The entrepreneur, corporate executive, writer and now novelist shares his tale of Malaysia’s oldest city
Options: Congratulations on the release of If the Walls of Melaka Should Crumble. Can you tell us what it is about?
Ahmad Zakie Shariff: The title came easily to me. It depicts how the Melakans kept fighting even though the ‘walls’ of Melaka had fallen. Interestingly, the barrier itself was light and built from bamboo. The book starts with two friends who see a journal written by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese mariner who had never even reached Melaka. I did the research for about 11 months. After the first draft, it did not tug at my heart. So, I weaved in love stories to add more soul. The story is filled with a mix of historical figures such as Afonso de Albuquerque and characters conceptualised or named after real people and those from my personal life.
What makes this different from other historical novels about Melaka?
I like stories about underdogs and, in my research, I came across archives of documents from the Melakan perspective. But every time we read history, it is either written by the Portuguese and translated or written by the British — and they always glorify the West. I wanted to put both the Invader and the Defender in one novel — a viewpoint of both the Portuguese and the Melakans. I wanted to give names and voices to the sailors, traders, people who fought the war, manned the ships and sold food. I can write about the royal court, but what about the marketplace? I envisioned Melaka in a picturesque way and tried to convey that, including emotions of anger and fear. I wanted to touch on leadership, vision, our national identity and how we are interlocked with each other. Although set in the past, the story relates to modern issues such as personal greed, shaken loyalty and women’s emancipation. I also tried to embody our melting-pot nation with characters from different demographics and localities — such as Wirawati (heroine) and Baba Nyonya.
How do you feel, having launched your first novel?
I had the privilege of it being launched by Tengku Fa-iz of Kelantan at a reading festival. He has a PhD in Etruscan studies, which predates Roman history. For a historian to launch my book, I felt really good and happy.
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Why Melaka?
At the time, I was reading Shōgun by James Clavell, and I told myself, maybe I should write something like that. To me, Melaka is a name you do not have to sell because it is known by half the world.
What do you love most about it?
Many things about the state enchant me. I see the Melakans as the hotchpotch of Malaysia; they accept everything and embrace their history. I like the historic content of Melaka itself, the way Melakans hold themselves and the manner in which they speak (their dialect sounds a bit rougher than the standard Malay but it is endearing, and they don’t mean any harm). Their stories and superstitions, I feel I have experienced some of them myself — although perhaps it was wishful thinking.
How did your pen name come about?
Out of embarrassment, I think. My school had a female magazine titled Her World, and I worried that if my short stories were published there, I’d be mocked. I rearranged the letters of my name and it became Edham Kaizer; I decided to resurrect it for this novel. My management books are published by universities with my real name, so I use it to have that distinction.
Who are some of your favourite writers and go-to reads?
Through a teacher named Mr Ghafoor, my parents and my aunt who studied and taught at a Christian school, I was exposed to issues of Reader’s Digest, Enid Blyton and Lord of the Flies. As time progressed, I started reading James Clavell and, through my grandfather’s library, got influenced by A Samad Said and Shahnon Ahmad. Growing older, I became acquainted with writers like Bernard Cornwell and Jeffrey Archer. I always go back to memoirs like The Travels of Marco Polo. Lately, I have been reading more biographies — Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Carly Fiorina.
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What does a day in your life look like?
Breakfast starts with a few friends over conversations and banter on current issues, usually at an Indian restaurant. By lunch, I will have had a meeting or two and, at 3pm, I am back at home accompanying my wife watching a Chinese serial or something on Netflix. My nights are filled with writing.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy music very much. It touches my heart, especially the storytelling that comes through the lyrics. My friends and I had a band in school where I played the bass guitar. Melodies always helped calm me down, especially when you come from a background of stockbroking and investment banking.
Of all the hats you have worn, which have you enjoyed the most?
Teaching. I enjoy sitting at the table and telling stories. I realise that many students want to listen about experiences because it makes them want to learn more.
If you could do anything, what would your next venture be?
I want to discover the next great Malaysian artiste. It can be any genre. I just want to find the next M Nasir or P Ramlee, a name that lasts. I see myself as someone who supports greatness, and I think there is so much that Malaysians can show the world.
What should we look forward to next from Edham Kaizer?
I am currently writing a book about national heroes, with themes of freedom and activism. So, you can look out for that if you enjoy my style of writing.
This article first appeared on Oct 20, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
