CMO7: Muslim Archipelago

Merryl Wyn Davies unravels the paradox that is Malaysia and Indonesia, Ziauddin Sardar reads the history of Kuala Lumpur  from the window of his apartment, Carool Kersten engages with a string of Indonesian intellectuals, Nazry Bahrawi reads some classic Southeast Asian texts, Ahmad Fuad Rahmat dissects a Malaysian demigod, Andre Vltchek thinks Indonesian Islam is anything but ‘tolerant’ and ‘moderate’, Shanon Shah dabbles with Malay magic, Rossie Indira laments the loss of classical Indonesian music, Jo Kukathas weeps at the emergence of religious intolerance in Malaysia, Linda Christanty ponders the genealogy of her (Muslim) name, and Vinay Lal questions Malaysia’s claims to be a genuinely pluralistic society.

Also in this issue: Iftikhar Salahuddin visits the Dome of the Rock, Hassan Mahamdallie is bowled over by a new biography of Malcolm X, Mohammad Moussa laughs at Christopher Hitchens, Samia Rahman watches ‘Argo’, a short story by Nabeela M. Rehman, three poems by Marilyn Hacker and Top Ten Malaysian Obsessions

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In this issue

CM07: Muslim Archipelago

Merryl Wyn Davies unravels the paradox that is Malaysia and Indonesia, Ziauddin Sardar reads the history of Kuala Lumpur from the window of ...

The Archipelago of Paradox by Merryl Wyn Davies

Hands raised aloft, opened palmed, imploring. Head lifted heavenwards, beseeching. Repeatedly. Point by point. The constantly intensifying ...

The View from Menara Indah by Ziauddin Sardar

The apartment building stands perched on the lip of a great earthen bowl. Behind and above are high ridges formed by folds of thick jungle, like ...

Muslim Intellectuals in Indonesia by Carool Kersten

Indonesia is increasingly identified as an upcoming global powerhouse ready to join the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), but ...

Textual Desires by Nazry Bahrawi

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single worshipper in possession of a good conviction must be in want of a narrative. Consider the ...

Me, Islam and Literature by Linda Christanty

He was astonished when he discovered I was a Muslim. He was a member of the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong, an Englishman whose name ...

Top Ten Malaysian Obsessions

‘Malaysia, truly Asia’, declares the advertisement for the Malaysian airline. We could also add that racially diverse and ...