Postcolonialism? - modern Malaysia [Book review]

The English language educational heritage that has passed on to writers in what were once colonies has had a significant impact on English literary history, yet as peripheral Australians we appear to receive this when it comes legitimised from the literary centre in Europe rather than from the margins, even though these margins might actually constitute the centre of our own region. One has only to consider the reception of 'Indian' writers in English such as Rushdie and Naipaul to appreciate this. Both are from the European centre whereas K.S. Maniam is part of the global periphery. Therefore, when we look at Maniam's The Return and In A Far Country, the opportunity exists for absorption of a new literature in English direct from its source, a source placed within our region. This is advantageous both in terms of pure literary pursuit and also in terms of understanding a region that perpetually fills non-Malaysians with cultural confusion. That Malaysia, the locale of these two novels, falls into this category as a nation with which Australia has had conflict in recent years makes the reading of Maniam's books a logical step for Australians seeking some insight into the region. K.S. Maniam, The Return, London: Skoob Books, 1993, AND In A Far Country, London: Skoob Books, 199