • View description
    This story centres on the time Maria Hertogh spent in Singapore in 1950, when she became the innocent focus of a tangle of cultures and religions which aroused world-wide interest. There are introductory chapters outlining Maria's origins and an epilogue sketching what happened to her afterwards. The author was at the time head of the Singapore Social Welfare Department which was intimately involved. The account is thus largely based on firsthand knowledge.