Dina Zaman

Writer

Malaysia

Lead An Extraordinary Life

Dina Zaman

Writer

Malaysia

Lead An Extraordinary Life

Holier than thou?
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. Do people, i.e. Muslim Malaysians, remind each other of their obligations every second of the day? I don’t know if it’s me but lately the conversations I have with fellow Muslims have become miniature usrahs.
Of transgenders and faith
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. OCT 30 — You would think that members of a marginalised community would be more forgiving and liberal in their religious outlook. After all, religious doctrines have not been fair to them: transgenders and members of the LGBT community are constantly harassed and told that they are aberrations of society and religions.
Hijabi pole dancers and then some
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. The two young hijabs in front of me are married, well-educated, love Sephora and cats. They are the best of friends, and adhere to Islamic teachings faithfully.
The history of ourselves
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. To understand why we are who we are today, I referred to a few texts (and with a word limit, I would like to stress again that this essay is not a definitive and conclusive one.
The new generation of Muslims
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. It is not often that one is offered pot by a hijabi. The first time I was offered one was when I was studying in Lancaster University, the UK.
Somewhere from a colllldddd mountain!!
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. My previous article didn’t really ruffle feathers, but some of the reactions I received were expected. I was asked to inject positivity (one), when would the Malays realise that Malaysia did not revolve around them, and thirdly, when will we just move beyond this fear?
Malay-ness this, Malay-ness that
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. When asked the following questions in a closed group on Facebook, “In a 1921 census, the Malays were a minority in their own country because of the British open door migration policy, which served their economic interest.
Something to think about
Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy. The dust has somewhat settled since the Malaysian general election came to pass. every week, non-mainstream media picks up on the latest fiasco related to the elections.
A necessary conversation
MAY 5 — Being out of KL even for a few days provides for greater clarity. May 5 was just less than 48 hours away, and thanks to budget airlines, one can come back home for a few days to vote. It was a conversation with my nephew and niece when I was back that made me realise that things have gone worse for schoolchildren.
GE13 Malaysia – Dina Zaman
What do you think will be the most important issue that the new government must address? The economy – a real, fair, equal distribution of wealth that also speaks to the real-life economies of the simple trader, small-time businessman who face entreprenurial racism for example. I’ve been meeting a lot of SMEs and traders of all races who speak of the hidden prejudices and challenges they face.
Do we need more inter faith dialogue – Part 2
What are some of the actions Malaysians can take to promote dialogue among believers? This is a question that I am always asked. There are a limited number of organisations actively promoting healthy race relations currently in Malaysia. The need for a “race relations act” is still being discussed heatedly.
Is there a need for more interfaith dialogue in Malaysia? Part 1
Malaysia is not unique in its multicultural make-up, and the problems it faces. What makes Malaysia unique is Islam is the largest practised religion, (not unlike Indonesia) with a huge percentage of people who practise other faiths and beliefs. Article 3 of the Federal Constitution declares that Islam is the religion of the Federation, and that this does not affect the other provisions of the Constitution (Article 4(3)).
Sarawak, From the Outside Looking In (Stories from the East)
Suddenly my Twitter account has quite a number of Sarawakians wanting to follow my tweets. I can only attribute this to the articles I have written about my experiences for The Malaysian Insider, and that I have a few Sarawakian friends. I would have to say that I have been surrounded by Sarawakians, but in different permutations.

About

Dina Zaman

Writing

Research

Interviews

Campaigns

Dina Zaman has been writing for the Malaysian media as a columnist for 20 years. She started writing about the single life in the 90s, and it was during her tenure at Malaysiakini.com that saw her find her niche: Muslim life in Malaysia.

She is an award-winning writer of non-fiction, fiction and poetry. She has a media presence locally and abroad as a columnist since 1994 and commentator of current affairs since 2005. Her bylines and editorial contributions appear regularly in well-read media outlets including The Malay Mail Online, The Malaysian Insider, The Star, to name a few. She has appeared on the BBC and been interviewed on Everywoman, a women’s programme on Al Jazeera. She wrote I Am Muslim (www.malaysiakini.com, 2005 to 2006), which is now a book published by Silverfish Books, and her latest book, King of The Sea, was longlisted for the Frank O’Connor Short Story Award.

She was also a Senior Asian Public Intellectual Fellow (2012 to 2013) and a British High Commissioner Chevening Award Scholar (1999).

Email:
Books - www.silverfishbooks.com
Work - dinazaman.work@gmail.com
Other - dinazaman@gmail.com