Glimpses: Cameos of Malaysian Life

GLIMPSES is a much-awaited compilation of anecdotes by award-winning author, Adibah Amin. It is a look at multi-cultural Malaysia through mini-essays and brief descriptions, for fellow Malaysian to ponder on, and people of other countries to get the 'feel' of this land.

Malaysians and Malaysiana are portrayed as they are today, or as they once were. Malayasians of the new millennium are more outspoken and individualistic than their earlier counterparts. Many old customs and beliefs are no longer upheld. Yet much of the Malaysian way of life has remained intact despite decades of material progress. Malaysians still balik kampung (return to hometowns/villages to celebrate festivals), take leave when grandmas fall sick, flock to the airport to see someone off, enjoy bargaining, call strangers 'Uncle' and 'Auntie', love eating out, give big makan (feasts) to jaga (save) 'face' and out of exuberant hospitality, and laugh at life's vagaries.

Glimpses, as the word suggests, does lend itself to quick reading in the breathing spaces of a busy life. Many a reader, however, will wish to give some of the items a more lingering look, and to respond at leisure to nuances of form and texture, as one does in lookin gat a collection of cameos.