Nanyang: The Lure of the Southern Ocean to Lands of Opportunity & Danger

by Khoo Kheng-Hor

In this absorbing historical saga, Khoo weaves and engaging tale linking the multi-racial peoples who inhabit [Malaysia and Singapore] : the orang asli (ie. The aborigines), the people from various parts of Southeast Asia collectively known as the Malays, the Chinese (migrants and Straits-born Peranakan), the Indians, and of course, the Eurasians, descendants of intermarriages of the natives and the Europeans, such as the early Portuguese who came to colonize the wealthy Malacca Sultanate, before being chased out by the Dutch, who, in turn were outmaneuvered by the British, who thereafter systematically colonized the land to be known as British Malaya and the Crown Colony of Singapore until they too were driven out by the invading Japanese.

462 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Khoo Kheng-Hor is a Malaysian author and speaker on contemporary application of the 500 BC Chinese military treatise, The Art of War, by military strategist Sun Tzu. In the 1990s, Khoo was the first Sun Tzu student in South-east Asia to link and teach the general's principles in relation to business and management. To date, Khoo has written over 26 business and management books, most of which are based on Sun Tzu's Art of War as he made it his life's mission to "suntzunize" as many people as possible. In 1997, although a Malaysian citizen, he was appointed as honorary Assistant Superintendent of Police by the Singapore Police Force in recognition for his contribution as consultant-trainer to the police force of Singapore. His first novel, Taikor, was nominated by the National Library of Malaysia for the 2006 International Dublin Literary Award. Since 1999, Khoo has gone into retirement and occasionally travels in Malaysia and Singapore.

Reviews

[Tang Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

So many names (fake and real) till author himself mixed up ! Especially so when he flipped from Singapore to Msia, then to Britain in one chapter !
Author openly criticised our late founding father LKY's arrogance and blamed him entirely for the separation. No mention on the racial tensions during the merger!
Author claimed bilateral ties harmony relied on the moderation of Msia's tolerance.
Very provoking !

[Aradweb Aradweb Adil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought me on survival of 3 main families live in Malaya.

One about a Chinese Migrant (Ex-Captain of Taiping Army) which need to run away from his own birth land because of his previous association with the rebel to Southern Ocean.

Second about a Malay Dato' Jafar and his territory

Third about the life of Assistant Secretary in the office of the Governor of the Straits Settlement (John Sutcliffe)

It's really a historical saga which you can say it may based on the true historical facts. Just that it was narrated into a novel with an actors. It started around 1860 till 1960. Imagined how many descendant story it goes.

So far it just a story saga with a historical facts blend on it.

[Kathy Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Mama Kucing Meow : Nanyang The Lure of the Southern Ocean to Lands of Opportunity & Danger by Khoo Kheng Hor

I enjoyed it very much. Terrific read