BOOK REVIEW | Hafiz Noor Shams recalls heady optimism of the 1990s

BOOK REVIEW | In his book, The End of the Nineteen-Nineties, economist Hafiz Noor Shams recollects that very special time when he was growing up during the 1990s. According to him, it was a time when Malaysians had come together as one nation.

“The 1990s were full of Malaysia-ness. I believed in things Malaysia believed in.

“Just as I began to appreciate my maturing identity, the country altered its course. Malaysia changed its character from one that was gentle, tolerant, and confident, to an insecure schizophrenic madman.” (pg 250)

The book begins with Hafiz heading to Kampung Pandan on a rainy day in May 2018 to attend a rally where former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be speaking.

Excerpt: “I wanted to see and feel what it would be like to be part of that crowd. This was the man who broke my heart when he reneged on his promises in the 2000s – and now, almost two decades later, he had a new set of promises.” (Pg 7)

He talks about the rallies...