(Please scroll down for English translation)
我一翻開 A Malaysian Journey 就陷進了他的文字裡，不只是著迷於他的文筆和知識，更是打從心底的認同他對於馬來西亞的真心關懷。可惜他已經過世了。要是我能早一點翻開他的書，或者他能多活一兩年，也許我就可以拿著書去簽書會，親口問他：你願意讓我翻譯你的書嗎？我真希望中文讀者也能認識你！
除了第一本 Pangkor: Treaure of the Straits之外，另外三本我都讀了，由於這三本是自傳交錯馬來西亞的近代史，所以三本照著順序閱讀也可以感受到作者本人從年輕到退休後的轉變。
根據他最後一本書上的作者介紹，他是這樣介紹自己：
Rehman Rashid在1955年出生於馬來西亞霹靂州的太平，畢業於江沙的馬來學院，以及英國威爾斯的斯旺西大學，在30年的紙本、廣播和數位媒體的職業生涯之後，退休後生活在烏魯雪蘭莪縣的丘陵中。他曾贏得馬來西亞的年度記者獎(1985)和百慕達的年度記者獎(1991)，著有四本書：Pangkor: Treasure of the Straits (1990), A Malaysian Journey (1993), Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia (2016), and Small Town (2016)。
A Malaysian Journey出版於1993年，當時他移居海外多年之後，留職停薪一年回到馬來西亞，親自走訪馬來西亞每一個州屬並寫成一本書，以環遊全國的遊記帶出馬來西亞獨立早期的國家發展史。身為第一批公費出國留學的馬來菁英，他很清楚自己是新經濟政策(New Economic Policy, NEP)下保障馬來人的既得利益者，但即便如此他還是無法認同這個制度。新經濟政策於1970年開始推行，當初的設定是推行這個政策20年，只20年，以此幫助馬來人擺脫貧窮。但直到如今馬來西亞還是沒有推翻這個政策，馬來西亞還是把人民切割成「土著」和「非土著」而獨惠前者。因此對於身為馬來人的Rehman Rashid來說，不論他做了多少努力、達到多高的成就，在華人、印度人等其他非馬來族裔的眼裡，他還是甩不掉身為土著(Bumiputra)的包袱；儘管他的批判是出自於對國家的真心關懷，這樣的立場還是讓部分馬來同胞覺得他不夠馬來，屢屢用「漢都亞和漢惹拔」的典故來測試他的忠誠：
漢都亞和漢惹拔是傳說中的馬來勇士，效命同一位蘇丹，漢都亞有著對蘇丹的絕對忠誠，而漢惹拔忠於自我，當蘇丹命令漢都亞殺了漢惹拔時，他毫不猶豫的下手了，即便那是他最好的朋友。Rehman Rashid在回憶過往時多次提到被考驗「漢都亞和漢惹拔，誰才是真正的英雄？」這個問題，而他似乎永遠給不出讓別人滿意的答案。在國內情勢最高壓緊張的時刻，他的一篇社論甚至讓他被特別警察署約談，他運氣好，面談完就沒事了，但當時的確有很多新聞工作者直接被捕，報社強制關閉。這本書出版後在國內造成很大的迴響，加上當時的政治情勢對於他這樣的新聞工作者已經沒有當初那麼敏感，他就決定留在馬來西亞，不走了。
Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia和Small Town都是出版於2016年，為退休後的作品，其實Small Town是Peninsula其中兩章拿出來特別寫完整一點成書的，所以主要Peninsula是A Malaysian Journey睽違23年後的續作，除了他個人的心路歷程之外，也充滿對於馬來西亞政治發展的無奈回顧，例如馬哈迪退位前承認的四項未竟之業。如今馬哈迪高齡93回歸首相大位，安華也重獲自由等待接班，納吉被控多條罪名罄竹難書，而我們再也看不到Rehman Rashid對這些事情的社論了。
為什麼會拖二十年才寫續作呢？因為他生命中有一位非常重要的人，身後才能寫，那就是他的前妻Rosemarie Chen。他之所以可以把後半輩子都奉獻給所愛的馬來西亞，是因為她成全了他，書中雖然沒有提到半句「後悔」但字裡行間都是愧疚。
馬來西亞是多元種族的國家，各民族間互有通婚，但是法律規定非穆斯林一定要皈依伊斯蘭教才能跟穆斯林結婚，而皈依伊斯蘭教是不能反悔的，就算離婚也不能脫離穆斯林身分。Rehman Rashid是馬來人，馬來人是穆斯林，Rosemarie是天主教徒，兩人都無意改變對方或為了對方改變信仰，但法律綁不住兩顆想要靠近的心，他們還是在一起了。Rosemarie是一位律師，本就志在全世界，所以他們一起搬到香港並結婚，他們的婚姻在全世界都可以，他甚至陪她在百慕達住了幾年(順便得了一個百慕達的年度最佳記者獎)，全世界都可以，就是馬來西亞不行，因為在馬來西亞他們的婚姻是無效的。雖然兩人生活美滿，工作也都順利，但Rehman的心在馬來西亞，即使不說出口，Rosemarie也感覺的出來，所以Rehman跟公司請了一年的假，留職停薪環遊一圈馬來西亞，寫出A Malaysian Journey，原定計畫是寫完就回香港，但他還是決定留下來奉獻給最愛的馬來西亞，Rosemarie成全他，放手了。
單從愛情或婚姻的角度來看， Rehman好自私，他怎麼可以為了理想而離開妻子？但是以馬來西亞來看，如果他沒有離開Rosemarie，我們就沒有這幾本書可看。
他的書中充滿對馬來西亞的關懷，即便是批判，也是出自於無奈理解的溫柔批判。Rehman Rashid出生在馬來西亞獨立之際，保障馬來人的新經濟政策(New Economic Policy, NEP)讓他得以獲得公費補助出國留學，許多馬來菁英政府高層都曾經是他的同窗好友，但即便如此他還是無法認同這個制度。學成歸國後他先去漁業研究屬工作，但不習慣公務體系，後來因緣際會下進入新聞業工作，賴筆維生。
身為新聞工作者，不只文筆要好，更要有敏銳的洞察力，他從一個小記者慢慢做到有自己的專欄，甚至當上編輯，訪問了無數高層官員，但在那個風聲鶴唳的年代，政府鐵腕控制媒體，記者寫錯一篇文章就可能被消失，強制關閉報社。他形容當年的記者是全馬來西亞最可悲的生物，他們知道事情的真相，也知道讀者依賴他們的資訊，但他們不能說出真相。他數度請調海外避風頭，但即便他的文筆在世界各地都能找到工作，他最關心的還是馬來西亞，他最熟悉的領域還是馬來西亞政治，所以他還是一次又一次的回國，退休後住在雪蘭莪、彭亨、霹靂三州交界一個名叫「新古毛」的小鎮上，最後還寫了一本書獻給這個地方，也就是Small Town。
最後請容我從A Malaysian Journey引用一段話來表達Rehman Rashid對馬來西亞的愛：
不過呢，我是馬來西亞人，也只是馬來西亞人，我已經離開了很長一段時間，現在全國上下任何地方對我來說都像家。這樣也好，因為這世上再也沒有別的地方能讓我有這種感覺。
Rehman Rashid於2017年六月三日過世，享年62歲。
A Malaysian Journey: https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789839981919
Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia: https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789671339039
Small Town: https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789671439517
---- (English translation) ----
As soon as I opened A Malaysian Journey, I fell into his words, not just for the way he wrote or the knowledge he had, but from the bottom of my heart agrees with the love he had for Malaysia. Sadly, he already passed away. If only I could read his book earlier or if he could live a couple of years longer, perhaps I could bring his books to his book events and ask him in person: Are you willing to let me translate your book? I really hope to introduce you to Chinese readers!
Apart from his first book Pangkor: Treaure of the Straits, I’ve read all the three rest of his books. These three books are his personal memoir mixed with the history of Malaysia so through reading them, you can see his personal changes from a young man to a retiree.
According to Rehman Rashid’s last book, this is how he introduced himself:
Rehman Rashid was born in Taiping, Perak in 1955, educated at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and the University of Swansea, Wales, and retired to the Hills of Hulu Selangor after a 30-year career in print, broadcast and online media. He has won Journalist of the Year awards in Malaysia (1985) and Bermuda (1991), and written four books: Pangkor: Treasure of the Straits (1990), A Malaysian Journey (1993), Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia (2016), and Small Town (2016).
A Malaysian Journey was published in 1993. After many years living abroad, he took a 1-year unpaid leave from work to return to Malaysia. He traveled through each and every state in Malaysia and wrote this book of his Malaysian Journey and the history of the early history of post-independent Malaysia. Being the Malay elite who studied abroad with government funds, he knew too well that he was the vested interest holder of the New Economic Policy (NEP) which aims to protect Malay people. But even so, he does not agree with the system. New Economic Policy was introduced in 1970. It was then meant to use 20 years, just 20 years, to help the Malays out of poverty. But ever since then till now, the country is still running under this system that divide people into Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra but only benefits the former group of people. Therefore to Rehman Rashid as a Malay person, no matter how hard he worked, how high he achieved, from the eyes of the Chinese, the Indians and of other non-Malay ethnic groups, he could never get rid of the tag of Bumiputra, Son of the Soil. Although he criticised out of the genuine love and care to his country, his opinion still made him “not Malay enough” to some of his Malay fellows, of whom some of them would test his loyalty with the legend of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat:
Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat were legendary Malay warriors who served the same Sultan. Hang Tuah served the Sultan with absolute loyalty, while Hang Jebat, honest to his own heart. When the Sultan ordered Hang Tuah to kill Hang Jebat, he did so without hesitation, although that was his best friend. Throughout his life, there were a number of times when Rehman Rashid was tested with the question, “Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, which one is the true hero?” And his answers never seemed to satisfy whomever asking. During the most intense times, he even got interviewed by the Special Branch of the police over a piece of his editorial. He’s lucky, freed after the interview. But many other journalists got arrested and news media forced to shut down at that time. Rehman Rashid received very positive success after publishing this book, and as the political atmosphere was not as sensitive as before to journalists like him, he decided to stay in Malaysia, for good.
Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia and Small Town, published in 2016, were books of his retired days. Actually, Small Town was adapted from 2 chapters of Peninsula. So it’s mainly Peninsula as the continuation after 23 years of A Malaysian Journey. Apart from his personal life journey, he also shared a bitter review of the political evolvement of Malaysia over the years. For example, the Four Failure of Mahathir after retired as the Prime Minister. Now 93, Mahathir became Prime Minister of the country again. Anwar was freed from jail and waiting to take over. Najib was sued with numerous charges I cannot even count. But we will never see Rehman Rashid’s editorials over all these news.
Why would it take two decades to write a sequel? That’s because of a very important person in his life, whose story he could not write until the person passed away, which was his ex-wife, Rosemarie Chen. The reason why he could contribute the rest of his life to his beloved Malaysia was because she let him so. Although the book does not mention anything about “regret”, it’s all over the pages.
Malaysia is a multi-racial country. People marry each other from different ethnic groups. But by law, non-Muslim people have to convert to Islam if they wish to marry Muslim partners, which is irrevocable even if the couple divorced. Rehman Rashid was Malay. Malays are Muslims. Rosemarie was Catholic. None of them intend to change the other or change for the other. But law cannot stop 2 souls from longing for each other. So they still got married. Rosemarie was a lawyer. The world was her oyster. So they moved to Hong Kong and married there. Their marriage was valid everywhere in the whole world, he even stayed in Bermuda several years with her (and won the Journalist of the Year there), except Malaysia. Despite the happy life together and success on both careers, Rosemarie could sense that Rehman’s heart was still in Malaysia, even if he did not say anything. So Rehman took a 1-year unpaid leave, traveled around the whole Malaysia and wrote A Malaysian Journey. The plan was finishing the book and back to Hong Kong. But he decided to stay for his beloved Malaysia. Rosemarie let go, for him.
From the perspective of love or marriage, Rehman was so selfish, how could he leave his wife for some ideals? But from Malaysia’s perspective, if he didn’t leave Rosemarie, we wouldn’t have these masterpieces to read. His books are full of love and care towards Malaysia. Even when he criticised the country, he did so out of sad understandings. Rehman Rashid was born at a time when Malaysia gained independence. New Economic Policy (NEP) that aimed to protect Malay people allowed him to study abroad on governmental funds. Many Malay elites and even governmental officers used to be his mates at school. However, he still disagreed against this system. After finishing his degree, he returned to Malaysia and worked for the Fisheries Research Institute, but government service wasn’t quite for him. Later on he changed his career to news Media, and lived on his pen.
As a journalist, one must have not just good writing skills but sharp sense of insights. He started as a basic journalist to having his own columns and even an the editor, he’s interviewed countless governmental officials. But that was the dark days for news Media in Malaysia. A journalist could disappear after publishing a single piece of article. Newspaper could be forced to shut down. He described journalists then as one of the saddest creatures in the nation. They knew the truth and aware that readers rely on information that they provided, but they could not reveal the truth. He requested work transfers to chill in oversea brand offices several times. But even that his writings could earn him good career and reputation anywhere around the world, where he cared the most was still Malaysia, the field he most excelled at was still Malaysian politics. So he returned again and again. After he retired, he resided in Kuala Kubu Baru, a small town on the border of three states: Selangor, Pahang and Perak. Finally, he dedicated a book to this place, which is Small Town.
Last but not least, please allow me to express Rehman Rashid’s love for Malaysia with a quote from A Malaysian Journey:
But then, I am Malaysian, and only Malaysian, I have been away a long time, and now anywhere in this country feels like home to me. Which is just as well, because nowhere else in the world ever could.
Rehman Rashid died on the 3rd of June, 2017, aged 62.
A Malaysian Journey: https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789839981919
Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia: https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789671339039
Small Town: https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789671439517
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