Events
BLACK SWAN RISES
The Music of Rodin JS Kumar
19 FEBRUARY 2025
WEDNESDAY | 8.30 PM
DEWAN FILHARMONIK PETRONAS (DFP), KLCC.
A NEO-GEN MUSIC CONCERT- JAZZ MEETS CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL.
Twenty-One Musicians Led by Principal Conductor Prof. Hanafie Imam will Perform Original Compositions by Rodin.
For Ticketing Information: WhatsApp 012-5717759 or
BLACK SWAN RISES, is a unique concept-based musical performance that transcends the boundaries of traditional music concerts. It is a Neo Gen music concert based on the original compositions and arrangements by composer, producer, author, impresario, bassist and accountant, Rodin JS Kumar and conducted by Prof. Hanafie Imam. And unlike the typical focus on a few popular songs, this performance is a fusion of diverse musical concepts based on a specific theme-Black Swan Rises, and promises an unparalleled experience where ‘Jazz Meets Contemporary Classical Music.’
Black Swan Rises is as a story about humanity. We encounter many obstacles, difficulties, and disappointments in our pursuit of achievement and happiness. Inevitably we fall many times. Our strengths however, is our ability to pick ourselves up and get back stronger with courage, tenacity, flexibility, creativity, enthusiasm, and resilience. This is humanity’s essence. To endure and to achieve apotheosis, or the maximum possible potential in our work throughout this lifetime, by striving and thriving in the face of adversity.
Black Swan Rises is not just a performance. It’s an innovative art form that boldly unites the worlds of jazz and modern classical music through the medium of improvised music- Jazz. It’s an experimentation and exploration that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
LIST OF PERFORMERS
- Prof. Hanfie Imam- Principal Conductor
- Rodin JS Kumar- Electric Bass
- James Ryan- Tenor Saxophone & Flute
- Damon Brown- Trumpet
- VJ Thison – Drums
- Syabe- Piano/Keyboards
- Jimmy Sax- Soprano Saxophone
- Shaq-Piano/Keyboards
- Maria Angela- Vocals
- Dato’ Aljafri Majid- Vocals
STRING ENSEMBLE
- Jae Sern Lim-Violin
- Gertrude Hii- Violin
- Alyssa Chong-Violin
- Ryan Liew- Violin
- Benjamin Chang -Violin
- Justin Lai-Viola
- Elton Ting- Viola
- Jill- Cello
- Timmy Lim-Cello
- Marina Zaini- Contrabass
RODIN JS KUMAR
COMPOSER & PRODUCER
Rodin JS Kumar is a humanist and a pragmatist. He is an Author, Composer, Music Producer, Publisher, Impresario and Bassist. Professionally qualified in accountancy, audit and finance, he is deeply passionate about the arts and considers them his second true calling in life, valuing the power of creativity and self-expression above all else. Though a non-idealist, Rodin believes in exploring one’s passions and talents and encourages others to do the same.
He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA, USA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA, USA) and has a postgraduate degree in Finance, MSc in Finance from the University of Leicester, UK. He is a founder of the KL International Jazz & Arts Festival (KLIJAF) as well as the KL Jazz & Arts Centre (KLJAC) that houses the KL City Art Gallery and the Kind A Blue Jazz Club. He is also the President of the KL Jazz & Arts Club.
He released his first album aptly titled Compromise and his second album titled Black Swan Rises. He as written two books on philosophy: Who do we think we are and Purpose with Passion & Compassion.https://www.shop.aabacreate.com/
Recording Artists on Rodin’s Albums– Rodin ( Composer, arranger, Bass, Lead Bass , Guitar & Producer), James Ryan ( Tenor Sax and Flute), Damon Brown (Trumpet), VJ Thison ( Drums & Percussion), Lipraxedes M Jumawan ( Piano & Keyboards), Shaq ( Piano & Keyboards), Patrick Terbrack ( Alto Sax), Kyle Kumar ( Guitar), Md. Noor Hendrix ( Guitar), Stefan Kotlarz (Guitar), Watchara Atchariyavaranon ( Trumpet), Orjan Hulten (Tenor & Soprano Sax) and Terrapoj Plitakul (Piano).
Rodin JS Kumar
PROFESSOR HANAFIE IMAM – Principal Conductor
Professor Hanafie Mohd. Imam graduated from Berklee College of Music Boston in Jazz Composition & Arranging and University of Miami Florida in Music Education & Performance. Besides his academic background he is also a Composer, Music Arranger and was the Conductor of UPM Symphony Orchestra and was Orchestra Conductor and Composer with the National Symphony Orchestra ( NSO ) for Istana Budaya’s first musical theatre ‘Keris Sang Putri’. He performs on the contrabass and electric bass professionally in clubs, concerts and commissioned performance with his Hanafie Imam Jazz Quartet (HIJQ), the Gamejazz Ensemble and his world-music group, the Rasia Ensemble. His research area in writing focuses on the Malay Minor Music Scale. Prof. Hanafie Imam was formerly the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at SEGi University College, Dean of Curriculum ICOM, Head of Music Dept UiTM, Head of Music, Akademi Seni Kebangsaan. He was also a lecturer at UiTM, Professor at UPM and Univ. Malaysia Sabah. His current project -Ukulele Ensemble Orchestra Workshop.
JAMES RYAN
Born in Darwin, Australia on October 12, 1972, jazz saxophonist/flautist James Ryan has performed extensively throughout Australia and Europe. He was based in London for four years, 1997 to 2001. During that time he specialised in teaching children on the autism spectrum, or who have special needs. In 1989 James left Darwin to study at the Canberra School of Music, ANU.
Following the awarding of a Masters of Music degree, majoring in jazz, he taught performance, improvisation and composition there before going on to teach at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University) and the Queensland University of Technology.
James now leads a number of jazz ensembles, including the award-winning band The Subterraneans, the 15-piece big band Sonic Mayhem Orchestra, and the James Ryan Band. The Subterraneans’ self-titled debut album won the 2011 Australian Jazz Bell Award for Best Blend Album. He has released 12 albums either with The Subterraneans, the Sonic Mayhem Orchestra, or under his own name. He has toured extensively throughout Australia, India, Kuala Lumpur and Europe performing at national and international festivals. James Ryan’s fascination with improvisation and original jazz composition is reflected in his recordings and performances. James is also the co-director of Rippa Recordings with Alasdair Cameron. Rippa Recordings has been described by the bassist Elsen Price as “an ethical local jazz label from Sydney, Australia which features some of Australia’s leading jazz/improvising musicians.”
DAMON BROWN
Damon Brown is one of the Europes leading Jazz trumpet player-vocalists and composers. Born in Manchester (UK) he studied the trumpet at Leeds School of Music and at Guildhall School of Music in London.
Damon has played and recorded with many pop and dance music stars including: Sting , Eric Clapton , Bjork. Paul Weller, Maxi Priest, The Specials, The Pasadinas, and the DJ Gilles Peterson.
In 1998 the Damon Brown Quintet appeared at the Red Sea Jazz International Festival promoting his debut album “A Rhythm Indicative” (ZahZah 1998). Since then Damon Brown has become one of the UK’s leading Jazz trumpet players and composers playing at all the UK’s leading clubs and festivals. He also performs in Europe and the Far East with his own groups and his many sideman credits include tours with Benny Golson, and Dave Liebman , Doug Raney , Big Jon Patten. That year his own group featured Billy Hart on drums and Jesse Davis on Alto.
A string of successful recordings in the last decade have cemented his reputation further and his collaborations with iconic Tenor Sax player Steve Grossman have been hugely popular with Jazz audiences and critics alike . The Steve Grossman / Damon Brown Quintet recorded their first CD “This Time The Dreams On Me ” in 2008.
In 2007 Damons group “Killer Shrimp” which he co-leads with Ed Jones , won the “2007 Best Live Jazz Group ” at the “All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards ” and their first CD “Sincerely Whatever” was nominated for “Best Jazz CD of the Year “. The second CD “Tales from the Baltic Wharf ” was released in in 2010.
Damon Brown continues to teach and perform in Europe, Russia and the Far East , most notably in Japan where he collaborates with Yutaka Shiina, Tim Armacost and Gene Jackson.
He has appeared with his group at many famous Jazz Clubs and Festivals including : Le Duc Des Lombard, The Sunside, Marciac Festival ( France), The Jamboree, Terrassa Jazz Cava, Cafe Central ( Spain ), Blue Note (Japan) Pizza Express Jazz Club, Ronnie Scotts,The London and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals, The Jerusalem Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz House, Kind A Blue Jazz Club in Kuala Lumpur and many more.
“Britain’s finest straight-ahead trumpeter” Jack Massarik -The Evening Standard.
‘He has a bright and gleaming tone, a superbly poised attack and a fine rhythmic sense.’ – John Fordham, The Guardian.
‘Damon Brown is a superb musician with a unique voice on both trumpet and Flugelhorn’ – Ian Carr – The Rough Guide To Jazz.
VJ THISON
VJ Thison is the Vice-President and a founder of the KL Jazz & Arts Centre (KLJAC).
He started drumming at the age of 14 and played in various bands before leaving to join the corporate world. He got back into the music scene in 2015 at the KL International Jazz & Arts Festival and since then plays regularly at the Kind A Blue Jazz Club. Influenced by hard rock drummers, John Bonham , Bill Ward, Ian Paice , Carmine Appice, Mitch Mitchell, Alan White, Carl Palmer, Bill Bruford and the likes he is a hard hitting drummer. Same time he also continues to listen and study the styles and sounds of Elvin Jones, Danny Richmond, Rasheed Ali, Billy Cobham, Joe Morello, Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey and other jazz greats.
An avid listener with a talented ear, he ranks John Bonham and Sonny Emory as his favorite drummers.
He recorded all the drum tracks on Rodin’s albums Compromise and Black Swan Rises. And he co-wrote ‘Grief for a Bee’ with Rodin.
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Aljafri Majid
Passion for the opera. Dato’ Dr. Aljafri will provide a surprise act at the Black Swan Rises Concert.
Prof Dato’ Dr Aljafri Abdul Majid was a graduate of Monash University in Melbourne, and the son of a renowned Malaysian, Tan Sri Dr. Abdul Majid, a pioneering Malaysian orthopedic surgeon and the 2nd Director-General of the Ministry of Health. Prof Aljafri carried this illustrious lineage forward, becoming a Cardiothoracic surgeon, subsequently taking up stints as the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and later the Head of Department of Surgery between 1993 and 2000.
Prof Aljafri expanded the cardiothoracic service in the faculty, and contributed to the development of surgical education. He organised and participated as an examiner in numerous FRCS and MRCS examinations in Malaysia. He was awarded the ‘Sir Pehin Aziz Gold medal’ by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2003.
He has written numerous research articles, including a description of the development of the mini-thoracotomy for patent ductus arteriosus closure, and edited many surgical textbooks in the last 20 years, namely Principles of Surgical Practice, Fundamentals of Surgical Practice, Advanced Surgical Practice, and Fundamentals of Orthopedics and Traumatology.
SYABE SYAFIEE OBE
Syabe Jazz Artist is a professional Jazz pianist and multi instrumentalist. He is also a producer, arranger, composer and educator. Syabe is a graduate from the Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA and holds a Bachelor of Music Degree (Major In Jazz Composition & Arranging). His focus is Jazz, Western, Asian World music, Asian/Nusantara music and World music.
His Jazz album is a collaboration between Malaysian and Indonesian Jazz artists, featuring Indonesian Jazz Pros like Guitarist Dewa Budjana ,Bassist Indro Hardjodikoro and Malaysian Jazz pros like Prof Hanafi Imam and many others. Syabe has performed at numerous Jazz Festivals including Java Jazz festival, 2023, Borneo Jazz fest, 2005, 2015, Thai Jazz Fest 2023 etc. His composition Nusantara Jazz won World championship for artist Violinist Nisa Adinna who represented Malaysia at Wycopa Los Angeles USA in 2011. He was also awarded Sarawak Artist Legendary Music Award, Sons Jazz achievement award,Sarawak Book of records and Sarawak state ABS award. He is the producer/composer for artists Camelia and Nisa Addina. Presently he is working on Syafiee Obe Jazz Albums, Syafiee Obe And Borneo Jazz connection and tours at International Jazz Festivals. He is also the Music Director And Advisor to Royal Johor, Music Director Orchestra Johor Bahru City Hall and is the President of Johor Jazz Society / Association. He was previously the Music Director and Advisor to Sons Sarawak Jazz Orchestra and attached to the Music faculty of Akademi Seni Kebangsaan /Aswara, University Technology of Mara and International College Of Music (ICOM) KL.
JIMMY SAX
Saxophonist Jimmy Sax has been performing professionally for the past three decades, both in Malaysia and internationally in China, Indonesia, Dubai, France, Brunei, Taiwan and Japan. From 2001 till 2003, he performed at the Brown Sugar Lounge Taipei. Over the years he has performed with many renowned artists including Bob James, Anita Sarawak, Sheila Majid, Asia Beat, Zainal Abidin etc. He has also performed in many Jazz festivals. This includes the Mosaic Music Festival Singapore, Mount Kiara Jazz Festival with Asia Beat, Penang Jazz Festival, Kuching Jazz Festival, KL International Jazz & Arts Festival, Heineken Jazz Festival in Chijmes, Malaysia National Day in Paris, Royal Wedding of the Princess of Brunei etc. He was with RTM previously known as the Malaysia Broadcasting Corporation. Prolific at both the Tenor Saxophone and Soprano Saxophone, Jimmy continues to perform at many international festivals, events, and clubs.
SHAQ
A chartered accountant (ICEAW) by qualification and profession, and worked with one of the top 4 audit firms, Shaq has a passion for performing and recording music since he was sixteen years old. He has recorded three tracks on Rodin’s albums. Black Swan Rises, Apotheosis and Transcendence. He continues to perform at Kind A Blue and assists in the editing of music videos and sound recording for Rodin.
MARIA ANGELA
An established Jazz vocalist, Maria Angela graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (Political Science) from Lyceum of the Philippines University and subsequently entered the world of Jazz. Her vocal styling is Jazz, Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Latin, ETC & Gospel Music. Maria has been a professional singer since the age of 17 and has performed as far as the Philippine’s, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. Dubbed by Jeremy Monteiro as an “Asian Song Stylist. She has as performed with: Ernie Watts (USA), Randy Crawford (USA), Randy Bernsern, (USA), Michael Paulo (USA), Jeremy Monteiro (Singapore), Don Alias (USA), Terumasa Hino (Japan/USA), Eugene Pao (Hong Kong), Broery Marantika (Indonesia), Ireng Maulana (Indonesia), Idang Rashidi (Indonesia), Bubi Chen (Indonesia), Michael Veerapen, Paul Ponnudorai, David Gomes, Aubrey Suwito, Mac Chew. Jose Thomas, Lewis Pragasam , Willy Rebaño,Boy Katindig Norman Rahman & Tom Anuar and sang duets side by side with Resh Monu, Broery Marantika and Stephen Rahman Hughes (Hang Tuah of Puteri Gunung Ledang). Been in local rock opera cum musical, “Natra”. Has sung in 11 various gospel albums in Malaysia and a solo Album entitled “Hymns Rebirthed” & A Child Is Born “ ( Christmas Album 2015).
STRING ENSEMBLE
Jae Sern Lim
What others say about Jae Sern
“It was my great pleasure to meet Jae Sern Lim and to hear his artistry. He has a powerful talent full of potential…” Grammy winner Gil Shaham upon hearing the then 15 year old Jae Sern playing Ravel’s Tzigane.
“Jae Sern is an extremely sensitive and enthusiastic musician who plays with sincerity” Grammy-winning violinist Leila Josefowicz.
“Possesses a sound of great beauty… Talent both visceral and unique…Destined to be a major contributor to the world of music.” David Halen, Concertmaster of Saint Louis Symphony.
“Musical phenomenon Jae Sern Lim… Rarely does one so young achieve the level of mastery Jae Sern has in his craft…” Mark Ostyn, former Resident Conductor of The Penang State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
“Very beautiful playing…” French virtuoso violinist and renown pedagogue Pierre Amoyel “Beautiful Violinist” Ramin Karimloo, the original Phantom from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies.
“…highlights from the show include the waltz from Swan Lake, which features a spirited performance by guest violinist Jae Sern Lim. The Star reviews Tchaikovsky on Gamelan, a Hands Percussion production. “Violin virtuoso Jae Sern Lim took to the stage and entertained the audience with his captivating music… The Star.
JILL
Jill has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music/Performing Arts Studies from the University Technology Mara (UiTM). He is extensively involved in the music industry as a freelance musician for a various types of event, concerts music awards in Malaysia, recording album and performing in overseas as it follows:- Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) since 2004 until 2011 conducted by Dato’ Ramli M.S, Anugerah Bintang Popular (ABP) conducted by Dato’ Ramli M.S, AnugerahIndustriMuzik(AIM), FinalMentorwithTV3, FinalAkademiFantasia with ASTRO and numerous other similar shows. In addition, he performed at the ‘Ekpresi Gemilang’ a Concert collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia at Jakarta, Indonesia, ‘Muzika Ekstravaganza’ a Concert collaboration between Malaysia and Singapore at Singapore etc. He is involved working with the top Producers, Composers, Arrangers and Artist in album studio recording. Other experiences and involvement
TIMMY LIM
Timmy Lim graduated from Sunway University’s Music Performance Degree programme under the tutelage of Jennifer Lim, alongside with lecturers such as Dr. Andrew Filmer, Mr. Samuel Tan, Ms. Christine May Yong, and Ms. Chan Yi Ling to name a few. He was also given the Scholastic Award as the best academically performing student in his course. He is currently studying cello with Mr. Gerald Davis. His passion to learn has fuelled him to pursue all things music such as arranging, composing, film scoring, education, conducting and performing. These broad interests have yielded him great achievements such as placing Top 100 in the international composing competition ‘Call for Scores 2023!’ hosted by the European Recording Orchestra, winning 4 Film Festival Awards as the main title composer for the student short “The Umbrella”, and most recently writing several commissioned orchestral arrangements for orchestras such as The MacPherson Philharmonic (MPPO) from Singapore and Tutan Festival Orchestra (TFO) from Malaysia. As a conducting student, he has had the privilege to study under Mr. Kevin Field, and most recently in a 1-week conducting studio class coached by Tengku Irfan during The Rondo Production’s 5th anniversary programme, RondoFest2024. During 2023, he auditioned and was assigned as the Co-Principal for Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra’s Side-By-Side Concert. Currently, Timmy teaches at Bentley Music Academy, focused on providing cello lessons that are custom catered to students’ needs, and accepting commissioned arrangements and or composition for any group settings.
GERTRUDE HII
Gertrude Hii graduated from Sunway University in Contemporary Music (Audio Technology) and holds a BA (Hons) in Popular and Commercial Music, from the University of South Wales.
JUSTIN LAI
Justin graduated from Sunway University with a degree in Psychology and pursues a career focusing on school leadership and teacher training for public schools. Despite his academic and career background, Justin’s passion for music motivated him to remain actively involved in the arts.
Justin began his musical journey with the violin. Over the years, he has performed in various capacities, including as a chamber violinist with SYNC Quartet, a conductor for the Sunway University Ensemble and AOrchestra, and a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). Passionate in nurturing young musicians, Justin has worked with the Sam Tet Symphony Orchestra the Melaka Youth String Orchestra. In 2024, he auditioned and was selected as co-principal Second Violin at Rondofest. He currently studies the violin under the tutelage of Sherwin Tsia and recently picked up the viola. Since 2022, Justin has actively contributed to ChildAidAsia KL, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged youths through music education. During his time there, he successfully produced two fundraising concerts between 2022 and 2023.
RYAN LIEW
ALYSSA CHONG
BENJAMIN CHANG
ELTON TING
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Rodin JS Kumar- Producer
Maizon Omar- Executive Producer & President of the KL Jazz & Arts Centre.
VJ Thison- Co-Producer & Vice President, KL Jazz & Arts Centre.
Md. Noor Hendrix- Music Production.
Shaq- Videos and Website Development.
Haes- Chief Designer.
Kailash Kumar-Finance.
Past Events
SPEAKERS
RODIN JS KUMAR
Nadarajan R.
Nadarajan R. graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Wolverhampton, UK. He obtained his Certificate of Legal Practice in 1998 and was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 2000, and has since practicing as an Advocate & Solicitor (Partner) under the name and style of R Rajan & Co.
With 30 years of experience in Intellectual Property laws, and in particular in the field of Copyright and Trademark, he has sat as President for Consumer Claims Malaysia from 2014 to 2022.
Prior to his legal practice, between 1990 and 1998, he was the Head of the Prosecution and Investigating Unit of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Anna Tan
Anna Tan grew up in Malaysia, the country that is not Singapore. She is the author of two fantasy books, Coexist and Dongeng, and has short stories included in anthologies by Fixi Novo, BWWP Publishing, Bausse Books, Wordworks, Gerakbudaya, and Uncommon Universes Press. She is also the editor of NutMag, an annual zine published for and by MYWriters Penang.
Anna was once a certified and chartered accountant with a big 4 firm but has given up on annoying bean counters in general. She is the current president of the Malaysian Writers Society (MYWriters) and oversees the group in her hometown of Penang.
In 2019, Anna completed an MA in Creative Writing: The Novel at Brunel University London under the Chevening Scholarship. She is interested in Malay/Nusantara and Chinese legends and folklore in exploring the intersection of language, culture, and faith. She can be found tweeting as @natzers and forgetting to update this website.
KL Writers Festival 2024
IN CONJUCTION WITH UNESCO WORLD READING & COPYRIGHT DAY 2024
SATURDAY | 27 APRIL 2024 | 2.00PM – 6.30PM
KL CITY ART GALLERY@ KL JAZZ & ARTS CENTRE
FREE REGISTRATION | KINDLY WHATSAPP: 012-5717759
Speaker's Profiles
Rodin JS Kumar
Rodin JS Kumar is a humanist and a pragmatist. He is an author, composer, music producer, publisher and bassist. Professionally qualified in accountancy, audit and finance, he is deeply passionate about the arts and considers them his second true calling in life, valuing the power of creativity and self-expression above all else. Though a non-idealist, Rodin believes in exploring one’s passions and talents and encourages others to do the same.
He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA, USA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA, USA) and is a postgraduate degree in Finance, MSc in Finance from the University of Leicester, UK. He is a founder of the KL International Jazz & Arts Festival (KLIJAF) as well as the KL Jazz & Arts Centre (KLJAC) that houses the KL City Art Gallery and the Kind A Blue Jazz Club. He is also the President of the KL Jazz & Arts Club.
He has just released his first album aptly titled Compromise & his first book titled Who do we think we are.
Website: www.rodinjsk.com
Martin Vengadesan
Martin Vengadesan is an associate editor at Malaysiakini. He began his journalism career in 1996 with The Star, specializing in stories about music, art and entertainment.
He is a co-author of the best-selling true crime book Malaysian Murders & Mysteries with fellow journalist Andrew Sagayam. His second book was the dystopian science fiction novel Malaya 2057: A Thousand Moons Have Passed.
In his latest book, 101 Albums You Need To Hear Before I Die he revisits his past as a music journalist.
He was formerly general treasurer of the National Union of Journalists and a vice-president of the Youth Wing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
As a musician, he has also recorded five albums in the folk-rock, psychedelic rock and progressive rock genres.
A father of three, he is the son of former diplomat Ambassador Dato’ R Vengadesan and was born in Finland before growing up in nine countries across four continents.
Nadeswaran
It was a time when the word “1MDB” was taboo in the mainstream period. Award-winning investigative journalist R. Nadeswaran had his restrictions too but decided to push the envelope and express the nation’s anger and disgust with the revelations.
In a series of commentaries penned over four years, he exposed weaknesses in the system and the warlords who protected such wanton theft of public money.
His latest book Scandals & Scoundrels is a compilation of some of the articles he penned during those tumultuous days.
In pursuit of the truth, he describes the lies perpetrated by those aligned with Najib Razak. His trials and tribulations with spin doctors; and his confrontation with civil servants are chronicled for posterity. In his own no-holds-barred writing style, he explains his role as a watchdog of and for the people.
Nadeswaran has been a journalist more than 50 years of which he spent 17 years each in the NST Group and The Sun, which published his twice-weekly columns since 2004 until his retirement in 2016.
Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Murad Merican
Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Murad Merican, Professor of social and intellectual history, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, International Islamic University Malaysia (ISTAC-IIUM). Also Senior Fellow, center for south east Asia research and hub, De Lasalle University, Manila, the Philippines; university-industry fellow, University Sains Malaysia Archives, USM, penang. 24 books on the subjects of social science, journalism and media studies, intellectual history. Essayist and columnist for the national daily the New Straits Times; the national opinion monthly Dewan Masyarakat; a contributor to other magazines and periodicals since 1976. Member of the academia since 1986. Was a journalist in the early 1980s. If you need acsdemic qualifications: B. Mass comm (journalism)ITM; BA (political science) Minnesota; MA (mass communication) Minnesota; PhD (history and philosophy of science) Malaya. Was adjunct and visiting Professor at ASWARA (national arts and heritage academy); universiti Sains Malaysia; and Universitas Andalas, Padang, West Sumatra.
Aishah Zainal
Aishah Zainal has been teaching English in private institutions since 2019. She was born and has lived in Ipoh ever since completing her English language and literature degree in International Islamic University Malaysia.
Synopsis from her Novel: Hades
In 2012, sixteen-year-old troublemaker Kei and his mother move into a decaying low-cost flat from the slums at the edge of town, right next to Maryam, a young mother, and her three-year-old son Ishak. Shunned by society, Kei and Maryam develop an unspoken bond, which starts to fray as the ghosts of their pasts circle in. Both wonder if they can free themselves of the men who made them the abominations everyone considers them to be, and of the despair creeping in around them.
Allein G. Moore
Allein G. Moore was born and educated in England After a successful career in advertising in London, he was headhunted and “rather reluctantly” came to Singapore in 1979 on a two-year contract. He fell in love with Asia and a Singaporean girl and never returned to London. He has written advertising copy for major Asian clients like Singapore International Airlines, Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, Mitsubishi, Toyota, DBS and Gardenia Bread. He has lectured on branding and communications in universities in New York, Singapore and Bangladesh and spoken at many conferences. Allein has a longstanding love of history and once taught the subject at an international school. He retired in Malaysia in 2017 and now lives a contented life in Melaka with his wife and dog.
About his book titled: The Story of Malacca
There was a gap of fifty years between the last book on the history of Malacca and this one written by Allein G Moore. Sultans and Spices, Guns and Greed, Race and Religion: The Story of Malacca will be valuable not only to a visitor to this historic city but will also inspire pride in Malaysians for it is also the story of the birth and growth of a nation. Allein takes the reader on a comprehensive but easy-to-read journey from its beginnings as a sleepy coastal fishing village on the west coast of Malaysia to its development into one of the most important trading centres in the world. The author brings to life the events and individuals who helped created Malacca in the long distant past and in more recent years. This book grew out of his own personal curiosity, and he writes not only to tell visitors more about his home town but also to inspire Malaccans to love and preserve their heritage.
Malachi Edwin Vethamani
Malachi Edwin Vethamani is a poet, writer, editor, critic, bibliographer and Emeritus Professor at University of Nottingham. He has five collections of poems and two collections of short stories. His most recent publication is a collection of short stories titled, Have I Got Something To Tell You (Penguin SEA, 2024). The Journal of Commonwealth Literature (2023) stated that in 2022 “the most prominent figure in Malaysian poetry was Malachi Edwin Vethamani, who is, without doubt, one of the leading English-language poets in Malaysia”. He is Founding Editor of Men Matters Online Journal (December 2020).
Website: www.malachiedwinvethamani.com
A reading of extracts from his recently launched collection of short stories titled, Have I Got Something To Tell You (Singapore: Penguin SEA, 2024) described as poignant and provocative, a collection of stories that explore loneliness and longing, love and resolutions.
S. Munirah Alatas
S. Munirah Alatas, Ph.D., currently an independent scholar, was previously Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII). Prior to this, in early 2023, she retired as Assistant Professor of Strategic Studies and International Relations, after a career of 20 years at the National University of Malaysia (UKM). Dr. Alatas specialises in geopolitics, international relations theory, strategic thought, and foreign policy. She earned her BA at the University of Oregon and an MA and doctorate from Columbia University. In 2021/2022, Dr. Alatas received the Fulbright Malaysian Scholars Fellowship. Prior to joining academia in 2003, Dr. Alatas’s previous appointments include Director of Research and Publications, Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), Malaysia, and Political Analyst/Research Fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia.
As a scholar activist, Dr. Alatas writes regularly in her op-ed columns in Free Malaysia Today, Malaysiakini, Asian Defence Insights, and the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. She is the Deputy Chair of the Malaysian Academic Movement, GERAK (Pergerakan Akademik Malaysia).
She has published extensively in leading journals such as the Global Studies Quarterly, the
Asian Journal of Social Science, the Journal of South Asian Studies, African and Asian Studies Journal, Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, India Quarterly, and Al Shajarah.
Her opinions on current affairs, politics, and higher education are regularly sought after by news portals such as The Malaysian Insight, Aliran, and Times Higher Education. Recurring themes in Dr. Alatas’s scholarly and popular writings are West-centrism, intellectual imperialism, hegemony, academic dependency, de-colonialism, and post- colonialism. Her book, Reform and Nation-Building: Essays on Socio-Political Transformation in Malaysia was published in early 2024, by the Association for Asian Studies “Asia Shorts” Series and Columbia University Press.
Dr. Abdolreza Alami
Dr. Abdolreza Alami is from Iran and presently based in Kuala Lumpur. He is the Co- founder and Director of Asia West Centre (Asia We) in Kuala Lumpur. He is also the Co-Founder and editor-in-chief of Pars Media News, Kuala Lumpur. Alami has extensive experience In research and publication in media and communications studies, specifically in:
- Media and Journalism
- Media And Information Warfare
- Political Communications
- Political Science
- Regional studies – Southeast Asia and the Middle East
- Sociology of Media and Communication
He was awarded the The National Book Award Malaysia – 2019 – The Civilizational and Cultural Heritage of Iran and the Malay World, Edited by Syed Farid Alatas & Abdolreza Alami. Published by Gerakbudaya Enterprise, ISBN 978-967-0311-21-0, (2018)
At the reading festival he will present a summary of his book The Middle East and the Malay World.
Website: http://www.asiawecenter.org
Khoo Hock Aun
Khoo Hock Aun began his career as a journalist, has professionally managed several trade associations, and is currently a consultant and advisor for agriculture and sustainability related projects. Over the decades he has accumulated a wealth of experience in tourism, agricultural technology and entrepreneurship with a special interest in innovation and long-term trends in economy and society. He is a regular speaker at conferences and has organized several activities in the sustainability space.
About Across The “Meta”Verse
The poems in this personal collection were selected from those written from 1972 to 2023. These poems, as all poetry does, present a view of the world from the poet’s personal perspective and they try, in his attempt, to express a message that is universal. In curating the poems for publication, they are overall sequenced to present a narrative of a journey of affirmation, discovery, and experience.
The earlier poems strived at a definition of self, assertion of identity, discovery of growth in life’s experiences. Each one is embodiment of a larger story, a tale told within a tale. The poems as arranged flow in progression in terms of personal development, lessons and insights learnt along the way. They are collectively presented as a journey across several instances of experiences over the years, in the manner of an overarching single “meta” verse or “meta” poem, a life song transcending the decades.
Nadarajan R.
Nadarajan R. graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Wolverhampton, UK. He obtained his Certificate of Legal Practice in 1998 and was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 2000, and has since practicing as an Advocate & Solicitor (Partner) under the name and style of R Rajan & Co.
With 30 years of experience in Intellectual Property laws, and in particular in the field of Copyright and Trademark, he has sat as President for Consumer Claims Malaysia from 2014 to 2022.
Prior to his legal practice, between 1990 and 1998, he was the Head of the Prosecution and Investigating Unit of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Madam Kanaga Manickkam
Madam Kanaga Manickkam or more known by her pen name as ‘Kanaa Pillay’ has been in the writing field since her school bench days. She moved on to write to kid’s magazines and pupils’ columns in local newspapers.
Interestingly, she is more known for her other path of passion in stage plays. She had worked on numerous English and Tamil plays over past 40 years and through that, she had many opportunities to enhance her skills in both the classical & contemporary drama field, which began from her high school and college days, when Drama in English was her minor paper at varsity.
Her career as an English teacher and master trainer had laid pathways for her to be continuously active in her theatre journey.
She is also passionate about poetry too, with many of her poems such as The 21st Century Women, Beating the Plastic Pollution, Tiger Moms and A Tale of Twin Cities: Penang and Malacca’ (2023) were highly acclaimed.
She is presently married to a leading lawyer and is a mother to 3 beautiful children.
Kalsom Taib
Kalsom Taib was born in Muar, Johor, in August 1942 during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. She received her education at several schools in Johor, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and a Diploma in Education from the University of Malaya. She taught in secondary schools for five years before joining the private sector. In the 1970s to 1990s she worked in human resources for several multinational corporations, including Shell Malaysia, Malaysia Mining Corporation and Nestle Malaysia.
After her retirement in December 1997 she became a writer and publisher, starting with three books about family members. She then co-authored two Gourmand award-winning cookbooks with her cousin Hamidah Abdul Hamid—Johor Palate: Tanjung Puteri Recipes (2015) and Malaysia’s Culinary Heritage: The Best of Authentic Traditional Recipes (2020)—both of which have been translated into Malay. In 2022
she co-authored another Gourmand award-winning cookbook, Recipes Are For Sharing, with Ungku Balkis Ungku Abdul Hamid and Ungku Marhamah Shereen Ungku Abdul Hamid, which has also been translated into Malay.
Kalsom has been a columnist for The Star, one of Malaysia’s foremost English dailies, since 2023.
Synopsis of her book, Recipes are for Sharing:
This cookbook is a compilation of simple, everyday recipes commonly prepared in Malaysian households. Primarily drawn from the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities, the book also includes a sprinkling of recipes from Bugis, Javanese, Minang and Nyonya cultures as well as a number of Western-influenced family favourites. The recipes have been chosen to appeal to cooks of all levels, from amateurs to experts, as well as to non-Malaysians who may be tempted to embark on a Malaysian culinary adventure.
Family and friends have contributed the 200 recipes in the cookbook, which cover nine food categories: rice, poultry, meat, seafood, vegetables and salads, sambals and sauces, noodles and rice, Western dishes with a Malaysian flavour, and savouries, sweets and drinks.
The clearly presented recipes, each illustrated with a full-colour photograph, list the ingredients in the order in which they are used and then provide easy-to-follow preparation steps. Each recipe has been faithfully tested by sisters Ungku Balkis binti Ungku Abdul Hamid and Ungku Marhamah Shereen binti Ungku Abdul Hamid, both excellent cooks. The only amendments from the original recipes have been the conversion of measurements of yesterday to current usage. All the recipes are authentic and are guaranteed to taste delicious.
Terence Toh
Terence Toh is a Writer, Scriptwriter, Journalist, Editor and Lyricist. Legally trained, Terence graduated from the University of Reading in the UK with a Bachelors Degree in Law. He obtained his Certificate of Legal Practice and worked in the Attorney General Chambers for two years as a Deputy Public Prosecutor and Federal Counsel before realising his interests was elsewhere in the creative world. He has spent the past decade in writing and acting. Some of his notable work include full length and short plays and musicals and author of short stories, novels and other prose works. He is the Winner of the 1st Fixi Novo Malaysian Novel Contest.
About his book: Toyols ‘R’ Us
All around Kuala Lumpur, people are being found dead in their homes, their bodies completely drained of blood.The victims have nothing in common…except they were all suspiciously wealthy.
At a crime scene, Inspector Khairul encounters the enigmatic Detective Fara Astaka, an occult investigator who reveals to him the hidden supernatural side of Kuala Lumpur. Someone is manipulating the city’s toyols, turning them from mischievous thieves to vicious killers!
There is a company right at the heart of this: TOYOLS ‘R’ US. While it appears cheery on the surface, there are sinister schemes at work behind its attractive promotions and free umbrella deals. How is the company connected to the murders? And can Khairul and Fara catch the killer?
Sheena Gurbakhash
Sheena has been writing most of her life. At the age of eight she wrote a letter to her parents asking for a sibling. She got one. Since then, she has honed her skills writing in a variety of forms across a range of media. Her playwriting debut, Puppets, produced by The Actors Studio, was featured as part of the KL Fringe Festival in 1994. More recently, her latest play Pineapple Tarts was performed at the George Town Literary Festival in November 2023.
Sheena has authored several books including At the Forefront of Nation Building: Perspectives from the Administrative and Diplomatic Service, a history of the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service published by UiTM Press in 2014. In 2023 she wrote a coffee-table book commemorating the centenary of the Malaysian Civil Service.
Sheena was a columnist for The Star and The Sun Daily. She has also written for television A lawyer by training, she was Managing Editor of Praxis, the magazine of Bar Council Malaysia from 2017- 2020. She was President of the Association of Women Lawyers for the term 2019-2021 and is currently Assistant Secretary of the Persatuan Penulis Berbilang Bahasa (PEN Malaysia).
JACK MALIK
POET | EDITOR | TRANSLATOR
Jack Malik is a poet from Ipoh, Perak MY. He is part of an artist collective called Projek Rabak. Jack also actively writes, performs, and translates poetry. His works have been published internationally in Mekong Review, Words Without Borders, Portside Review, and Pandan Weekly, as well as locally in Dewan Sastera, Selangorkini, and Tukang Puisi. Jack has three poetry collections, mainly in Malay: Wannabe Sasau, Sajakjakja(c)k, and Gampang! He is one of the recipients of the Selangor State Literary Prize (known as Hadiah Sastera Selangor) 2020 for poetry.
Nathaniel Sario
Nathaniel Sario has always wanted to be a writer. So far, he has made that dream a reality, with several short stories published by local Malaysian publisher Fixi Novo. He has worked as a journalist for several newspapers and is currently doing his best to survive at a local kindergarten franchisor. Big Trouble in Little Paradise is his first novel, but he solemnly swears that there’s more coming … hopefully.
Extract from his first Novel: Big Trouble in Little Paradise
Welcome to Darat Kumut, Sabah. This is where people go to relax, feast on seafood, and maybe even try their luck at the nearby island’s casino resort. Everything about it is perfect – until the bodies start piling up.
The first corpse belongs to Tommy Asandu, the town’s notorious bad boy. Given the fact that most people hated him. the news of his death was met with indifference or even outright glee. Newcomer Wesley Lawrence Moysin, a former journalist, is drawn to investigate the case to recover some of his lost mojo. He teams up with the lovely Delilah, of the All-Convenience Store, while secretly hoping that their relationship can go further.
Together, they navigate their way through a web of deceit, money, drugs and power in order to find out if there’s Big Trouble in this Little Paradise.
Raaja Rao
Raaja Rao is an impassioned creative and community organizer. He is first and foremost a spoken word poet. He has a religious belief in the power of multisyllabic rhymes & is the founder of Jalan Dalam. His poems have been described as wordy, angry & mythic
and they centre on social commentary with identity, divinity & critique at its heart.
Jalan Dalam is a Kuala Lumpur-based creative collective who focus on furthering grassroots-based arts initiatives in an inclusive way whilst highlighting diversity in creative spaces. They believe in democratizing art spaces and developing new and exciting creatives.
Thus far he has performed poetry at events like R!UH in July 2019, Urbanscapes’ Panggung Puisi in Nov 2019, Urbanscapes’ Poetically Correct 2017, Art For Grabs 2018, If Walls Could Talk 2nd Anniversary Party, ‘My Malaysia Is..’ Poetry Recital at Carcosa Seri
Negara, and even at the Socialism Forum back in 2016 & many more. He’s a regular at monthly poetry shows all over & has been featured on Freedom A(r)t Home’s Charity Art Event in 2021 as well as a joint event with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) in their collaboration with KL City Art Gallery. Raaja was the featured poet for Hush & Snap Vol. 6 at REXKL in March 2023 and once more in August 2023. Most recently he was one of the featured poets for EJKLSSENI’s new SENGGAMA KATA Vol. 1 event. He’s been on 2 episodes of Malaysia’s first poetry podcast: PoetX and was a featured performer for their esteemed poetry showcase, Ruminate Volume 2 at The Bee @ Publika.
Nor Amriah Abdul Rahman
Nor Amriah Abdul Rahman, an accountant by training has roots in the matriarchal state of Negeri Sembilan. Growing up in the shadow of schools and universities, she has mostly studied and worked in both the private and public sectors in the Klang Valley. From being a number cruncher in the fields of accounting, tax and economics, she changed direction to work with words, and has made forays into teaching, translating and editing. Her interest in languages and cultures was instilled by her parents, especially her late father.
Dato' Dr. Shanmughalingam
Dato’ Dr M SHANmughalingam, BAHons (Malaya), MA (Harvard), DPhil (Oxford) 1st in class Harvard with 8A’s, admitted to PhD program without formal application. Won 3 prizes at Oxford including the Poetry prize, Balliol College Oxford. Author bestseller, Marriage and Mutton Curry (MMC) with international prizewinning short stories. HRH Nazrin Shah, Sultan Perak, and YDP Timb. Agung, launched the Singapore edition in KL with a 3-full page Royal Foreword Oct, 2018. UK edition launched London, May, 2020. Sold 5,000+ copies and on 6th reprint. Audiobook storytel, Sweden, Nov 2019 read by author. Winner 2nd prize, Oxford Univ short story competition judged by famous writer Iris Murdoch & Prof Eng Lit. John Bayley, Sole-winner, British Council Short Story Prize. His story, Editor’s choice from 1,450 international entries, for Ireland’s Fish International Short Story collection. His poem required reading for Form II students here. Rahman’s American Visitor (story No. 5 in MMC) published in ku.lit:asian literature for the language classroom as ‘a model of humour in prose’ by Pearson Educ. South Asia Pte Ltd and National Arts Council Singapore. His work published & broadcast in 37 anthologies from Australia, France, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore to UK, US. Has published with 3 Nobel prizewinners in London. Has draft memoir for private viewing.
Gave several Dramatised Performance Readings from his short stories and poems. Read own work, Cambridge Univ’s Seminar on Contemporary British Writer. Participating British writers included Doris Lessing, Muriel Spark, David Lodge, Malcolm Bradbury. A 2½ hour’s solo Reading to 200 lecturers, teachers, trainee teachers and students, Eng Lang Teaching Centre, Educ Ministry, Nilai, N.S, to 400 students, Oxford Cambridge Society, at bookshops in London, S’pore, clubs universities, colleges and schools in Malaysia and overseas. Gave TED-x Talk, Nottingham Univ Mal. Member, Selection Board, Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford Univ. Fellow, Econ Dev Inst, World Bank. C’tee, PTD,Assoc. Board, VIOBA Foundation. Was on boards of companies listed on Bursa Malaysia and 3 CIMB subsidiaries, MIMB a subsid of MIDF and assoc. co. Barclays Bank & Aberdeen Asset Management. On invitation by Harvard Univ. helped design new Executive Program for Leaders in Development: Managing Economic and Political Reform.. MD/CEO, Trilogic Sdn Bhd. Was General Manager, Petronas and Dep Sec. The Treasury, Finance, Ministry..,
Producers considering a movie or TV series based on Marriage and Mutton Curry from British Malaya to early post-Merdeka time of Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Razak. See Money Man (MMCstory No. 4). He was asked half in jest by our PM Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim to decide whether he is a “kaki sastera or a kaki korporat”.
Tedx Talk :https://youtu.be/3zpTarF5xIU?
Doing the write thing : https://youtu.be/