God of the Earth

God of the Earth by Ho Thean Fook -- The Perak Academay (RM30.00)

Ho Thean Fook portrays Malaya at the beginning of the 20th century through the eyes of his grandfather as a child. This book is about the experiences of Pak Foo, a boy growing up in Papan, a small mining town in Perak. For Pak Foo there are fighting spiders and crickets to catch, Chinese classes to attend, 'wild rat' mines and wooden dredges to explore, weddings and festivals to celebrate, and ghosts and a monster serpent to encounter. Under the author's magical touch, the people of Papan spring to life, drawn in all their ordinariness and in vivid colours. These are tales about squatters, rich towkays, beggers, school teachers and matchmakers.

Other new Malaysian titles:

1.Great-Grandma's Hair Loss Remedy by Rebecca Lok (RM22.0)
2.The Ecokids and the Wasteful Water Worry by Fay Khoo & Asha Gill (RM10.00)
3. The Ecokids and the Gas Guzzler Gaffes by Fay Khoo & Asha Gill (RM10.00)
4. The Ecokids and the Plastic Bag Pickle by Fay Khoo & Asha Gill (RM10.00)

Traditional medicine

Traditional Malay Medicinal Plants by Muhamad Zakaria & Mustafa Ali Mohad

Malaysia, like many other countries, is a nation that treasures its natural environment of forests, jungles and thickets. Moreover, these woodland domains also happen to be the greatest source of natural products that can be used for medicinal purposes. Since the beginning of their history, the Malay people have been using entire plants or their leaves, roots, stems, flowers or fruits as ingredients for the preparation of traditional herbal medicine. This book is an invaluable guide for people familiar with traditional medicine, as well as those who have an interest in medicinal plants. The book may also be of use to professionals such as botanists, phytochemists, doctors ans pharmacologists.

Other new books:
1. Melaka from the Top by Dennis De Witt

Book Launch

Strategic Information and Research Development Centre (SIRD) cordially invites you to the launch of the book No Cowardly Past in Petaling Jaya. On our distinguished panel of speakers are well-known personalities, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Jomo K.S. and Dominic Puthucheary.

No Cowardly Past: James Puthucheary - Writings, Poems, Commentaries (Second Edition). Edited by Jomo K.S. and Dominic Puthucheary

Informed by a profound understanding of history and convinced by the need to construct a sustainable future for his country, Puthucheary spent a lifetime engaged with the most pressing problems of the day. The new edition of No Cowardly Past brings together some of his most important essays on political economy, the struggle for a progressive politics and the character of university education, as well as his lyrical and pungent poetry.

'Time past and time future are both contained in time present', wrote James Puthucheary in an honest and provocative letter from prison more than y years ago. Informed by a profound understanding of history and convinced by the need to construct a sustainable future for his country, Puthucheary spent a lifetime engaged with the most pressing problems of the day. e new edition of No Cowardly Past brings together some of his most important essays on political economy, the struggle for a progressive politics and the character of university education, as well as his lyrical and pungent poetry. The essays are written in a forthright style that makes his work so accessible and with an unusual candour about the di culties of transforming a rapidly changing society. Together with half a dozen commentaries that throw light on his personal life, political career, intellectual impact and literary output, No Cowardly Past o ers the most comprehensive introduction to one of Malaysia’s greatest public intellectuals.

Date: Monday, 22 March 2010
Time: 8.00pm -- 10.00pm
Venue: Auditorium, MBPJ Civic Centre, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya
Programme:
Welcome by Ismail Gareth Richards
Speakers
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah - The Malaysia We Want
Jomo K.S. - Half a century later: The relevance of the Merdeka generation for us today
Dominic Puthucheary

Discussion
Official Book Launch and Presentation
Light refreshments will be served
Book sale and signing

Animal Tales

Orang Asli Animal Tales by Lim Boo Liat (COAC) RM20.00

The Orang Asli -- the first people of Peninsular Malaysia -- are nature's naturalists. They are intimately familiar with the social structure and behavior of many of the animals in their forest homelands. To explain nature's mysteries, they have surrounded themselves with colourful folklore about wondrous creatures that are so much a part of their lives. In this collection of Orang Asli animal tales you will learn, for example, how the once-cruel tapir got it's white band and became the timid animal that it is today. And why the flying lemur always hides his tail and flies only by night. Or how friends of the slow-loris protected him from the punishment of blindness ordered by the king for outraging the modesty of his daughter. These tales are not only for enjoyment and amusement. They also teach us morals and give us a peek into the rich scientific and cultural heritage of the Orang Asli --Which should rightfully warrant a significant place in Malaysia's cultural heritage.

Other Malaysian titles:

1. T Pinkie's Floor by A Samad Said -- RM25.00
2. Fansuri's Love by A Samad Said -- RM20.00
3. Braving the Waves by Zailani Taslim -- RM25.00
4. The Opera House by Zakaria Ariffin -- RM15.00
5. Children of this Land by Noordin Hassan -- RM25.00
6. Mother El Nono & La Nina (Malaysian nature Series) -- RM15.00
7. Jungle of Hope by Keris Mas -- RM30.00
8. The Keris by Edward Frey -- RM20.00
9. Traditional Malay Medicinal Plants by Muhammad Zakaria, Mustafa Ali Mohd -- RM20.00
10. Song of the Pelican by Suhaimi Haji Muhammad -- RM20.00
11. Pilot Studies for a New Penang by Ooi Kee Beng, Gan Ban Lee -- RM50.00

Asian Tales

Eight Jewels of the Phoenix -- Tutu Dutta-Yean -- MPH (2009) -- RM19.90

Eight Jewels of the Phoenix brings together eight legends and folk tales from the countries around the Asia-Pacific Rim. The tales in this collection are cultural icons, retold and reinterpreted in many forms through the ages. Just like the Phoenix, they are fierce, full of colour, magic and adventure, celebrating the richness and diversity of the cultures of Asia.

For those unfamiliar with these cultures, the book will be a journey of discovery. Readers will find universal themes: the reversal of fortune, quest for lovepossible and impossible, sacrifice for the greater good and even the charming story of a Malay Cinderella. The Phoenix sometimes makes an appearance in these stories in various guises.

The cultures covered in this book include China, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, North America and Thailand. The authors black-and-white illustrations bring a fresh perspective to the stories.

These are timeless tales that will appeal to both young and old alike.


Eight Fortunes of the Qilin -- Tutu Dutta-Yean -- MPH (2009) -- RM19.90

Eight Fortunes of the Qilin brings together eight legends and folk tales from countries around the Asia-Pacific Rim. Each story in the collection is rooted in the culture of its people. It is also a window to the past as some of these cultures may no longer exist or are undergoing rapid transformation.

As the fabled Qilin represents compassion, wisdom and respect for nature and life, these qualities are echoed in the stories. Nature, whether in the form of a mighty river, a little cricket or snail, plays a prominent role in these enthralling tales. It is also the thread that binds all these elements together. Humans, spirits and deities cross paths, and unseen worlds collide.

The countries brought to life in this collection include Borneo, Central America, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines and Vietnam. Accompanying the rich tales are black-and-white illustrations by the author to bring a fresh perspective to the stories.

These are timeless tales that will appeal to both young and old alike.


Other new books

No cowardly Past-2nd Edition -- James Puthucheary -- SIRD(2010) -- RM45.00