Meet the Author: Potret Kenangan: Johor’s History through the Lens of Photographs and Memories by Ahmad Fadhli Syed Hassan
Date: Saturday, 19 September 2026
Time: 10.00am
Venue: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee: RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Click HERE to register!
Programme
9.30am: Registration
10.00am: Opening Speech by Dr. Habibah Ashari, Former 14th Holder of the Tun Abdul Razak Chair, Ohio University
10.15am: Introduction and Talk by Ahmad Fadhli Syed Hassan
10.45am: Q&A session
11.00am: Book signing
11.30am: End of event
About The Book
Potret Kenangan takes the audience on a journey back to one of the most significant occasions in Johor’s history—the celebration of the 82nd birthday of the late Sultan Ibrahim and the Diamond Jubilee marking the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s reign as the Sultan of Johor on 17 September 1955.
Drawing largely from the author’s personal collection of historical photographs, the book goes beyond presenting images of the past. It brings together photographs, memories, personalities, and historical accounts to reconstruct the atmosphere and significance of this remarkable celebration.
In this talk, the author will share the story behind the making of Potret Kenangan, including the inspiration for the book, the process of researching and identifying historical photographs, and the challenges of transforming visual materials into a meaningful historical narrative.
The talk will also highlight the importance of preserving old photographs and personal collections as valuable historical sources. Ultimately, Potret Kenangan demonstrates how photographs can connect present and future generations with the past while strengthening appreciation for Johor’s Sultanate history, heritage, and identity.
About The Author
Ahmad Fadhli Syed Hassan is an author born in Johor Bahru who currently serves as an Administrative Officer (Publishing) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He is an active writer with a particular interest in the history of the Modern Johor Sultanate, prominent Johor personalities, and the preservation of the state’s historical heritage.
His published works include ‘Almarhum Sultan Ismail Johor 1894–1981’ (2018), which received the 2019 National Book Award for Best General Book (Royal Biography); ‘Taat dan Setia: Almarhum Sultan Ismail Johor dalam Kenangan’ (2020); ‘Sebelum Senja Berlabuh: Kenangan di Johor Bahru’ (2022); ‘Transformasi JPS: Melestari Alam Bercitra Global’ (2022); and ‘Ahmad Perang: Meluru Laju di Rel Waktu’ (2025).
His latest work, Potret Kenangan, continues this endeavour by bringing together historical photographs and narratives surrounding the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the late Sultan Ibrahim of Johor in 1955.
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