Dark Clouds at Dawn --- a political memoir is published in English, Chinese and Malay.

One of the longest detained political prisoner in Singapore, Said spent 17 years in detention without trial in newly independent Singapore. He was detained in 1963 when he was 34 years old, during Operation Cold Store.

With this security swoop then Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, eliminated all significant political opposition.

Said Zahari's political detention record in Singapore is outstripped by Chia Thye Poh, who spent 27 years in political detention.

Said Zahari was chief editor of Utusan Melayu (Malay Herald), Singapore/KL, from 1959 to 1961, and presently a guest writer for the Communications Faculty of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University) in Kuala Lumpur.

It was during Said's tenure that UMNO, the dominant Malay political party, in its attempts to dictate editorial policy, was confronted with the longest strike by a group of journalists, supported by all sections of employees of Utusan in (then) Malaya, lasting 91 days.

The issues raised by the strike - basically that the paper should be free and independent of any editorial control by UMNO - are still relevant today.

Not only did his journalistic career suffer after the strike, as he was banned from entering Malaya, but soon after, hours after being elected to the leadership of the Partai Rakyat Singapura (Singapore People's Party), Said was arrested by the Singapore government and detained without trial for 17 years.

All these historically significant events and the many people associated with them, accompanied by personal and political reminiscences, are recounted in Dark Clouds at Dawn.

Tan Jung Quee, a personal friend writes in his Foreword of the book, "Said's experiences as victim reaffirm however, that the indomitable human spirit can rise above tragedy to reclaim a fundamental, human dignity and integrity. This is the lasting message of the memoir."

Said was 51 when he was released.