Small Town: A personal tribute to Kuala Kubu Baru, Hulu Selangor, Malaysia

by Rehman Rashid

The story of just one town in a secluded corner of the Malaysian peninsula encapsulates the history of the State of Selangor and its nation.

63 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Rehman Rashid was born in Taiping, Perak in 1955 and educated at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and the University College of Swansea, Wales, retiring to the hills of Hulu Selangor in 2010 after a globe-trotting 30-year career in print, broadcast and online media. He has won Journalist of the Year awards in Malaysia (1985) and Bermuda (1991), and written four books: Pangkor: Treasure of the Straits (1990), A Malaysian Journey (1993), Small Town (2016), and Peninsula (2016).

Reviews

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in memory of the author who passed on earlier this year.

[Jasmin Mohd-zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely lyrical small book that embodies the feel of KKB and also compacts the history of old Bugis time, the tin mines rush, the arrival of the British, a broken dam and then the Emergency - all laid out in quick easy prose.

The late Rehman had an eye for the feel of the land and it's nature. His writing ebbs and flows like the tide, painting old glory days scenarios while adding dashes of facts from modern developments

History, politics, lifestyle and stories of peoples are molded easily into his tale of KKB. Although not born in KKB, his love for the small town can be easily gleaned from the pages of this sweet little read.

R.I.P Rehman (1955 - 2017). ALFATIHAH.

[Uma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a small town which is close to my heart aptly given tribute by Rehman Rashid. Made me want to revisit all those spots he mentions in his book. To me the history kinda weighed the book down, not totally felt because it is such a small book.
I read this book in memory of Rehman Rashid who we lost lately. Such tantalizing prose and style, will certainly be missed.

[Ditesh Gathani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rehman Rashid writes as eloquently as ever in this historical outlay of Kuala Kubu Bharu which also serves as his memoirs of his retirement home. He provides wistful commentary on Malaysiana and a overall brisk recital on what it means to be a Malaysian from an unabashed Malaysian.

It is a short book, but a good one. Recommended reading.

[Kataklicik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lurrrrve Rehman Rashid. Bought this the very day it was stocked and in Kino, and devoured in one sitting.

[Lyana Khairuddin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adapted from Peninsula: A story of Malaysia, this book will feel very familiar to those who have read Rehman Rashid's past work. Nonetheless, part-tribute-articles, part-almost-coffee-table book, the book was very well published with pretty illustrations, photographs of the majestic beauty of quaint KKB and surrounds, and of course, Mr Rashid's verbose vocabulary. I also like the big text, easy for the eyes and provided a quick, easy read on a Friday night.