About BacaMalay

Hello! I’m Shari, a Malaysian living abroad. I created BacaMalay (pronounced BaCha Ma Lay) or Read Malay, with my husband in mind – to help him learn Malay through reading.

BacaMalay is an independent graded-reading project for learners of Malaysian Malay. It is a Malay learning resource built around graded reading for Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced learners, with vocabulary support and English translations. The readings are organised in such a way to help learners build confidence through natural repetition, familiar situations, and stories that are short enough to finish without feeling overwhelmed.

BacaMalay focuses on reading rather than grammar drills or tests. The aim is simple: to make Malaysian Malay easier and more enjoyable to read, one story at a time. See it as a way to supplement instead of a replacement of other learning methods.

Building this site not only gave me a reason to go back to my Malaysian roots where I get to remember all the stories and folklore I grew up reading or listening to, it also gave me a chance to combine that idea with something else I enjoy — learning new things and figuring out how to build them, including the website itself.

I hope it will be useful for you.

— Shari