Stalking Crimes (2018)
Author: V.G. Kumar Das
The author was trepidatious with publishing such a book. It seems that there is an unwritten rule in the country that writings, even fictions, can only put the country in a favourable light. She cannot be portrayed to be a nation filled with crime, corrupt officials or religious xenophobes. That is why he took the liberty to publish an e-book rather than a physical book as that would be fraught with frivolous bureaucratic obstacles and unnecessary stresses. That is what the new set of leaders are promising - an open society which dares to confront the uncomfortable questions that we, as a nation, are facing. That is not going to be an overnight transformation. The community, ever so immersed in a feudalistic mindset and the culture of not wanting to be controversial, needs time to adjust to the new milieu. People say that the idea of the nation-state is foreign to people on this side of the world. Before immigration policies were meted out in the 20th century, our borders used to so porous that it was a norm for people to move between countries for economic and social activities. That is why we have leaders who proudly announce their heritage without any embarrassment to their nationality. In this era of increasing nationalism, one wonders where their loyalties lie. Another ideology that seems to be creeping into their the society is loyalty to a common belief system rather than to the country. I think some Muslims in India had this same quandary during World War 1. Musslamans were divided whether to show patriotism to their colonial masters who were hellbent on destroying the last bastion of Islamic representation in the world, the Ottoman Empire, or to the de-facto leader of the Islamic world.
In the modern world, foes and friends, find a commonality in religion even if the intent is evil. Many hide under the cloak of religion to pursue their selfish agenda. The simpleton amongst shrivel at the mention of divinity and set aside our prejudice for Him to judge. How convenient for the wrongdoers? The name of God as an 'out-of-jail' free card!
Even though humanity dictates that we should all be Good Samaritans; help a fellow brother in need. Somehow, when it comes to our respective countries, we become selfish. We want to guard our borders against those who do not pledge allegiance to the same flag. Maybe it is not the flag which is the determinant but economics. People of a nation want to keep their wealth to share out among their citizen. They worked hard at keeping their backyard in order, hence, only they deserve to enjoy the fruit of their labour.
A new novel set in a new environment, oft not mentioned in the mainstream, becomes the backdrop to an adventure to a nail-biting escapade for law enforcer Zain Abidin. A fascinating, easy read featuring topics close to the heart of most Malaysians; religious fundamentalism, racial violence, unregulated immigration, corrupt practice of people in power and the nostalgia of a nation we used to be.We have often read about the capital city and the exotic lands of the east coast of the Peninsular and East Malaysia. Many of us are in the dark of the existence of an archaeologically rich area around Lenggong in the state of Perak. Herein was discovered the skeletal remains of a man dubbed 'Perak Man' who lived 11,000 years ago. Royal Belum Rainforest, which is said to the oldest of the tropical jungles of the world is the backdrop to the set of this novel.
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