Gedung Kuning

Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay Childhood was launched on:

9 January 2010 (Saturday) at The Pod, National Library.

Through 28 short stories, readers get a historical narrative of the lives of the people living in Gedung Kuning and the Malays of Singapore from 1850s to 1999.

- 240 pages, more than 70 photos, 7 architectural drawings & 5 maps

- ISBN: 978-981-08-4756-2

The book is published by Singapore Heritage Society and Helang Books. The publication is supported under the National Heritage Board's Heritage Industry Incentive Programme (Hi2P).

Read 2 stories from the book:

Piah Hitam

The Boy from Bussorah Street

The book is available in major bookstores in Singapore & Malaysia. You may also order online with

Archipelago Consultancy (Singapore)

MPH Online (Malaysia)

What Readers Say?

'Gedung Kuning' brings the reader back to a time gone by, a time when Singapore was a regional trading entrepot tied to the economies of the Malay Archipelago. Hidayah’s heartfelt vignettes introduce the reader to one extended family’s journey from those days into the modern age of the developed city state. The writing brings the characters to life, weaving together the fabric of a complete story out of individual narratives.
This book is a reflection on the development of a family, a culture and a country; a reflection on what has been lost and what has been gained in the last century. Once started, it’s hard to put down; readers will surely finish the book with a more nuanced understanding of Malay culture and Singaporean history.
- Ira Renfrew

'Gedung Kuning' provides insights into generations of Malay and Islamic way of living in Singapore. The book also signposts stages of Singapore's development as a thriving community of remarkable personalities. For a non-Malay and non-Muslim reader like me, the book not only opens up views of life in Singapore that I never came close to knowing, but also evokes a sense of familiarity in places. An enjoyable read! - Kuo-Yi Lim

Reading Gedung Kuning reminded me very much of that scene from 'Amelie', where she finds an old metal box of childhood memorabilia hidden by a boy who lived in her apartment decades earlier. Reading Gedung Kuning was for me like opening such a treasure box, where, to my delight, I found long, long lost memories of my life as a young boy growing up in Bedok in the 1960s. - Sabri Zain, archivist of Sejarah Melayu portal

As an expat very interested in all things Singaporean, I really enjoyed reading 'Gedung Kuning'. It was an especially interesting way to learn more about Malay culture and Malay family life, subjects for which I have found little written about in English. 'Gedung Kuning' is very accessible for readers of all ages and let the reader learn about Singapore and its history through the eyes of one family living in a most wonderfully fascinating house. I found myself envious of the author and her childhood and family history – what a rich tapestry of personalities and memories she has as a heritage. - Tom Estad

I enjoyed reading it though the word "enjoyed" is hardly appropriate given the sad ending to your story. The story itself is well told and is an interesting piece of Singapore family history, the more so as the family involved is Malay. I think it will become increasingly important as a source for the history of Kampong Glam as the years go by. - Prof John Bastin

I must say it’s a sweet book. I did feel so good reading it. It was rich in history and culture of the Muslim communities. It made me so want to go there and see the place and meet your family too…..It was simple and touching in its childlike loveliness. The book did give me a good insight into the Javanese Malays and did ring lovely common chords in humanity with each anecdote.... I was sad to finish the book. - Sivam Subramaniam

Many congratulations on the fabulous book and the equally fabulous book launch on Saturday. I am enjoying the book immensely and enjoyed the launch even more! - Andrew Price

Saya dan suami sedang seronok membaca buku Hidayah dan rasa bangga sekali dengan usaha Hidayah - ternyata ia diusahakan dengan rasa kasih yang mendalam terhadap warisah sejarah keluarga, rasa bangga budaya dan agama yang utuh! Tahniah Hidayah! - Prof Hadijah Rahmat

Laughed and cried reading Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay Childhood. Thumbs up to the author Hidayah Amin for this new national treasure. - Rilla Melati

I learned so much history facts, malay culture as well as Islam practices in a malay family in one book! GEDUNG KUNING IS AN AWESOME READ! I really really really like your book! I feel myself immersed in your childhood memories. - Hazimah Salikemin

What I enjoy about the book, other than the richness of information, is how you have written it in a manner that can be easily understood by people even without a deep background on Singapore's Malay History. Also, the plentiful pictures illustrate some of the associated points very well. - Ibrahim Iqbal

Der Mangel an Literatur über die malaiische Kultur in Singapur ist bekannt. Viele haben nachgedacht und diskutiert, aber Frau Hidayah hat's geschrieben. Das Buch 'Gedung Kuning' ist für die hiesige malaiische Literaturlandschaft wichtig, weil es ein typisches malaiisches Kulturleben dokumentiert, was leider verloren gegangen ist. Frau Hidayah hat dies liebevoll in ihren vielen Kindheitsgeschichten erzählt. Dieses Buch ist um so bedeutender, weil es auch zeigt, wie diese junge, resolute und mutige Frau alleine kämpft um ihr Erbe – das Erbe der Malaien - gegen den Strom der Gesellschaft zu verteidigen.
Meine Hochachtung. Vielen Dank Hidayah! - Dr Yahaya Sanusi

Malay translation: Kekurangan buku-buku mengenai kehidupan dan kebudayaan Melayu di Singapura memang tidak dapat dinafikan. Ramai telah memikir dan berbicara, tetapi Puan Hidayah telah menulisnya. Buku “Gedung Kuning” adalah sangat penting dalam wadah mengenai kebudayaan Melayu di sini, bukan saja kerana ia telah menggambarkan satu faset kehidupan Melayu yang malangnya telah hilang. Puan Hidayah telah menceritakan kisahnya dengan penuh kasih. Tetapi buku ini lebih bermakna kerana ia menunjukkan kegigihan seorang anak muda yang sanggup melawan arus masyarakat, untuk menahan warisannya – warisan masyarakat Melayu.
Hormat saya kepadanya. Terima kasih Hidayah. - Dr Yahaya Sanusi

Other Comments & Where in the world is the Gedung Kuning book?

Read them on Facebook - Gedung Kuning Book

In Gedungku, memories are made of this... - Ismail Kassim, Author and former Straits Times Senior Correspondent -

Bagai lalui 'rollercoaster' emosi dek khazanah silam - Berita Harian, 3 February 2012, page 16

Gedung Kuning book is mentioned in 'The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei' (pg 188) - "A simple, heartfelt account of life in the little yellow mansion on Kandahar Street, taking in Muslim festivals, family weddings, neighbourhood characters and stories handed down over the generations, culminating with the author's family being pitiably turfed out in 1999 when the state took over the property."