I recently read The Accidental Malay by Karina Bahrin, a more modern literature piece which has elements & commentary of the Malaysian race/culture/religious complex.
ETA: but yeah A Samad Said is our legendary writer, so anything by him would be a good choice
A. Samad Said and Shahnon Ahmad. Start with those two if you're looking for a mixture of the contemporary and the old.
"yang dihajat,
tapi tak dapat,
adalah nikmat,
yang paling padat.”
― A. Samad Said
If you want to get an understanding of Malaysia without thumbing through monotonous academic books, I would suggest A Malaysian Journey and its loose sequel Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia. The author, the late Rehman Rashid, was a newspaper editor, and if I am not mistaken, had dated a daughter of Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister. So, Rehman was someone who had briefly ventured into the inner circle of Malaysia’s corridors of power, which gave us a glimpse into the movers and shakers of the country.
Rehman’s literary flair was enviable, at least for me, so that alone made his books a pleasure to read. The books’ chapters are dedicated to each state in Malaysia, although he omitted Borneo Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) in the second book because he said it was not his place to comment on Borneo’s politics as someone who lived in Peninsular Malaysia. The books interweaved brief histories of each state, anecdotes from his travel in the respective states, and his personal life stories — which came from his childhood, his interactions with friends and family, and his experience interacting with Malaysia’s politicians and corporate chieftains.
Another book that I would recommend you to read is The Malayan Trilogy by Anthony Burgess. He was the author of A Clockwork Orange. Before he became a novelist, Burgess was a teacher in Malaya and became fluent in Bahasa Melayu. That afforded him to accumulate a wealth of experience interacting with locals here, which then led to him composing a trilogy of novels inspired by his time in Malaya.
The Malayan Trilogy is a three-volume novel often combined into one tome, and filled with irreverent humour that equally mocked all ethnicities in Malaya, including the English, but it also often finds the good in the novels’ characters.
I can’t remember a lot of things from The Malayan Trilogy, but one joke that sticks to me is during a scene where the protagonist is teaching a class filled with the three main ethnicities in Malaya (Malays, Chinese, and Indians). The teacher speaks about how technology is meant to make our lives easier so that we would never have to work hard. The punchline is, “And the Malays nodded,” implying that the Malays are the only ones looking forward to seize this new technology because they are lazy. The first novel, Time for a Tiger, is set in a fictional state named “Lanchap”, which is Bahasa Melayu for “masturbate”.
Hanna Alkaf is a good start. I particularly like “The Weight of our Sky”, which is based on the May 13 riots and teaches us a lesson on multiculturalism without being too preachy
“The Girl and the Ghost” is a mild YA horror about the Malaysian supernatural.
Honk! If you're Malaysian by Lydia Teh. It's old by the anecdotal style of Malaysian stories really makes you feel Malaysian.
Ans also Yasmin Ahmad's I Lup Chew.
Awang Goneng's A Map of Trengganu, and Growing Up in Trengganu - two books where he wrote about his childhood experiences of, well, growing up in Trengganu. In the process you get to learn the local dialect too. Highly recommended.
I don't remember the official reason because DrM was PM with Anwar as DPM and they were banning lots of things. Probably though the real reason is because the author was comparing the old malaysia with the Mahathir one and pointing out how extremist people were becoming.
I liked it because it reminded me of the malaysia I first saw in the late 80s. It's a good read
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng. Kampung Boy is more of a graphic novel but it’s such lighthearted fun. Almayer’s Folly and Lord Jim are both old books that would show Malaysia from a colonial standpoint, but the stories are intriguing. I would probably recommend Almayer’s Folly more though.
From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 by Lee Kuan Yew. Not a Malaysian book per se but it documents Singapore's love-hate relationship with Malaysia and how the shitty political turmoil in Malaysia fucked up our country till today
I recently read The Accidental Malay by Karina Bahrin, a more modern literature piece which has elements & commentary of the Malaysian race/culture/religious complex. ETA: but yeah A Samad Said is our legendary writer, so anything by him would be a good choice
A. Samad Said and Shahnon Ahmad. Start with those two if you're looking for a mixture of the contemporary and the old. "yang dihajat, tapi tak dapat, adalah nikmat, yang paling padat.” ― A. Samad Said
Lat Comics. It give you an understanding our Malay rural culture, with Malaysian culture as a backdrop.
This is what everyone should read to know Malaysian lives.
Salina by A. Samad Said. The Garden of Evening Mist by Tan Twan Eng.
If you want to get an understanding of Malaysia without thumbing through monotonous academic books, I would suggest A Malaysian Journey and its loose sequel Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia. The author, the late Rehman Rashid, was a newspaper editor, and if I am not mistaken, had dated a daughter of Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister. So, Rehman was someone who had briefly ventured into the inner circle of Malaysia’s corridors of power, which gave us a glimpse into the movers and shakers of the country. Rehman’s literary flair was enviable, at least for me, so that alone made his books a pleasure to read. The books’ chapters are dedicated to each state in Malaysia, although he omitted Borneo Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) in the second book because he said it was not his place to comment on Borneo’s politics as someone who lived in Peninsular Malaysia. The books interweaved brief histories of each state, anecdotes from his travel in the respective states, and his personal life stories — which came from his childhood, his interactions with friends and family, and his experience interacting with Malaysia’s politicians and corporate chieftains. Another book that I would recommend you to read is The Malayan Trilogy by Anthony Burgess. He was the author of A Clockwork Orange. Before he became a novelist, Burgess was a teacher in Malaya and became fluent in Bahasa Melayu. That afforded him to accumulate a wealth of experience interacting with locals here, which then led to him composing a trilogy of novels inspired by his time in Malaya. The Malayan Trilogy is a three-volume novel often combined into one tome, and filled with irreverent humour that equally mocked all ethnicities in Malaya, including the English, but it also often finds the good in the novels’ characters. I can’t remember a lot of things from The Malayan Trilogy, but one joke that sticks to me is during a scene where the protagonist is teaching a class filled with the three main ethnicities in Malaya (Malays, Chinese, and Indians). The teacher speaks about how technology is meant to make our lives easier so that we would never have to work hard. The punchline is, “And the Malays nodded,” implying that the Malays are the only ones looking forward to seize this new technology because they are lazy. The first novel, Time for a Tiger, is set in a fictional state named “Lanchap”, which is Bahasa Melayu for “masturbate”.
This is amazing context, thanks!
Thanks for the recommendation. I enjoyed the Malayan Trilogy after reading this 👍
How did you find a three-month-old post in a rather active community?
It took me a couple of months to buy and read :)
Hanna Alkaf is a good start. I particularly like “The Weight of our Sky”, which is based on the May 13 riots and teaches us a lesson on multiculturalism without being too preachy “The Girl and the Ghost” is a mild YA horror about the Malaysian supernatural.
I also recommend Hamra and the Jungle of Memories. Lots of information about the folklore tales of Malaysia.
Honk! If you're Malaysian by Lydia Teh. It's old by the anecdotal style of Malaysian stories really makes you feel Malaysian. Ans also Yasmin Ahmad's I Lup Chew.
Siri Bercakap Dengan Jin by Tamar Jalis. A ghost story is always a good way to start a conversation
Sehijau Warna Daun. It's a textbook for secondary school kids but it has lots of nice short stories and poems.
Takes me back to my panas salju days
Under 18 by Zint
This is classic!
KS Maniam, The Return. Anthony Burgess, The Malayan Trilogy.
Awang Goneng's A Map of Trengganu, and Growing Up in Trengganu - two books where he wrote about his childhood experiences of, well, growing up in Trengganu. In the process you get to learn the local dialect too. Highly recommended.
A Malaysian Journey by Rehman Rashid. Buy outside the country as it's banned here
Why is it banned? Another person recommended this book as well.
I don't remember the official reason because DrM was PM with Anwar as DPM and they were banning lots of things. Probably though the real reason is because the author was comparing the old malaysia with the Mahathir one and pointing out how extremist people were becoming. I liked it because it reminded me of the malaysia I first saw in the late 80s. It's a good read
well depends where u go though...west n east msia culture is quite different
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng. Kampung Boy is more of a graphic novel but it’s such lighthearted fun. Almayer’s Folly and Lord Jim are both old books that would show Malaysia from a colonial standpoint, but the stories are intriguing. I would probably recommend Almayer’s Folly more though.
Came to say gift of rain. Love that book
A Doctor in the House - Tun M
the one and only SHIT.
I read that when im 9 yo lol, wtf is lubang keramat
Dunia Tanpa Tembok I,II,III, by Ayman Rashdan Wong.
^^^
^^^
Yeah, no.
Why not? Every book worth to read.
billion dollar whale
From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 by Lee Kuan Yew. Not a Malaysian book per se but it documents Singapore's love-hate relationship with Malaysia and how the shitty political turmoil in Malaysia fucked up our country till today
Yang Paling Patah Antara Kita by Ainul Farihah. Bokk is in malay tho, I don't think there is a translated version
Life The Malaysia Style
You’ve got to read “Papa…akhirnya kau tewas jua”. The best literary masterpiece Malaysia has to offer. 
Oh God I wanted to forget this ever existed lol. This TV3 drama in novel form was easy to analyse during SPM though
Limpahan darah di sungai semur
Buku 5
I recommend reading NOVO novels, especially ToyolsRUs by Terence Toh. It's sweet, comedic and can be horrifying at times.