Passing Glimpses of the Present: Penang, Malaysia and the Region in a Time of Geopolitical Swings

It is far from true that Malaysian politics never really change. Much has indeed changed. But changes are never what you really expect. That makes them both exasperating and exciting. As a Malaysia-watcher, as a scholar of decolonisation and Asian nation-building, and as a post-modern philosopher, Ooi Kee Beng has allowed himself to be inspired by current events rather than overwhelmed by them. He seeks signals in the noise.

This collection of his thoughts, the eleventh compilation of thought-provoking essays by one of the region’s most prolific thought-leaders, exhibits a return to geopolitical affairs in his intellectual attention. This is totally understandable, given the shocking shifts in geopolitical affairs in recent times. However, by sorting his ideas into those inspired by global affairs, by Malaysian matters, and by changes in his hometown of Penang, a tapestry is plaited that immerses daily local policy concerns into the larger and more complicated dynamics of regional and global affairs. In short, as with all his highly appreciated analyses of Penang, Malaysia, and the world, he continues faithfully and intimately considering the human condition in the 21st century. His curiosity, humbly exercised, invites the reader to ponder along with him.

…it is not so much the destination but the journey that makes a story. Therefore, the essays we find in this collection are exactly that—more a chase of the epiphanous than a lecture on the obvious. And for that, we are thankful (Zairil Khir Johari)