Y’all don’t appreciate Hanna Alkhaf enough

If you don’t know, Hanna Alkhaf is the author of The Weight of Our Sky, Queen of the Tiles, and more.

She is Muslim, Malaysian, and an outstanding author. I’ve only read The Weight of Our Sky and it was sensational.

The Weight of our Sky is historical fiction and takes place in 1969, during Malaysia’s race riots. The main character has OCD and her intrusive thoughts are all about her mother, who goes missing during the riots. While I cannot comment on the OCD or Malay rep, let me just say the Muslim rep was amazing. I don’t know how to hide spoilers on tumblr so I won’t write about it here, but I personally view Hanna Alkhafs work as revolutionary.

After all, she was the first author I’ve ever seen make the triggers very clear. The trigger warnings she included were not some tiny little fine print that would be very easy to accidentally skip. No, it was clear right from the get-go that The Weight of Our Sky is a triggering novel that not everyone can/should read.

Not only that, there were some minor controversies with her middle grade novel, The Girl and The Ghost. In the arcs she accidentally used wording similar to that abusers usually use. Author Aisha Saeed pointed it out and instead of defending herself or getting upset, Hanna Alkhaf fixed the issue and apologized. WHEN SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG SHE FIXED THE ISSUE AND APOLOGIZED!

She deserves all of the love. Obsessed with her.

The House of Aunts by Zen Cho

Well, it's been a while since I updated, and not for nothing. The fasting month has arrived and much of my weekend energy is preoccupied elsewhere. Also, there are several longfics that are currently WIP, full completion uncertain.

So imagine my feelings as they got slammed against the wall by this: The House of Aunts by the Malaysian-born Zen Cho. An original vampire fiction that is set in Malaysia, uses traditional Malaysian monsters die Dracula, and deals with issues that hit close to home for anyone living in this part of the world, such as overbearing parental figures, unspoken religious and ethnic boundaries, and familial shame.

Since the story is Malaysian at heart, I decided to use Malaysian pictures and themes.

The book cover is actually made from drawing paper, printed with the image of a rubber plantation to evoke the story's setting. The front side has a glued-on image of a frangipani flower - the flower of the undead in Malaysian stories — surrounded by Baba Nyonya tilework — the Baba being Chinese Malaysians who settled and intermarried with locals.

The printed endapapers threw me off. I wanted to have a tilework or frangipani motif, but none of the free internet sources came up with anything distinctive. I did eventually find a peculiar color gradient that reminds me of twilight, considered the time when Malaysian monsters strike the most.

The Malaysian motifs continue at the title page, where I used Baba Nyonya tilework and Malay woodcraft motifs to frame the title. Same thing too with the copyright page — believe it or not, I actually intended that part to be minimalist! But one curious placement of images led to another and soon, I was looking up different websites to find the right Malaysian decorative features to bedight the logos!

The story is divided into three parts, and I also wanted the headers to be minimalist. Something of that won out here more, as I decided to use plumerias to highlight the 'undead' parts of the story and the greyscale tilework/woodwork to highlight the human connections of the main character, whether they were broken or not.

This bind took me less than a week and it was actually refreshing to get my hands busy again. Full rights to the story goes to Zen Cho, who really deserves all the awards for writing a monster tale that hits at so many themes, it's quintessentially Malaysian!

HOLY FUCKING SHIT YOURE MALAYSIAN???? OMG FELLOW MALAYSIAN IF LOVER I LOVE YOU SM HOLY FUCKKKKKKKKKK

AYO, ANOTHER MALAYSIAN IN THE SEA OF MALAYSIAN ANONS XD WELCOME, WELCOME~

new book on the block let's gooo

Building Malaysia's Future: The Crucial Role of MIDA in Attracting Sustainable Investments

Malaysia is a dynamic country in the center of Southeast Asia that has long drawn foreign direct investment (FDI). Its clever personnel, smart placement, and progressive government policies have elevated it to a strong economic position. However, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is blazing a new path—one that prioritizes sustainability and wise investment—amid a shifting global environment characterized by worries about climate change and the expansion of technological frontiers. The important role that MIDA plays in luring sustainable investments is examined in this session. It highlights Vasolar as a paradigmatic example of how environmentally aware practices may drive economic growth.

Evolution of MIDA: Embracing Sustainability:

Since its founding in 1961, MIDA has traditionally focused on attracting investments in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, services, and technology. However, the agency has now realized how crucial it is to include sustainability in its marketing to encourage investments. Businesses need to adjust their economic practices and take on greater social and ecological responsibility in response to concerns with resource scarcity, climate change, and social inequality. With the understanding that this is a critical moment, MIDA has adopted a new mission statement, "Attracting and nurturing high-quality FDI that contributes to sustainable development and inclusive growth for Malaysia."

Pillars of MIDA's Sustainable Investment Strategy:

This vision translates into tangible actions through several pivotal pillars:

Emphasis on Verdant Industries: MIDA actively draws in foreign investors engaged in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green technology, and circular economy solutions. Vasolar, a solar energy enterprise pioneering clean energy solutions in Malaysia, epitomizes this emphasis. By cultivating such enterprises, MIDA advocates for cleaner energy generation and ecological preservation.

Prioritization of Responsible Investments: MIDA underscores ethical and responsible business practices throughout the investment spectrum. Investors are urged to embrace robust corporate governance, curtail environmental footprints, and contribute to local communities. This ensures that economic expansion aligns harmoniously with social and environmental well-being.

Cultivating a Proficient Workforce: To bolster sustainable industries, MIDA invests in programs fostering skill development, equipping Malaysians with the knowledge and proficiency requisite for thriving in the eco-friendly economy. This guarantees that local communities reap the benefits of investment inflow and actively partake in shaping a sustainable future.

Fostering Collaboration and Ingenuity: MIDA cultivates collaboration among investors, government bodies, academia, and research institutions. This collaborative ecosystem fuels innovation in sustainable technologies and solutions, positioning Malaysia at the forefront of the green economy. Vasolar: A Beacon of Sustainable Investment:

Vasolar, spearheading the solar energy revolution in Malaysia, stands as evidence of MIDA's commitment to attracting sustainable investments. A fervent solar trailblazer, Vasolar tailors solar solutions for residences and businesses, empowering communities to embrace clean energy. Their triumph underscores the economic potential of green industries, magnetizing additional investments and generating employment in the renewable energy sector.

MIDA's Impact: Crafting a Radiant Tomorrow:

Through incorporating sustainability as a top priority into its investment plans, MIDA is shaping a future in which economic growth is achieved without compromising the environment or the welfare of society. The agency's endeavors can wield a profound impact by:

Building an Eco-Friendly and Pristine Malaysia:

Investing more in renewable energy and green technologies might help Malaysia become less reliant on fossil fuels, lessen the consequences of climate change, and leave a cleaner, healthier environment for coming generations. Promoting Economic Progress: New opportunities for employment creation, economic diversification, and technical advancement are provided by sustainable industries.

MIDA's focus on these sectors can propel Malaysia towards a more resilient and future-proof economy. Empowering Communities: By prioritizing responsible investments and skill enhancement, MIDA guarantees that local communities partake in economic growth. This nurtures inclusivity and societal well-being, cultivating a fairer and just society. The Road Ahead: Sustained Collaboration and Innovation:

MIDA has several obstacles on its path to a sustainable future. It takes constant work to draw in and retain sustainable investments, from reducing red tape to building strong public-private partnerships. To keep up with the changing scene, persistent innovation in technology, legislation, and finance systems is also essential. In order to overcome these obstacles and build a truly sustainable future for Malaysia, cooperation between MIDA, environmentally conscious businesses like Vasolar, and all other stakeholders in society is essential.

Conclusion:

MIDA's commitment to drawing in sustainable investments is not just a calculated risk; it's a critical step in building a prosperous, unbiased, and resilient Malaysia. Through its emphasis on clean technology, ethical approaches, and cooperation, MIDA is establishing the foundation for a future in which economic growth coexists peacefully with environmental health and social cohesion.

[Book Review] Not Here To Stay 🕊

🧮 Score: 4.5/5.0

■ When I first bought the book, it was due to my attraction to its cover design and the synopsis. I was intrigued to find out how the author will play out or interweave the fantasy realms with our Malaysian culture and beliefs. And the deliverance is beyond my expectations. Honestly, I was looking forward to reading fantasy adventure and not melodrama. But, as I read on, I put myself in Amani’s shoes. It started to feel like I was underwater, everything was so dreamy, and Amani kept getting drawn into her thoughts and not fully engaging with reality. So, time, as in plots, almost standing still. I kept going in circles. I remember thinking, was the author purposely doing this to prolong the novel with unnecessary fillers?

Until something nudged her. Triggered her combative personality/attitude. That was when the adventure began. Her quest give me the vibes of “The Divergent Series” collided with “The 13 Charms Trilogy”.

■ The book is divided into three parts. A few pages into the reading, we can sense Amani's moody aura. Like someone who has been scarred and full of rage inside, yet, kept a poker face. Throughout Part One, you can feel the cloudiness and heaviness of her surroundings. And when she’s interacting with other characters or situations, the narration is dreamy. Slowly, although it was still hazy by the middle of part two, the heavy cloud has been lifted. Her mind’s getting sharper, and ultimately in Part 3, the air is clear, and we(Amani) can breathe easily again. It’s like we didn’t realise that we were wheezing this whole time, to stay alive. Moving forward, Amani acquired a freshened thought process with no blockages. I enjoy and appreciate these transitions.

There were too many realistic scenes, to be specific, the locations and the abuses. I thought to myself, this cannot be loosely based on real events, it must be a true story, altered with fantasy realms to make it fiction. To send the message out. And my doubts were answered in the Author’s note at the end of the main plot.

■ When it comes to the fantasy world and its descriptions, the narrative was not as eloquent as the emotions poured. I wasn’t properly immersed and teleported there. It keeps pulling me to bits of many books/films I have read and watched before. The Cloud’s Castle reminded me of bits of “Doraemon: The Kingdom of Clouds”, Kira and her child reminded me of the changeling folklore, the worldsmiths’s systems and bureaucracy reminded me to “Harry Potter” plus “Jumper”. Maybe, slightly, “I am Number 4”. It’s all over the place. But, overall, it worked.

The mystical elements are brilliant metaphors for our states of mind, how they are managed and how they affect our actions and reactions. It is true in most occasions, care alone is not enough. Reminders alone are not enough. It needs the right tools and methods to resolve the entanglements. To convey the validations or clarifications of things we subconsciously know and misunderstand. Bottled feelings are never a good thing. It is a ticking bomb. Its eruption is destructive. (SPOILER ALERT: in this book, the feelings were literally bottled! Haha, amazing!)

Amani’s conversations with Najmi, especially in Part Two, were really therapeutic. In Part Three, the plot twist was a surprise, a good one.

■ The book is written in time jumps. Back and forth is totally fine. I enjoyed it, as much as I enjoyed “The Witch of Portobello” by Paulo Coelho. However, I just don’t think the “plus-minus” of “day counts” at the beginning of every chapter was necessary. It distracted me and caused confusion. So after 10 chapters in, I stopped bothering with it. And start gauging the time period based on contexts. . ■ In gist, it is a journey to recovery and closure. It is melancholic with sparkles and deliciously filling quotes. The metaphors were blended seamlessly. I am 100% impressed. High applause for this book. If you want to see things from the lens of a depressed, grieved person, I recommend you to watch a Kdrama titled: Daily Dose of Sushines. If you want to be in their minds instead, you must read this book. Highly recommended!

■ A playlist to keep you company and immersed in emotions.

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Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

“But life, like Scrabble, is like that—you get the rack you get, and you just have to figure out how to make do.”

Queen of the Tiles is an entertaining mystery romp that belongs to that subgenre of YA books that combines a whodunnit type of storyline with the kind of teen dynamics at play in Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. Similarly to a lot of these books, Queen of the Tiles takes place in a ‘confined’ setting, but rather than going for the usual prep school/high school type of backdrop, Hanna Alkaf freshens things up by having her story take place during the World Warrior Weekend, an annual Scrabble competition. This tournament takes place in a hotel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, a setting that, you must admit, we don’t get to see often in YA. Additionally, our lead is Muslim, and we also get a very casual non-binary rep with Shuba. The story definitely has some strong The Queen’s Gambit vibes and the author depicts the various Scrabble games in a really fun and dynamic way (so that they are anything but boring) and we can see just how devoted and ambitious some of the competitors are. Najwa Bakri, our narrator, is taking part in this tournament, the first one she's done since the very sudden death of her best friend.

“Every player knows that words can be twisted to suit your purpose, if the board allows it, and Trina knows this better than most. She is fantastic; she ignites fantasies. She is spectacular; she attracts spectacle.”

Trina Low died during the previous year's World Warrior Weekend. Since her death, Najwa has distanced herself from the Scrabble world, but she finds herself going back to claim Trina’s former title, that of the Queen of the Tiles. She knows that people who didn’t like Trina, and who were in turn not liked by her, are also vying for that title, and Najwa isn’t ready to give them the satisfaction of winning. Competing again however proves harder than it used to be now that Najwa is struggling with anxiety and trauma caused by Trina’s premature death. The author is really thoughtful in the way she articulates Najwa's grieving process, capturing just how suddenly grief can engulf you, regardless of how much time has passed since the person you cared for died. Alkaf also shows how grief manifests differently in different people.

Things get harder when new posts appear on Trina’s long inactive insta. Cryptic posts hinting that her death may have been very much not an accident. Joining a long tradition of kid-turned-detectives such as Nancy Drew and the Scooby-Doo gang (both of which get mentioned in the story), Najwa begins solving the posts’ ominous word puzzles and starts questioning the other competitors, most of whom were foes of Trina. There is the pompous boy she was competing against when she died, who seemed less concerned by her dropping dead than verifying whether her death meant he’d automatically won that final round. There is Trina’s ‘other’ best-friend, an ostensibly nice and obsequious girl whose subservience to Trina definitely gives off sycophantic vibes. There is that girl who was caught in a cheating scandal, and Trina may have been responsible for stoking those cheating rumours. And, of course, Trina’s off-and-on again boyfriend Mark, a possessive type who may have grown tired of Trina’s and what he perceived to be as her ‘blasé’ attitude. While Najwa has always been aware of Trina’s thorny character, and her need to prove herself and to one-up others, during the course of her ‘amateur’ investigation she will be forced to really confront the kind of person Trina was.

“That’s just how she was; she saw something she wanted and she went for it with a laser-sharp intensity that could border on the obsessive. All or nothing, perfection or perish.”

I liked the drama, the secrecy, the rumours and gossip. The Scrabble element was really well delivered and it worked really well for the mystery clues. My only quibbles are 1) throughout the story Najwa links words that are being used or were used in a game to her past or present situation. Sometimes this was effective, but the more this device was used, the less impactful it became, and at times I found the connection between word and situation to be a bit far-fetched 2) Najwa's 'tells' got pretty annoying. The characters weren’t particularly fleshed out or memorable, some were verged on being rather silly but this subgenre isn’t exactly known for having uber nuanced characters so it didn’t really negatively impact my reading experience. I would have however liked for Trina to have been portrayed in a slightly different light, as she ultimately seems a bit of a mean queen-bee cliché. I liked the lack of romance and Najwa made for a rather endearing protagonist. Their resolution to the mystery was a bit of a letdown, as I found the identity of the person behind those posts far too obvious. It would have been more satisfying to make someone else the culprit. There was also a metaphor about Mark being "a conquistador, trying to impose his will on Trina, colonize her spirit and reap her charms for himself, bend her to his definition of what a girlfriend ought to be" which struck me as a rather unhappy comparison to make. In general, I did like the references we get, especially when they added a dose of humor and levity to the story's ongoings (“Honestly. Murder. What do you think this is, an episode of Riverdale?"). Still, I found this engrossing and fun read. If you are looking for a light-hearted whodunnit that focuses on a group of ambitious and possibly backstabby professional scrabblers, look no further.

my rating: ★ ★ ★ ¼ ❀ blog ❀ thestorygraph ❀ letterboxd ❀ tumblr ❀ ko-fi ❀

Trans Horror Authors

My January reading challenge is to read a book by a trans author. Luckily, there are many out there to choose from! Here are some who write in the horror genre, because that's my area of expertise. If you know of others, whether in horror or other genres, reply with your recommendations!

In no particular order...

Caitlin R. Kiernan

A genderfluid Irish-American paleontologist who also writes spectacular cosmic horror, what's not to love? They've been repping queerness since the 80s and have a robust library to choose from, so you're bound to find something you'll like!

Poppy Z. Brite

Billy Martin, whose work is published under the name Poppy Z. Brite, was a big name in the Gothic horror scene of the 1990s and continues to be a frequently-recommended author, although he doesn't publish as much horror these days.

Julya Oui

A Malaysian trans woman and prolific short story author. She has several collections out that you can browse, if short stories are your speed! Maybe start with Taiping Tales of Terror, which draws heavily on her native folklore and influences.

Rivers Solomon

A nonbinary, intersex Black author now living in the U.K., Solomon has three books out and they all look spectacular. Their books lean more toward sci-fi/fantasy, but their newest title Sorrowland looks to be pretty solidly Gothic as well.

Gretchen Felker-Martin

Trans woman, film critic, and unapologetically outspoken. Her best-known book is Manhunt, a post-apocalyptic horror tale that doesn't pull any punches. She's got another new release slated for 2024 to keep an eye on.

Hailey Piper

One of the most prolific authors I can name off the top of my head, Hailey also has several novellas out in the world + a few novels. If the intersection of queer fiction, body horror, and cosmic horror sounds like your thing, you can find something in her backlist. Also she's here on tumblr, go learn more at @haileypiperfights

Eve Harms

A bit of a new player on the field, but well worth checking out. Eve is a Jewish trans woman. Her debut novel, Transmuted, is a breathless body horror romp. She also makes a bunch of handmade zines, which I just think are neat :)

Natalie Ironside

One of Tumblr's very own better-known names, Natalie is queer, disabled, trans, hilarious, and author to at least three novels I can think of plus some other stuff too - go scope her out on @natalieironside for the details.

.....I know I'm missing a ton of people but these were the first ones that came to mind. I have to get back to writing, but I hope this inspires y'all to pick up a book you haven't read yet, and to add to my list down in the notes.

Happy reading, y'all :)

Pendatang and why I think it's important for the fight against censorship

Malaysia's first fully crowd funded film is finally out and its free on YouTube!!!

(btw its fully subtitled in English, Malay, Chinese (Simplified), and Tamil for those who want it)

Pendatang by Kuman Pictures is set in a dystopian future where, due to racial extremism, Malaysia is fully segregated. Citizens live in their own areas based on their race and mixing between the races is punishable by 25 years in prison.

The story centers around a Malaysian Chinese family who is forced to relocate to a designated house by the authorities but they find a Malay girl hiding in their attic.

Anyone who is familiar with the Malaysian film scene would be wondering, "A Malaysian movie about race and inequality? How the fuck did this movie get through the censorship board?". Well, easy. They didn't even try.

In the name of keeping peace in the country, The Malaysian Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Penapis Filem - LPF) is notorious for censoring local movies to the point it loses its impact or keeping movies in a limbo for years. But films need LPF's approval to be able to release theatrically local cinemas.

The makers of Pendatang knew that this film wouldn't have made it past the censorship board or any other kinds of local governmental/commercial release or funding channel. So from the start, they set out to crowd fund this movie to release it for free online - where the LPF has no jurisdiction.

They managed to raise past their goal of RM300k (which is about slightly less than 100k USD). And one year later, they've kept their word - the movie is available on YouTube for free with no ads (making it a non-profit movie).

This is what the makers have to say about this move and what they hope it achieves:

So not only is it a badass move to bypass censorship and non-profit, its also a ground breaker and this opens up a whole new avenue for Malaysian filmmakers.

But it can't be that bad, can it? Well here are some films that weren't so lucky with the LPF.

Mentaga Terbang a story about a young girl's religious journey after her mother's passing to find out what happens after death. It was banned in Malaysia.

Tiger Stripes, the Cannes award winning teenage body horror film detailing a girl's journey with womanhood. It was so heavily cut by LPF that the filmmaker has disowned the censored version and has come out to say that essence was removed from the movie.

Spilt Gravy on Rice is a dark comedy based on a play of the same name. It is a story about a journalist who is close to death and decides to fix his family issues with his 5 kids who all have different mothers. The film was submitted for approval in 2012 and was forced to make changes (including an alternate ending) and was finally approved in 2020. Due to covid, the premiere was delayed till 2022. The original playwright, Jit Murad, passed earlier that year and never got to see his story in the big screen. You can find the film with its original ending on Netflix now.

This is why a movie like Pendatang is so important. Some suspect that Pendatang will be taken down or blocked by the government. I hope it won't.

Malaysian filmmakers want to share good stories that shouldn't be watered down. Malaysian voices want to be heard and shouldn't be unnecessarily filtered and censored.

A Message from King Harald and Queen Sonja:

We feel a great need to thank you for all the care, help and support in connection with the King falling ill on our holiday in Malaysia.

We have felt the warmth flowing from the Norwegian people during this time. Your great commitment has moved us, and strengthened us. Many thanks to everyone for the care you have shown us and our family.

Now, back at home in Norway, we would also like to extend a big thank you to the Malaysian authorities and staff at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi. Together with Norwegian health personnel, they did everything they could to ensure that the King would recover well from his illness and be ready for the journey home.

We are very grateful to the Norwegian government, the Armed Forces and others who assisted in making the journey home so safe and smooth for us.

At the Rikshospital, the King is now undergoing expert treatment. We thank everyone who has cared for us and given practical and health-related help in a challenging situation.

Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes, NRK

Oh, God!!!! You're from Malaysia!!??? OMG, This is my first time seeing an if-author from my home country's and I can't be anymore exciting!!! Say, is there anyway to support you though? I can't use Ko-fi given it needs US dollars😅😅

AYOOO - FELLOW MALAYSIANN!!! 🎊🎊🎊

I've been trying to find a SEA-friendly donation platform tbh. 😢 So far, there's Gank and Patreon - the issue with Patreon is they don't take MYR (Malaysian Ringgit) but they take SGD (Singapore Dollar).

Then I tried out Gank but...Honestly, I've been thinking of making it the platform where I sell collection bundles - but for now, I'm still on debate about it T_T

If you have any recommendations, I'd be happy to hear it. OTL I'm not too well-versed in this sort of thing.

NICE TO SEE ANOTHER MALAYSIAN IN THIS COMMUNITY THO 👀

I love seeing that tiktok video with the hijabi girl in space and the fatwa from the Malaysian fatwa committee about praying in space because they also happen to be same committee that authorized a complete ban on Shi'a Muslims in Malaysia

i was treated better by the malaysian border agents when i tried to cross s'pore-johor border via bus while visibly trans and with mismatching documents in a so-called right wing third world country where being trans is literally illegal than i have ever been treated by us border authorities with all my documents in order and while cis-passing and with my white mother like it's really not a matter of how nice you are lmfao us border agents are just monsters

[Book Review] 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Berbual-bual Dengan Anak Tentang Seksualiti - Wan Nur Syakira👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🧮 Skor: 4.5/5.0 . 📌 “Sekiranya ibu ayah atau orang dewasa bercakap tentang pendidikan seksualiti secara matang dan berilmu dgn anak-anak, maka topik ini akan bebas daripada gurauan lucah, lawak double meaning & sikap ambil mudah.” - page 29.

.

■ Emphasising on Pendidikan Seksualiti, buku ini essentially is a must have parenting book! Dengan cara pendekatan bersuaian mengikut peringkat usia, kandungan buku ini meliputi langkah-langkah yang boleh diambil oleh para ibu bapa dan penjaga, sebelum, semasa, dan selepas sesi pendidikan dan asuhan. It is an ongoing process. Be it for prevention, maintenance and solution, the author I believe, has done a great job to coach us well with great skills, inshaAllah!

■ The book is about the size of B5, which is handy. The cover design set a nice tone to the reading experience, too. Illustrasi dan pemilihan warna terkandung dalam buku ini memberikan rasa nyaman, membuatkan kita lebih fokus pembacaannya.

■ Gaya penulisan yang santai dan ilmiah makes it more convincing. Penulis tahu bila perlu concise, bila perlu penjelasan panjang lebar. The content structure is proactive and engaging. Jadi, segalanya lebih jelas dan mudah difahami, tak bosan.

■Segala perkongsian beliau, terutamanya mengenai effective communicating skills and handling arising issues, inshaAllah, boleh diaplikasikan juga dalam hal-hal lain dalam membesarkan anak-anak.

■ Pendidikan Seksualiti tak semestinya harus mengikut model pendidikan barat, kita boleh mendidik anak-anak berlandaskan pendidikan Islam. Sebenarnya, memang dah ada pun dalam ajaran agama kita, cuma mungkin banyak orang kurang faham. Penulis membuka lagi minda pembaca tentang hal ini dan menjelaskan lagi ilmu-ilmu pendidikan Islam dari lens Psikologi dan bidang-bidang lain yang berkaitan.

■ Diketengahkan hal-hal kebiasaan yang orang anggap remeh tapi sebenarnya mempunyai impak yang serius dalam pembentukkan rohani dan jasmani anak-anak. Penulis menjawab segala persoalan umum sebelum ditanya. Beliau sepertinya updated with perkembangan silibus sekolah Malaysia masa kini. Jagi beliau boleh agak permasalahan dan/atau persoalan yang boleh timbul.

■ Buku ini juga mengambil kira latar belakang ibu bapa dan penjaga yang mungkin tidak tech-savvy atau mempunyai asas Biology. Semua beliau terangkan, jangan risau! Dari segi saintifik dan juga kaintannya dengan pendidikan Islam. Yang lebih menarik, the content is integrated with QR code untuk maklumat tambahan dan alat bantuan visual yang lain. This is incredible, MashaAllah! . ■ Pemangsa ada di mana mana sahaja, seiring dengan pembangunan negara, akses menjadi sangat mudah. Ramai ibu bapa sudah mempunyai kesedaran ini, tapi tak pasti bagaimana cara menanganinya. Education empowered the people. Kita tidaklah sentiasa bersama-sama dengan si anak, jadi kita perlu melengkapkan diri mereka dengan ilmu, they got to be able to protect and stand for themselves to some extend. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Topik seperti LGBT wajar dibincangkan kerana jika tidak diperkenalkan buruknya dan cara berdepan denagnnya bila terjadi, pasti bahaya!

Yang paling , amat penting diajar kepada adnak kita ialah segala tentang child grooming. Nauzubillahi min zalik! Jazakillahu Khairan penulis atas penghasilan buku ini. <3

---- ● Buy a preloved copy here:

https://carousell.app.link/JqBmSuvZjBb . ● Buy new copies here:

https://www.karangkrafmall.com/berbual-bual-dengan-anak-tentang-seksualiti-wan-nur-syakira

happy place ‧₊˚✩彡 han jisung

⤿ han jisung x gender neutral reader.

⤿ tags... fluff, drabble.

⤿ based on a scene from a malaysian movie called imaginur.

⤿ 490 words

⤿ disclaimer — © 2023 hyunverse on tumblr. all rights reserved. authors works are protected under the copyright law. do not plagiarize or translate my works. tumblr is my only platform.

the sound of shutter clicks pulls jisung out of his dreams. his eyes flutter open, meeting yours in placid mien. 

“sorry love, you just looked so beautiful sleeping, i can’t help but take a picture,” you mumble, setting the polaroid camera away from your face, waiting as a polaroid generates. 

“it’s alright,” he says, showcasing the softest smile on his face. 

what time is it? jisung’s eyes trail towards the grandfather clock in the corner, realizing that he had been stuck in a nightmare, on your lap for only an hour, when the dream felt like it is ages long. the fast pace of his heartbeat is getting harder to catch up with. still, the sensation of your cold fingertips against his bicep somehow keeps him calm.

“see? you look so pretty in your sleep,” you draw him back to reality, showing him the polaroid between your fingers. he smiles — not at the picture, but rather at your blithe expression.

“thank you,” he mutters, the memory of his nightmare coming up, “hey. have you ever… been so happy, that you feel so sad?” 

“hm?” you raise an eyebrow, allowing jisung to take your hand into his.

“it’s just that… i —” he sighs, fiddling with the ring on your finger, “sometimes i feel so happy, that i get sad. sad that i’ll forget how the happiness felt. it’s scary.”

your free hand goes to play with his dark locks, “you get too in your head sometimes, ji. ‘s hard to deal with, you know?” you answer, a teasing tone laced in your voice.

if it was somebody else who uttered those words, jisung would’ve been offended. he would’ve felt bad about the way he feels, but knowing you — he knows you were joking as a way to comfort him. you care deeply about him, he’s aware. the years you’ve spent by his side, calming his worries are enough proof. 

“maybe, you need a happy place,” you tell him, smiling tenderly when he looks up at you with a curious expression plastered on his face. he looks so cute, looking up at you with so much fascination, you’d think he hasn’t ever looked at the world.

“happy place?”

“yeah…” your voice trails off, “i made up a happy place in my head, full of things i love. whenever i’m upset, i just sit and go to my happy place.”

the man nods, the concept seemingly foreign to him. 

“so… what’s your happy place?”

your lips form into an ‘o’, the single syllable slipping past your lips like honey makes his head spin out of adoration. it’s happy moments like this that scares him sometimes — but at this moment, he knows that he won’t ever forget the feeling of happiness which seeped into his skin, etched onto his brain like a tattoo. 

“you.” 

he doesn’t say anything after, the foolish smile on his lips giving away how he feels, what he’s thinking.

you’re his happy place too.

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I never thought that of all the things I would come across and see it would be this bit right here...

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! THIS CAN'T BE FOR REAL!!