Okay, before I get to reviewing the content of this memoir, I need the editor and whoever was responsible for proofreading this book before printing to be put under a guillotine. Why?
1. What is going on with the whacky alignment that causes such uneven word spacing across the pages?
2. There are so many lines in the book that clearly weren’t properly proofread. Entire sentences are missing spaces between words. UNACCEPTABLE. This also includes missing spaces after punctuation marks like commas and periods. I don’t think this is an acceptable mistake for a publisher of this calibre. KARANGKRAF, WHAT IS THIS MESS?
3. Several typos too.
An honorary mention goes to the double-lined frame on every page. It is definitely an interesting creative direction and gives the vibe of doing a school report in middle school using a free MS Word template. But hey, to each their own.
So, with all that being said, let’s get to the actual content of the book. Contrary to my complaints about the printing quality, the content itself is not a letdown at all. Though instead of a memoir, it somehow reads more like an autobiography. It tells the story of Syed Saddiq, the former Minister of Youth and Sports in Malaysia. The story spans from his younger years to his current role as the Member of Parliament for Muar.
I’m gonna be honest, I did have a hard time in the beginning reading this book in Bahasa Malaysia even though Bahasa Indonesia shares similar vocabulary. The sheer number of “important people” mentioned had me slightly overwhelmed, and most of the names are long. Like really long. Otherwise, once I got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing, thanks to Google Translate too.
This is my most anticipated memoir of the year because I’ve been fascinated by his political career and his bold, daring and almost radical approach to politics in Malaysia. And him being the youngest minister at the age of 25 was honestly awe-inducing. Look, I’m a happy spectator when it comes to the political landscape here because, well, I’m not Malaysian myself, but this book gives me a glimpse of what happens behind the curtain of some of Malaysia’s biggest political events from his perspective, as well as the struggles and adversities he’s faced as a people’s representative fighting battles on behalf of the public.
One thing that sets Saddiq apart from a lot of young politicians is that he is not afraid of being cast aside as long as he maintains his integrity and serves the people who placed their trust in him. He has a laser focus and a tunnel vision that seems anchored in wanting to make Malaysia better. This book is not just enlightening but also inspiring, with a few funny bits sprinkled in. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read.
And honestly, more young people who want to join politics should think more like him. This is just my interpretation, but while he mentions in the book that his political ideology is more centrist, I think it leans left too based on the policies he tries to push and the ways he approaches helping people. He does whatever he can to serve the public.
Overall, this book reads as an honest first-person perspective from Saddiq on Malaysia’s political environment and how he hopes to improve it and make it better. Jalan Tegak indeed.