Rare Books

With the advancement of the Internet by leaps and bounds on the daily basis, reading books has become a rare commodity and like all things rare, books will one day increase in value.

I would like to share some of the books that I not only value but cherish. I must thank my dad because most of the books are due to his endeavors and his direct contacts with VVIP's.   

All of you must have came across this book at one time or another. The Malay Dilemma. You may agree or disagree with the author but Tun puts a strong and compelling read  

Autographed personally by YBhg. Tan Sri T. H. Tan addressed to my dad. Sad to say being that idiot that I am, I never looked after the book well resulting in watermarks and some damages. But no torn or missing pages I am glad to report 

Statesman and Leader, autographed personally by Tun himself to my dad

Tun Salleh Abas, a close friend of my dad

The author, Tan Sri Khir Johari also another close friend of my dad

Addressed to me, a young punk in 1993

I was lucky that the grand daughter of En. Said Zahari was my ex staff

The Former Honorable Lord President of Malaysia

Personally signed by Tun Salled Abas to my dad

Mohammed Elkadiri Elhassani Elyamani, (born January 21, 1957) was a Moroccan financier which relocated to Singapore. A massive developer and a conman.

Arrested by Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department based on suspicions that the letters of credit he had used to borrow S$72 million had been fraudulently issued

I had no idea of the existence of this honorable man. I must thank my Punjabi friend, Mr Sowaran Singh Gurnam Singh for highlighting the outstanding contributions of this highly charged and explosive individual during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. Mr Gurchan received his education at the Methodist Boys school. He joined the police force as a Constable and rose to the rank of Superintendent of Police, before the war.

During the Japanese occupation he began secret printing communiques with war news from around the world. This proved invaluable as people were not allowed to listen to foreign news stations and only Japanese news filled with mere propaganda was allowed.

The communiques were signed Singa. This was also moniker against the Tiger of Malaya title, given to General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

He also carried out acts of sabotage, cutting telecommunication lines and even attacking Japanese soldiers with grenades. Mr Gurchan also recruited agents such as John Sandasamy, who helped sabotage trains, delaying transportation of war materials to Burma, a war front was at the time.

He was caught when one of his agents revealed his identity to the Kempetai. He managed to escape when the Kempetai came to arrest him at his Lake Gardens house, took off his turban, cut his hair, shaved off his beard and eventually joined the infamous Death Railway workforce under an assumed name. A reward of $100,000 was offered leading to his death or arrerst. 

Gurchan planned to cross the battle lines into Allied-held territory in Burma, but the war had ended. On his return to Kuala Lumpur, he resumed his career in the Police force and ended up the principal security officer and bodyguard of Tunku Abdul Rahman. He died in a road accident near Batu Pahat, Johor in 7 March 1965 (age 51) while on official business for the then Prime Minister. He was on his way to Singapore to look into security measures for the PM before the PM's official visit, when his Borgward coupe went off the road at the 7th mile Ayer Hitam - Yong Peng road at 7.00pm.

He was seriously injured and admitted to the Batu Pahat district hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 2 hours later. His 2 other passengers sustained slight injuries, Badariah bt Abdul Hamid, 25 and Norhani Bt Yusof, 19. 

His body was send to his house at Swettenham road and was cremated at Loke Yew Road crematorium.

He was supposed to fly to Singapore by the 2.30pm flight but changed his mind and decided to drive. 

I am made to understand that Mr Gurchan was famous during his time, and he was one of the people read about in a textbook named Heroes of Malaya, widely used in schools in the 1950s. Yet his name, like so many of the heroes our country has produced over the years, has faded now

Guys during my generation would be familiar with  Bonny Susan Hicks (5 January 1968 – 19 December 1997). She was a Singapore Eurasian model and writer. Below is her first book, Excuse Me, Are You A Model? It is recognized as a significant milestone in the literary and cultural history of Singapore. 

She died at age 29 on 19 December 1997 on board SilkAir Flight 185 when it crashed into the Musi River on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing all 104 passengers. 

Being the jack ass that I am, I did not get it when it was first published. Only upon her demise I started looking for it frantically. Glad to say I now have a copy.

Whenever my thoughts go to her this song comes to mind. "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" 

It is indeed eerie how the song seems to reflect the mannerism of her unfortunate passing. God bless her soul.

It is a traditional Scottish folk song often suggested to be Charles Edward Stuart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie'), after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. During his exile, his Jacobite supporters could have sung the tune in his honor. Due to the ambiguity of the term "bonnie", it could refer to a woman as well as to a man, they could pretend it was a love song. Hence, honoring a fallen prince would not have ended in punishment due to this ambiguity. Who knows?

My Bonnie lies over the ocean

My Bonnie lies over the sea

My Bonnie lies over the ocean

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me...

Bring back, bring back

O,Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

Bring back, bring back

O,Bring back my Bonnie to me

Last night as I lay on my pillow

Last night as I lay on my bed

Last night as I lay on my pillow

I dreamt that my Bonnie was dead

Oh blow the winds o'er the ocean

And blow the winds o'er the sea

Oh blow the winds o'er the ocean

And bring back my Bonnie to me

Bring back, bring back

O,Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

Bring back, bring back

O,Bring back my Bonnie to me

The winds have blown over the ocean

The winds have blown over the sea

The winds have blown over the ocean

And brought back my Bonnie to me

I had no idea who she was until her name was immortalized by Kurt Cobain in Nirvana's song "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle" and appears on the band's 1993 In Utero album. Cobain also named his daughter Frances Bean, after The Vaselines' singer and guitarist, Frances McKee.

Frances Elena Farmer (September 19, 1913 – August 1, 1970) was an American actress and television host. Her book is about her being institutionalized at a mental asylum. Many claimed that her book has been sensationalized especially her involuntary commitment to a mental hospital. But who knows? All I can say is that she writes brilliantly and expressively   

The Watchmen. Those who has seen the movie would be familiar. Reprint

Reprint. Need I say more. As my son would say. I am Tony Stark, Iron Man. The origins

Valmiki's Ramayana. This is a reprint edition. I first was given this comics when I was still in secondary school by a respected family friend. Due to my immaturity I along the way lost interest and disposed it. Over the years the memories kept reminding me of my errors and when I got the chance, I managed to purchase it

Aliens vs Predator. First print. First time in comics the battle of the species

Origins of Doomsday. First print

This is really cool. DC vs Marvel comics superheros. First print

Spawn first print, no's 1 to 10. Regarding becoming Spawn

Kingdom come and the death of Superman. Although its not first edition but still not easy to find. Kingdom come is the aftermath of superheros after they have turned old and no longer in their prime. The death of Superman at the hands of Doomsday. The series came about to revive Superman's comic book sales