Conversations with Dina Zaman

Join us at temu house for an intimate evening with the brilliant Dina Zaman, author of the captivating "Malayland." Delve into the heart of her literary journey as she shares insights and stories behind her latest work, moderated by the insightful Devina Sivagurunathan.

This is a unique opportunity to listen to Dina's perspectives on Malaysian identity, culture, and society, straight from the pen that brought them to life. Prepare for an engaging discussion that will illuminate the complexities of "Malayland" and offer a deeper understanding of Dina's creative process.

About the Book 

What does it mean to be Malay in the 21st century? This question is especially relevant in a country like Malaysia, where identity politics is frequently highlighted and closely policed by the state. Sixteen years after the publication of I Am Muslim, Dina Zaman returns with her new memoir, Malayland, a reflection on what it means to be Malay and Muslim in 21st century Malaysia.

Dina embarked on Malayland during the Covid pandemic in an effort to understand the anger and frustrations of her fellow ethnic Malays who were fighting against enemies, real and imagined, and a new world order imposed by a virus that killed over seven million people globally. Growing up in a Malaysia where Malay anger seethed and bubbled under the many nightclubs in 1980s Malaysia—a time where secularism had putatively killed the Malay Muslim heritage—Dina traces the roots of contemporary radicalism to the 1998 Reformasi movement which set the nation on a new, more extremist path.

Today race and faith are discussed and embraced frenetically, where hateful extremism is hidden under the rhetoric of nationalism, where young Malaysians are zealously asserting their political and birth identities in social media. The sense of irony and humour that Malaysia was once known for is now perhaps irretrievably lost. Malayland is a reflective book: memories and flashbacks of a childhood filled with earthquakes, spooks and a sense of wonderment and curiosity about a country that is fighting for a desired identity.

About the Author

Dina Zaman is a Kuala Lumpur-based writer and researcher. She is the co-founder of IMAN Research, a think tank focusing on socio-political and security matters, and a founding member of the Southeast Asian Women Peacebuilders. She has written extensively for the Malaysian media and is a contributor to The Jakarta Post. Her latest passion projects revolve around Terengganu Royal History. Dina is the author of three non-fiction titles – I am Muslim (Silverfish Publishing), Holy Men, Holy Women (SIRD) and Malayland (Ethos/Faction). King of the Sea (Clarity Publishing) is her first foray into fiction.

About the Moderator

Devina Sivagurunathan has been a passionate and ferocious reader of non-fiction and fiction books ever since she could read. She has too many favourite authors to count, ranging from William Dalrymple to Arundhati Roy to Anthony Burgess. She enjoys both a good tale and carefully researched work, and is particularly susceptible to sharp storytelling and boldly fleshed out characters. She has over two decades of experience in the business world, and brings her business acumen into the running of SCLA. She is currently the Executive Director of MABECS.

Advance Praise

“Dina Zaman’s work stands out as a deeply reflective and essential voice in Malaysian literature, especially in light of the country's Reformasi movement. Her writing is marked by a fearless engagement with Malaysia’s evolving political and social landscape, particularly the rise of Muslim conservatism and the increasingly fundamentalist interpretations of Islam that have taken root in segments of society. [...] Through her candid and often witty writing, she highlights the growing influence of fundamentalist interpretations of Islam that call for stricter adherence to religious codes, while also noting the tension this creates within Malaysia’s pluralistic and multicultural framework. […] What makes Dina’s work so compelling is her ability to humanise this ideological conflict. Rather than treating the rise of fundamentalism as an abstract political issue, she explores how it affects people on a personal level—their choices, freedoms, and identities. […] Her narratives often reflect the struggles of those trying to reconcile their personal understanding of Islam with the increasingly dominant conservative views.

This engagement with rising Muslim conservatism aligns with the broader themes of Reformasi, a movement aimed at greater political freedom, justice, and civil liberties. Dina’s work raises urgent questions about the direction of Malaysia’s reforms, particularly how progressive values can coexist with conservative religious currents. In many ways, her writing reflects the core of Malaysia’s struggle—balancing tradition with modernity, faith with freedom, and authority with personal autonomy. Dina’s Malayland raises questions that many of us in the Philippines’ “Bangsamoroland” ask ourselves.”

—   Amina Rasul-Bernardo, President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy

“A must-read book offering a unique perspective on the unseen dynamics of Malaysian life, told by a third-culture, privileged Malaysian Muslim woman from a diplomatic family who loves her country but often feels foreign to some aspects of its culture.”

—   Dr Noor Huda Ismail, Visiting Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University

“Dina Zaman’s latest book, Malayland, is a fascinating and engaging work. Its droll and witty prose makes for an easy read but there is considerably more to Dina’s book than first meets the eye. This is a deeply personal work, a frank and unflinching interrogation of stereotypical framing and lazy prejudice. Dina makes good use of her interviews with a diverse range of individuals from across the spectrum and strata of Malay society. Caught between worlds Dina, ever the curious outsider, wrestles with identity and belonging. The result is a book that is not just a delight to read but a powerful challenge to put aside superficial judgment, to enter into the worlds of others, and to be open to appreciating that which we all too quick to reject. It presents a challenge to urban arrogance, and to dismissive, simplistic, framings of religion and tradition. What does it mean to be Malay? To be Malay is to be human – a product of environment, circumstance, family, community and faith. To be Malay by definition means different things to different people. Perfect agreement is neither necessary not possible, but respect and appreciation for difference and common humanity most certainly are.”

—   Greg Barton, Deakin University

📅 Date: 5th April 2025 (Saturday)

⏰ Time: 5:00pm - 6:30pm

📍 Venue: temu house, 49, Jalan 16/9e, Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Gerak Budaya will be selling Dina's books and more during the event. Come support them.

Book your seats here / scan the QR code below:

https://bit.ly/41ChW8N

🚗 Parking is limited, so we encourage carpooling or Grab.

Nearest MRT: Phileo Damansara (5 min drive).

Note: This event is complimentary. Registration is necessary for the organisers to manage attendance. Attendees will be served complimentary Rhymba Hills Infused Tea.