Come join us at “Melaka International Book Festival 2012″ on the  5-8 April 2012 at Melaka International Trade Centre, Melaka. Various programs and activities relating to also be displayed & you also have to have it. All are invited. Any question please contact the Hang Tuah Jaya Corporation (+606-232 3653)

To participants who wish to participate in programs or exhibits. You can download the Invitation Letter, Participation Form and Activities Program below.

INVITATION LETTER

PARTICIPATION FORM

ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

Exhibition Hall:

MELAKA INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE

http://www.mitc.org.my/mitc/

Visitors:

Melaka International Book Festival 2012 & Education Fair

Date & Time: 5 – 8 April 2012 / 10.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m.

Venue: Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC)

How to get there:

Accommodation Hotel & Homestay:-

Air Keroh Country Resort

Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Malaysia

Tel: +606-2325211

http://www.akcr.com.my/

MITC Ancasa Hotel Melaka

Lot 15232 & 15233, Jalan Food City,

Melaka International Trade Centre,

75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Malaysia.

Tel: +606-2317808

http://www.mitcancasahotel-melaka.com

Puteri Resort

Jalan Puteri Resort 1, Ayer Keroh,
75450 Melaka,
Malaysia.

Tel: +606-2323333

http://www.puteriresort.com/

INB Resort Ayer Keroh Melaka

Lot 3169, Sempang Padang Keladi off Lebuh Ayer Keroh,

75450 Melaka, Malaysia.

Tel: +606-5533022

http://www.inbresort.hotels.net.my/

d’VILLAGE RESORT MELAKA

Air Keroh 75450 Melaka,

Tel: +606-2328000

Email: info@dvillage.com.my

www.dvillage.com.my

Homestay Warisan Melaka

Hang Tuah Jaya Corporation (PHTJ)

Aras 3, Wisma Negeri
Bandar MITC,Hang Tuah Jaya
75450 Ayer Keroh
Melaka, Malaysia

Tel: +606-2323653 Fax: +606-2324764

Email: admin@homestaymelaka.gov.my

http://www.homestaymelaka.gov.my/hubungi-kami.html

Azza Homestay

No 44, Jalan TU30, Taman Tasik Utama,

75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka

013-337 7860

http://www.azza4u.com/solutions/index.php/azza-homestay-detail

Jafmanurin’s Homestay

C-1-11, Jalan TU 61, Taman Tasik Utama

Hang Tuah Jaya,

013-680-0113

http://www.jafmanurin.com/

Dyan Homestay

No 93 Jln Bkd4, Tmn Bukit Katil Damai,

75450 Bukit Katil, Melaka,

Rody – 0136863084 / 0166402640

http://dyanhomestaymelaka.blogspot.com/

Contact Us:

Hang Tuah Jaya Corporation (PHTJ)

Aras 3, Wisma Negeri
Bandar MITC,Hang Tuah Jaya
75450 Ayer Keroh
Melaka
Tel: 06-2323653 Fax: 06-2324764

Email: info@phtj.gov.my Web: www.phtj.gov.my

JABATAN PELAJARAN MELAKA

Jalan Istana, Bukit Beruang
75450 Melaka
Tel: +606-232 3776, +606-232 3777, +606-232 3778, +606-232 3779, +606-232 3797 &+606-232 3798 Fax: 06-2320500

Email: maklumat@mel.moe.gov.my Web: www.moe.gov.my/jpnmelaka

Websites Link:

• http://www.melaka.gov.my/
• http://www.moe.gov.my/
• http://www.moe.gov.my/jpnmelaka/
• http://mabopa.com.my/
• http://www.tourism.gov.my/
• http://www.hotels.org.my/

Last Saturday’s Book Talk on the 9^th July 2011 was an exciting time for both Kampung Buku and Cheng Ho Cultural Museum. As this was a public event, we had no idea how many people would turn up. Prior to the date of the event which was the 9^th July, we had sent out invitations via mail and email, placed advertisements in the local papers and placed buntings around strategic places in tourist spots in town. We also made use of Facebook and the internet.

In the end, 40 people turned up which was quite a relief considering the fact that it was the same date as the Bersih rally (which caused massive traffic jams and therefore our Kuala Lumpur invitees had to take a rain check). There was also the problem of parking as the museum is located in the core heritage zone where parking is quite challenging. There were residents of Melaka, tourists from Japan, Singapore, Spain, India, USA and members of the press.

The opening address was by Mdm. Irene Huang, Director of the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum and without further ado, the first speaker Mr. Dennis De Witt was introduced to the audience by the moderator, Mr. Colin Goh. Mr. De Witt gave a very interesting talk which was essentially highlights of his 2 books, “History of the Dutch in Malaysia” and “Melaka from the Top”. He had the audience captivated with his personal anecdotes and the accompanying slide show. The audience responded by asking many questions and it certainly was a lively session.

After a short break, Mr. Serge Jardin was introduced and began his talk about his book “Rever Malacca”. As the book is written in French, it was interesting to listen to Mr. Jardin speak about his book in his heavily accented English. This was also followed by a question and answer session.

We finished in good time around 12.30pm and this was followed by light refreshments served downstairs in the lobby of the museum. With free flowing coffee and tea and authentic Nyonya kuih, it was an animated session among the members of the audience, the speakers and the organisers.

Kampung Buku Malaysia Melaka wishes to thank Mdm. Irene Huang, Mr. Kok Kee Boon and Mara of the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, the speakers Mr. Dennis De Witt and Mr. Serge Jardin, Nutmeg Publishing and everyone who attended our first Book Talk. We are very grateful for your support and with that, we hope to organize similar events in the future.

Our next Book Talk is scheduled for the 23^rd July 2011 and this time Dr. Tan Ta Sen will be presenting his book “Cheng Ho and Islam in South East Asia”. The talk starts at 12 noon but before that at 10am, there will be an official launch of the book AND an exhibition titled Ming Shipwreck Treasures brought to you by Tradewind Treasures. Entrance to the Book Talk is FREE. The venue is the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum at No. 51, Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka which is just next to the famous Jonker Street.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka has an important announcement to make.

KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka with the co-operation of Cheng Ho Cultural Museum will be organizing a BOOK TALK in conjunction with the 3^rd Anniversary of Melaka’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Cities List.

Date               :           9^th July 2011 (Saturday)

Venue            :           Cheng Ho Cultural Museum

Time               :           10.00 am

Entrance is free. Registration by telephone (06-232 3308 – Norgayah) or email (lindasuelin@gmail.com) is encouraged for groups above 10. Light refreshments will be served.

• Book Talk by Dennis De Witt

Author of “History of the Dutch in Malaysia”**, “Melaka from the Top”** and “Re-connecting Through Our Roots”.

** Copies are available at AnjungKaryawan Melaka, KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka. You can also order these books online at our website. www.bookvillage.com.my

• Book Talk by Serge Jardin

Author of “Rever Malacca”

Author Profile

Dennis De Witt

Dennis De Witt is a 5th generation Dutch Eurasian from Malacca. He has developed a keen interest on subjects relating to Dutch influences in Malaysian history due to his own heritage. His research on his ancestors has produced family data going through 300 years, down 11 generations and across 3 continents.

He is the author of the following books:

1. Reconnecting Through Our Roots (self-published) (2006)
2. History of the Dutch in Malaysia, Nutmeg Publishing, ISBN: 9789834351908 (2007)
3. Melaka from the Top, Nutmeg Publishing, ISBN: 9789834351922 (2010)

He has contributed articles for the Journal of Malaysian Biographies, published by the Malaysian National Archives, presented papers at seminars and written articles for various newspapers and magazines, such as:

1. ‘Children of the VOC’ in The Easternization of the West: The Role of Melaka, the Malay-Indonesian archipelago and the Dutch seminar, subsequently published by the Institute of Occidental Studies, UKM.
2. ‘In the Chasm of Malaysian Ethnic Pluralism – Malaysia’s Dutch Descendants’ at http://www.projectmalaysia.org/articles/in-the-chasm-of-malaysian-ethnic-pluralism-malaysia-dutch-descendants.html
3. ‘A Family Reunion – The Sequerahs of Malacca’, Heritage Asia Magazine, April-June 2009, Vol. 6 No. 1, ISSN 1675-6924.

He is a registered speaker with the Malaysian Tourism Development Council and he has given lectures and talks on history and ethnicity at various forums and seminars.

In 2009, he was named as the winner of the ‘Dutch incentive prize for Genealogy’ for his book ‘History of the Dutch in Malaysia’ and he received his prize in the Netherlands.

Dennis De Witt was born and raised in Malacca, he and his family now reside in Selangor. He now acts as one of the co-ordinators of the Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project and is the President of the Malaysia-Netherlands Friendship Association.

Serge Jardin

Serge Jardin is a geographer and historian per training  and has a Master’s Degree from the University of Paris. After a short stint as a teacher  for 2 years, he started to travel extensively around the world and finally joined the tourism industry.

He arrived in Malaysia in 1986 to work as a tour leader and tourist guide. In 1988, he incorporated his own travel agency which is dedicated to the discerning traveller.

Retired since 2008 he occupies his time by entertaining guests at The Snail House, Heeren Street, walks in the gardens, hillsand in the villages around Malaysia.

He has just publishedthe book “Rêver Malacca”, which is an invitation to discover Melaka through the eyes of travellers. He is currently working on a new book “Malaisie, un certain regard” or “Malaysia in the literatures”.

KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka and the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum cordially invites you to join us on the 9^th July 2011 for the first ever BOOK TALK. History buffs, tourists, students, teachers and anyone interested in the history of Melaka is encouraged to attend. The sessions will be moderated and members of the audience will be able to participate in a Question & Answer session with the authors.

KampungBuku is proud to announce that STAEDTLER and the Erra Art Club will be organizing a children’s colouring contest on the 04^th June 2011 (Saturday). Category A is for children from 5-8 years old and Category B is for children from 9-12 years old.

The founder is the Erra Art Club is none other than the popular and glamorous actress, ErraFazira and KampungBuku is very honoured to have a local celebrity within our premises this coming Saturday! So register quickly to avoid disappointment. Great prizes to be won! Call 06-232 3308 (Aisyah) for details.

To learn more about the Erra Art Club, visit the official website at    http://www.erra-artclub.com.my. You can also surf the following sites for more information.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/1/24/central/7833227&sec=central

http://clovetwo.com/articles/story.asp?file=/2010/12/6/celebstop/20101206135444&sec=celebstop

http://www.harian-metro-online.com/erra-fazira-art-club-bantu-kanak-kanak-jadi-kreatif

Monday, 25 April 2011

9.30 to 12 noon

Class 5H, SJKC Wen Hua – being good & quiet in the beginning

After almost 2 months of planning and preparations, today was the Big Day! For the very first time, the Melaka Youth Resource Centre (PusatSumberBelia Melaka) ran an event for primary schoolchildren called Learning English the Fun Way. We were very lucky to have the Lincoln Corner, US Embassy of Kuala Lumpur as our facilitator and to make things more interesting, we decided to hold the event at KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka.

KampungBuku is located within the Melaka Botanical Gardens and has lots of space plus is fully equipped with a PA system, projector and screen and more importantly has plenty of books and magazines to keep everyone fully occupied.

Mr. John Slover, looking serious and thinking hard before the program

The kids from Class 5H, SJKC Wen Hua, BatuBerendam arrived in good time around 9.15am and settled down to have drinks and snacks while watching a Steve &Bindi Irwin Wildlife DVD. Since they were a little early, they had to wait for the team to set up the presentation and make sure the PA system was working.

I’m sorry….. can you say that in Chinese?

We then started with a speech. Speeches can be boring affairs so we decided to make this as short as possible. But it was very hard to be brief because we had so much to tell…… we talked about the International Organisation of Booktowns, book villages and book towns around the world, the founder of IOB (Richard Booth) and of course about KampungBuku. We spoke about what KampungBuku has to offer and invited everyone to visit us during the weekends and school holidays with their families and friends. More importantly, we reminded everyone to look us up on Face Book and LIKE us. On Face Book, photos are available and everyone was invited to tag themselves and upload their pictures. We also introduced the Lincoln Corner (there are 7 Corners around Malaysia). Lastly, we introduced Mr. John Slover of the US Embassy who was the program facilitator. We found out that John studied for a doctorate in music at the Shanghai Music Conservatory and can therefore speak Mandarin. That was something special and it came in handy when he had to explain certain terms to the kids.

Getting started

Here are some pictures of the event and as you can see, things got very busy, noisy and interesting. John had the kids participating and everyone was enjoying themselves, including the teachers! Since John’s area of study is music, the program was musically inclined and lots of interesting music was played out on the iPod.

Learning English the Fun Way…. literally!

Learning English was indeed fun with John at the helm. The kids learned new words in a whole way with lots of songs and actions. They even learned how to make up their very own blues song with self penned lyrics and were introduced to the history and rhythm of Jazz. Incidentally, April is the Jazz Appreciation Month hence the special emphasis on jazz.

HarvinderKaur and John Slover of the US Embassy of Kuala Lumpur

After everything was over, the kids had a free run of KampungBuku and they checked out the internet station, the Kidz Corner and the bought lots of souvenirs. The souvenirs are new in KampungBuku and they feature Si Nadim, our official mascot.

Hooray for KampungBuku and Lincoln Corner!

A BIG Thank You to the US Embassy of Kuala Lumpur and special mention to MsHarvinderKaur and Mr. Slover for making the event a success! We also thank our staff who worked hard to make things happen and for helping out during the event. For further reading on this event, check out the following links:-

http://malaysia.usembassy.gov/program_english_jazz-042511.html

http://www.mhi.my/images/akhbar/2011/APRIL/260411/ (Go to Page 18)

Also check out out Facebook album at :-

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.206865972680515.57396.140332772667169

SelamatMembaca!

Linda Phua Sue Lin

Chief Executive Officer

Perbadanan Hang Tuah Jaya

By

ABDULLAH BIN ABDUL KADIR (Munshi Abdullah)

An annotated translation by

A.H. HILL

With foreword by

Cheah Boon Keng

Publisher : The Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

ISBN : 978-967-9948-46-2

Pages : 353

THE HIKAYAT ABDULLAH

Finally! KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka has been awaiting the delivery of this book for a very long time and it is finally here, courtesy of Nutmeg Publications.  For history buffs,  especially those interested in the history of Malacca, this book is a gem. Previously published in Malay (Jawi) script in 1849, it is an important accompaniment to SejarahMelayu (The Malay Annals).   This English translation by A.H. Hill, was completed in 1954. Earlier translations were by Thomson and Shellabear.

The book is considered thick at 353 pages and this edition comes in hardcover.  To summarise its contents and significance, it is probably best that we reproduce an excerpt of the Foreword by Dr. Cheah Boon Kheng, Editor of Journal of the Malayan/Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society dated 6^th November 2009.

“The Hikayat Abdullah was published in Malay (Jawi) script in 1849. Abdullah chose to write in Jawi to establish continuity with Malay literary tradition such as the SejarahMelayu (The Malay Annals).

In 1874, an early translation by John Turnbull Thomson was published under the title, Translations from the Hakayit Abdulla, but it was found to be unsatisfactory, based only on excerpts and prone to inaccuracies. A complete and annotated translation was not undertaken until 1949 by A.H. Hill and originally published by the MBRAS in its journal in 1955. Long out of stock, the society has decided to reprint Hill’s translation to meet the demands of readers.

Hill’s Introduction gives a detailed account of Abdullah’s life and describes the political and social context within which Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir wrote his biography. Abdullah presented his personal feelings and opinions on many topics, as well as acute observations on people, customs and contemporary events.

His autobiography is an important record of social and political change of not only Singapore and Melaka at the turn of the 19^th century but also of the southern Malay kingdoms of Johor and Riau-Lingga.”

We also reproduce the summary of the book as printed on the rear cover.

“For all its shortcomings – the blunders of fact, the confused chronology and the frequent moral perorations – Munshi Abdullah’s autobiography, The Hikayat Abdullah, is a document of much interest to historians of South-East Asia.

Munshi Abdullah was an intelligent and articulate man, who had the good fortune to witness at first hand the activities of Stamford Raffles, William Farquhar and other leading personalities both English and Malay.

He records in some detail his bird’s eye view of the changes taking place in Malacca and Singapore in the early 19^th century.

Although in the last 50 years his work has been criticized for its too ready acceptance of all things English, more recent scholarly analysis of his writings has shown that he was also well capable of subtle criticism for those for whom he worked.”

The Hikayat Abdullah spans 26 chapters and includes references, bibliography, maps and an index.  To read this book, head to KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka where you will find it at AnjungKaryawan Melaka.  Visitors may read the book at the premises and borrowing is not permitted as we are not a library and there are only 2 copies available. However, you may purchase the book online from Nutmeg.

Happy Reading!!!

Richard Booth, 1993

Entering the foyer of KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka, you will see some information boards on the right depicting the history and origin of book villages round the world and the founder of the International Organisation of Booktowns (IOB), Mr. Richard Booth, MBE.

Recently, KampungBuku welcomed a visit from Mr. Booth and his entourage and hosted lunch for them at the Botanical café in Ayer Keroh. We were very honoured and proud to show Mr. Booth around our premises and give him a briefing on the current activities and development. Most people have not heard of Richard Booth and have no inkling of his connection to KampungBuku. He is, to put it very simply, a very famous man in literary circles and has acquired some sort of an infamous reputation that has no doubt contributed to his popularity. After all, not many people can claim fame by being listed in the 1982 issue of The World’s Greatest Cranks and Crackpots.

A Google search done on Richard Booth reveals quite a lot of interesting material and images on the man and his world famous bookshop in Hay-on-Wye. We won’t attempt to re-write what has already been written, so we’ll just take the easy way out and post the most relevant articles gleaned from the web. Readers are encouraged to search the web for more extensive reading should they want to find out more about him. You can also visit Richard Booth’s Bookshop – Europe’s Largest Secondhand Bookshop at www.richardbooth.demon.co.uk

Here’s what was obtained from Wikipedia:-

Richard George William Pitt Booth, MBE (born September 12, 1938 in Hay-on-Wye, Wales), is a Welsh bookseller, known for his contribution to the success of Hay-on-Wye as a centre for second-hand bookselling. He is also the self-proclaimed “King of Hay”.

He was educated at Rugby School and the University of Oxford. He then opened a second-hand bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, in the old fire station, and his example was followed by others, so that by the 1970s Hay had become internationally known as the “Town of Books”.

On April 1, 1977, Richard Booth proclaimed Hay an “independent kingdom” with himself as king Richard CÅ“ur de Livre and his horse as Prime Minister. The publicity stunt gained extensive news coverage, and resulted in several spin-offs such as “passports” being issued.

On April 1, 2000, Booth followed up with an investiture of “The Hay House of Lords” and created 21 new hereditary peers for the “Kingdom of Hay”.

The Hay Literary Festival was another spin-off from the burgeoning number of bookshops in the town, which now gets an estimated 500,000 tourists a year. In recognition of his services to tourism, Richard Booth was awarded the MBE in the 2004 New Year’s Honours List. In August 2005, Richard Booth announced that he was selling his Hay bookshop and moving to Germany. As of September 2009 the bookshop remains under the King of Hay’s control.

He married his second wife Hope Stuart, a former freelance photographer, in the 1980s. In 1999, he published his autobiography, “My Kingdom of Books”, with the help of his stepdaughter Lucia Stuart.

Booth stood as for the Socialist Labour Party in the Wales constituency at the European Parliament election, 2009.

Sources:-http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-king-of-hay-stands-as-a-scargillite-unlikely-ally-sings-scargills-praises-1091383.html

Here’s another article from www.bbc.co.uk

founder of the International Organisation of Booktowns (IOB), Mr. Richard Booth, MBE.

Richard Booth

Self-proclaimed King of Hay and creator of the world’s first Book Town.

Born:

12 SEP 1938

Place of Birth:

Hay

School:

Rugby

Biography:

Richard George William Pitt Booth lives in Hay Castle and is credited with transforming the town into a global attraction for second-hand book lovers.

Richard Booth’s family have lived in the Hay area for more than a hundred years. The son of a garage mechanic, Richard Booth attended Rugby school and Oxford University. After graduating, he decided to return to his Mid Wales roots.

In 1961, he opened his first second-hand bookshop in Hay, shipping in hundreds of books from across the globe. Booth was convinced that a town full of book stores could become an international attraction – “you buy books from all over the world and your customers come from all over the world”.

Where he led, others followed and there are now almost 40 bookshops in the town – many of which set up shop in buildings which had been long neglected. Richard Booth’s first store, for example, was housed in the Old Fire Station.

By the late 1970s, Hay had become the world’s first official Book Town. There are now more than 60 Book Towns across the globe with plans for several more.

On 1 April 1977, Richard Booth proclaimed Hay an Independent Kingdom and he was crowned King and Ruler of the new state. His horse was named Prime Minister. It was a stunt which earned Hay worldwide publicity.

April Fool’s Day 2000 saw Richard Booth organise another event which gained mass media attention. In the State Room of Hay Castle, he held an investiture of The Hay House of Lords and created 21 new hereditary peers for the Kingdom of Hay.

As Hay’s reputation as a mecca for book-lovers grew, so too did the idea for an annual book celebration and in 1988, the first ever Hay Literary Festival was held.

Under the direction of Peter Florence, the week-long festival now brings in around 70,000 visitors every year and attracts some of the biggest names on the circuit. In 2002, former US President Bill Clinton was the star speaker. He described Hay-on-Wye as “my kind of town” and likened the festival to a “Woodstock of the mind.”

Other speakers in recent years have included authors Beryl Bainbridge, Louis de Bernieres, Margaret Atwood, Germaine Greer, Bill Bryson and Ian McEwan as well as performers Paul McCartney and Van Morrisson.

It’s estimated that the Literary Festival pumps more than £3million into the local economy but it’s not just during the week-long event that Hay on Wye attracts visitors. The town now gets around 500,000 tourists a year and in recognition of his services to tourism in Powys, Richard Booth was awarded an MBE in the 2004 Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

To view recent pictures of Richard Booth and his visit to KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka, find us on Facebook or go to the link below:-

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.198953223471790.49658.140332772667169

Botanica’s Pocket Annuals and Perennials

Botanica’s Pocket Annuals and Perennials

Publisher : Random House Australia

ISBN No: 0-09-183809-6

Contributed by Linda Phua Sue Lin, Chief Executive Officer, Perbadanan Hang Tuah Jaya

At first glance, there is nothing pocket about Botanica’s Pocket Annuals and Perennials (unless of course if you are talking about an extra large industrial size pocket). Published by Random House Australia, it has precisely 1008 pages and over 2000 plants listed. At almost 2 inches thick and weighing more than 1 kilogram, it certainly packs a punch for a “pocket book”.

So what exactly are annuals and perennials? Well, I didn’t have a clue but luckily there wasn’t a need to refer to Wikipedia. In the Introduction, it is explained clearly. I quote an extract from Page 10:-

“The difference between annuals, biennials and perennials relates to the life cycles of the plants. Annuals grow from seed to full maturity within one growing season.”

“Perennials live longer than two seasons and may outlive many shrubs. In fact, strictly speaking, shrubs and trees are perennials, but when gardeners talk of perennials they generally mean plant that don’t develop permanent woody stems”.

The book is divided into 17 chapters not including the Introduction. All the plants are listed alphabetically in these chapters according to their scientific names. Fear not if you do not know the scientific name as there is an Index at the back of Common Names and Synonyms. So, anyone would be able to refer to the Index and then cross refer to the page on which the plant is featured. A Reference Table is also included. So it’s very user friendly for anyone needing a quick reference or alternatively, someone who is keen on studying everything in detail.

Every featured plant starts off with its botanical name, common name, a picture and a description of its genus or species, flowers, leaves, stems. This is followed by details of its cultivation and Hardiness Zone. (there are 12 hardiness zones based on average annual minimum temperature).

Thumbing through the book is a joy in itself. There are beautiful and colorful pictures on every page and you cannot resist reading the entries especially when popular flowers and plants are featured.

This very informative book was kindly donated to The Botanical Book Nook by Dr. Francis Ng, Consultant Botanist to the Ministry of Tourism and we thank him very much for his generosity. It is certainly one of the gems in our fledgling collection.

This book is available at The Botanical Book Nook (for reading only on the premises). If you wish to purchase it, it would have to be online at the publisher’s website.

Happy Reading!

"History of the Dutch in Malaysia" by Dennis De Witt

History of the Dutch in Malaysia

Author : Dennis De Witt

Publisher : Nutmeg Publishing

ISBN No: 978-983-43519-0-8

Contributed by Linda Phua Sue Lin, Chief Executive Officer, Perbadanan Hang Tuah Jaya

The greatest mistake anyone can make is to think that this book would not be interesting simply because they are not interested in Dutch history. As its title suggests, it covers Dutch history throughout the Peninsular Malaysia and to a certain extent in Indonesia as well. However, being born and bred in Melaka and still living here, I was naturally interested in the parts about Melaka. In this respect, the book surpasses my expectations. I have been up on St. Paul’s Hill several times, inside the Christ Church and driven past the Stadhuys countless times. During my school days, the daily journey to school meant passing by the A’Famosa. Besides that, I have clear childhood memories of the Dutch Cemetery at Fort Terrace (this is at the foot of the old courthouse), the cricket field behind the old Malacca Club (now the Independence Memorial) and the field facing the sea which the locals simply called “padang” (where DataranPahlawan Megamall is today). In my time, where Mahkota Parade stands today was formerly the sea which came right up to the “padang”. In the evenings, we would sit under the long row of flame of the forest trees eating ice-cream sandwiches while watching the local footballers train and boys flying kites. After watching the glorious sunset, we’d adjourn to Glutton’s Corner nearby and devour ice-kacang, grilled chicken wings and fried oysters or have a full blown Chinese dinner at Madam Fatso. Anyway, I digress. The point is, while I’m extremely proud of Melaka’s history and heritage architecture, the truth is, I cannot relate its history beyond the rudimentary knowledge gleaned from my history lessons at school. I have often wondered about the story behind the names engraved on the marble wall plagues in Christ Church and also on the plagues embedded at the walls of the Stadhuys. I remember wondering about why the giant rectangular granite tombstones were placed against the walls of the ruins of St Paul’s Church. I have never failed to wonder whether the year of 1710 engraved on St Peter’s Church is the date of its construction. Even the names on the huge tombs dotted on St Paul’s Hill and in the Dutch Cemetery have fascinated me since I first saw them. This book has the answers to all my questions and so much more. I have truly learnt a lot of history from it including correcting some of the popular misconceptions.

This book has 257 pages, with a comprehensive Index, timeline and notes for every of its 10 Chapters. The Chapter Notes are very detailed and will be a great help to those who wish to seek further information and conduct research.  There are also plenty of pictures and maps, old and present day, with the proper captions and notes. The layout is neat and the style of writing is light, informative and easily understood. Out of the 10 Chapters, my favourites are Dutch Malakka (Chapter 4), Fortresses (Chapter 5), Echoes of Malacca’s Past (Chapter 6), Tales from the Grave (Chapter 7) and Children of the VOC (Chapter 9).

An example of the book’s appeal to me is as follows.

One of Melaka’s most famous icons is the “A’Famosa” and I would like to share the following excerpt from the book with you which corrects a popular misconception.

Excerpt from “History of the Dutch in Malaysia” by Dennis De Witt, page 105.

BORT’S GATEWAY

“The old Land Gate of the fortress is now more popularly known by its Portuguese name, the Porta de Santiago (Santiago Gate). It is often used as an icon for historic Malacca.

The old fort gate is supposed to be the only remnant of the destroyed stone castle that was originally built by the Portuguese and commissioned by Alfonso d’ Albuquerque himself after the capture of Malacca in 1511. However, the old gate is not Portuguese but Dutch.

After the capture of Malacca in 1641, the Dutch constructed a new gate and adorned with the town’s coat-of-arms. They called it the Landpoort meaning Land Gate, which referred to the main entrance into the fortress from the land side (ie. From the south) as opposed to the other gate into the fortress that opens to the Malacca River. During Dutch times, the official name for the Land Gate was Bort’s Gateway. It was named after Governor BalthasarBort who served as governor of Malacca from 1665 to 1679. Munshi Abdullah also referred to it as the Banda Hilir gate.

At the top of the Land Gate is a bas-relief of a soldier who has hair to his shoulders and a moustache from ear to ear. The soldier is holding a crowned sword and a shield with the logo of the VOC on it. On the left is a woman with a palm branch.

Above the arch, appears the words “Anno 1670” (In the year of our Lord, 1670), illustrating that the Gate was rebuilt by the Dutch in 1670. The use of the “gevelanker” found on the belfry on the top of the gateway gives further evidence of Dutch architectural design to the Land Gate.

Construction of the Land Gate began in 1669 and was completed a year later. The gate was actually a new gate built by the Dutch to replace the old Portuguese Porta de S. Jago (Santiago Gate) which also stood there but was damaged and unusable in Governor Bort’s time.

When Malacca was wrestled from the Portuguese, much of the fortress was heavily damaged. Thereafter, the Dutch had set about to rebuild the Fortress. During the time of Governor Bort, extensive repairs and reinforcements were made to the fortress. Repairs to the old fort gate were finally completed in 1670.”

I would recommend this book to anyone who has links with Melaka, be it residents, former residents, tourists and visitors. Of course, scholars and students of Dutch and Malayan history would also find this book invaluable. It also makes a good souvenir and gift.

What makes this book special to me are the historical facts in it and little fascinating nuggets of information which cannot be found or revealed during your stay in Melaka. (I am a testament to the fact that merely living in a place does not make one automatically privy and familiar to its history).I assure you that you will not be able to find these historical facts nor get a clear picture of 17^th, 18^thand 19^th century Melaka from visiting the numerous museums and talking to local residents, guides or historians. The author’s research into this topic is truly commendable and is presented clearly and objectively. He has packaged his research neatly into this book and saved us from trudging all over the world sifting through tons of dusty and long forgotten archives, documents and old, mouldy books.

If you want to read this book or browse through it, you can do so at KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka where it is located at AnjungKaryawan Melaka, on the ground floor. However, if you wish to buy a copy, you can do so online at our website (www.bookvillage.com.my) or at the publisher’s website (www.nutmegpublishing.com) . Both KampungBuku Malaysia Melaka and Nutmeg Publishing are on Facebook so everyone is invited to Find Us on Facebook and become a fan!

Happy Reading!

"Tropical Horticulture and Gardening" by Dr. Francis S.P. Ng

Recent Updates Contributed by The Chief Executive Officer

We have been busy tagging and labeling the books and compiling them into a softcopy and hardcopy catalogue. There is much work to be done before the books can displayed at the shelves. As we mentioned before, this is a seed collection (pun intended!) meaning to say that it is just the beginning of a collection which will hopefully grow and flourish in the years to come. Well, we have been very lucky and privileged that our first donor to this fledging collection is none other than the eminent botanist Dr. Francis Ng.

Dr. Ng was introduced to us by another doctor, incidentally also a Dr. Ng, albeit one who is a medical doctor and whose name is synonymous with tourism in Malaysia these days. During the visit by The Hon. Dato’ Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Tourism, in early December, it was proposed that a collection of botanical books and reading materials be established within Kampung Buku, hence the birth of the Botanical Book Nook. Accompanying the Minister was Dr. Francis Ng, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford, B. Sc (Hons) University of Tasmania, Consultant Botanist to the Ministry.

If you conduct a Google search on Dr. Francis Ng, you will soon have an idea on what a towering personality he is in the botanical world and it would be an understatement to say that he is a well-respected and eminent person in his field. In fact, the search ranks him above the popular Hong Kong actor, another Francis Ng. So that in short, says a lot about his popularity.

Therefore, it was wonderful news to us when Dr. Ng called us up last week and told us he would be donating some books for our little collection. We don’t think there would be a more distinguished donor from the botanical field and as the first volunteer donor, this certainly meant a lot to us.

Dr. Ng donated 4 books to us and the most interesting was his very own Tropical Horticulture and Gardening (ISBN : 978-967-5222-44-3) published by MPH Group Publishing Sdn Bhd. As the title says, it is all about tropical plants and that is obviously relevant to us as we live in a tropical climate. The book has 361 pages and almost every page has coloured photographs. I could recognize many plants in the pictures and it was interesting to learn their names, both scientific and local and read up on their features and origins.

The contents are divided into 3 parts, the first and final parts mainly for introductions and bibliography respectively. In the main body of the book, it starts fittingly with some history, Plant Domestication : 8000 BC to AD 2000 and goes on, among others, to Plant Forms and Habits, Ferns, Gymnosperms, Monocots, Dicots and ends with Garden Design and Plants and the Tropical Environment.

I would strongly recommend this book. From the layout, design, presentation and writing style, this book effortlessly combines information, knowledge and entertainment. (Yes, there are people who read for entertainment!). Far from a mere pictorial guide, it provides the reader with just the right amount of information which does not overwhelm or bore. It would certainly complete anyone’s book collection, from the amateur gardener, to the horticultural student, to the academic and obviously the garden designer. It would also make an excellent souvenir and gift for tourists who have an interest in tropical horticulture and wish to take home a record of the myriad of plants and flowers which make up our rich landscape.

The book is available at the Botanical Book Nook and can be read at the premises. Should you wish to buy a copy, kindly make your way to the nearest MPH Bookstore in Mahkota Parade, Melaka or order it online at their website.

Happy Reading!