BY RADIN AZHAR AHMAD
SARAWAK is one of the four states in Malaysia that have yet to have a writer who has been awarded the prestigious title of National Laureate (Sasterawan Negara) despite having deserving candidates.
For literature enthusiasts, this title is essential for raising the standard of Sarawak literature as well as serving as motivation for writers to continue producing quality work.
What are the advantages of Sarawak having a National Laureate?
In an interview with a lecturer from the Faculty of Language and Communication of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Dilah Tuah, Editor of Suara Sarawak Radin Azhar Ahmad, explores the significance of Sarawak having a National Laureate in the near future.
Suara Sarawak: Can you break down the recipients of the National Laureate Award by state?
Dilah: As of the beginning of 2023, 15 individuals have been awarded the National Laureate title by the Malaysian government. If we were to break down the recipients by state, Kedah has the highest number of National Laureates with three recipients: Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Shahnon Ahmad (1982), Datuk Abdullah Hussain (1996), and Datuk Dr Zurinah Hassan (2015).
Perak and Selangor each have two National Laureates: Prof Emeritus Dr Muhammad Salleh and Datuk Baha Zain from Perak, and Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan and Datuk Dr Ahmad Kamal Abdullah, or Kemala, from Selangor.
The National Laureates from other states are Dr Kamaludin Muhammad or Keris Mas (Pahang), Datuk Dr Usman Awang (Johor), Datuk Dr A. Samad Said (Melaka), Datuk Noordin Hassan (Penang), Dr Syed Othman Syed Omar or S. Othman Kelantan (Kelantan), Datuk Rahman Shaari (Perlis), and Prof Dr Siti Zainon Ismail (Kuala Lumpur).
Dr Muhammad Dahlan Abdul Biang or Arena Wati is one of the National Laureates who were born outside Malaysia, in Kalumpang Kabupaten, Jeneponto, Makasar, Indonesia.
Which states do not have a National Laureate yet?
There are four states that do not have a National Laureate, namely, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak. Although these four states do not yet have a National Laureate, this does not mean that state-based selection should be practised.
This is because the National Laureate award is not granted based on state quotas, but is a recognition of individuals who have prestige in the field of literature and have proven to have made outstanding and continuous contributions to the development of national literature.
Can you explain the qualifications for receiving the National Laureate Award?
If we refer to the information on the nomination for the 15th National Literary Award issued by the Secretariat of the National Literary Award, Promotion and Recognition Division, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the eligibility criteria include: firstly, the nomination must be submitted using the nomination form; secondly, the nomination can be submitted by a valid and registered organisation or institution and an individual with influence in the literary field.
Thirdly, the nominated literary figure must be a Malaysian citizen who writes works in the Malay language. In addition, the nomination must also include a written argument about the literary works produced, the candidate’s contributions to the literary world, and activities that encourage the development of national literature.
Why is it important for a state to have a National Laureate?
Personally, the National Laureate is a symbol for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, or state.
However, it is now up to the relevant authorities, such as the Language and Literature Bureau, to bring the National Laureate closer to the people, especially in states without a National Laureate such as Sarawak.
What are the benefits for a state with a National Laureate?
Personally, there are no significant impacts or benefits for any state to have a National Laureate. This is because national literary activities that are attended by the National Laureate are mostly centred in Kuala Lumpur.
Moreover, the birthplace of the National Laureate is not given enough attention to become a local reference and tourist attraction.
In the West, the homes of famous writers have become tourist attractions, such as the birthplace of Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.
Meanwhile, the Kim Yujeong Literary Village (KYLV) in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea, successfully attracted 200,000 visitors in 2010. However, in Malaysia, how many people actually visit the homes of our National Laureates?
What are the benefits of receiving this award?
The National Laureate is a prestigious award given by the Malaysian government to creative writers.
The recipient of the National Laureate will receive national honours, including a Warkah Penghormatan Negara, a cash prize of RM60,000, the publication of 50,000 copies of their book, or a maximum book value of RM500,000, to be purchased by the government and distributed widely to schools, libraries, departments, and government agencies; free medical treatment in first-class wards at any government hospital; facilities for literary creation; facilities for publication; translation of their work into foreign languages; and a living allowance of RM5,000 per month, which was implemented starting from 2019.
All of these privileges are personal, except for the publication and dissemination of literary works, which are seen to have a significant impact on readers, particularly the younger generation in Malaysia.
In addition, at public universities, some National Laureates are appointed as writers-in-residence, aimed at promoting literature and its activities within academia.
So Sarawak cannot enjoy that privilege because there are no National Laureates from Sarawak?
The privilege of being a National Laureate is a personal one. However, the recognition indirectly impacts the development of literature at the state level.
Are there no Sarawakian writers qualified to be conferred the title of National Laureate even though we have three State Laureates and two recipients of the Southeast Asian Writers Award (S.E.A Write Award)?
Yes. Currently, there are no writers from the Land of the Hornbills who hold the title of National Laureate, although the state has three State Laureates, namely, Datuk Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah, Jong Chian Lai, and Zainal Abidin Suhaili (Abizai), as well as two S.E.A Write Award recipients, Jong Chian Lai and Abizai.
In my opinion, all three state laureates are qualified to be nominated as National Laureates by institutions and associations in Sarawak, such as the Persatuan Karyawan Sastera Sarawak (Pekasa) and the Northern Sarawak Writers Association (Putera).
The question now is, have Sarawakians submitted any nominations for the National Laureate Award?
In your opinion, when will we have a National Laureate? Can you explain?
It all depends on the efforts of literary activists and associations in this country. To elevate a writer to the position of National Laureate, State Laureate, or recipient of the Southeast Asian Writers Award, a series of literary discourses and activities that discuss the writer’s thoughts and works need to be held.
All of these discussions, discoveries, and sharing should not just end in seminar rooms but should be published at the national level or at least in Dewan Sastera magazine.
On the other hand, someone who is nominated to become a National Laureate must be actively involved in literary activities at both the state and national levels.
Who can be nominated?
There are many esteemed writers in Sarawak. However, when viewed from the highest recognition achieved at the state and international levels, there are several names that can be suggested, namely, Adi Badiozaman Tuah, Jong Chian Lai, and Abizai.
In your opinion, should all writers’ associations cooperate in determining the National Laureate nominee from Sarawak?
Yes, that is what the writers’ associations in this state should do, and I believe that this cooperation has already been established.
Therefore, for the upcoming National Laureate nomination, it is appropriate for the writers’ associations in this state to submit their nominations for the National Laureate to the secretariat for consideration.
What efforts are the states in Peninsular Malaysia making to produce a national laureate?
I am not entirely certain about this, but what is essential to consider is the strength of the writer’s works and their active involvement in literary activities. Good works will bring the writer closer to the public, while active involvement will showcase the writer’s authority and leadership.
What is the role of the state government in producing a national laureate from Sarawak?
In my opinion, writers in Sarawak are fortunate because literary activities in the state receive support from the state government, such as the Sarawak State Literary Award and the Sarawak Writer’s Literature Award.
However, to produce a National Laureate from Sarawak, planned efforts need to be implemented. This includes organising large-scale literary activities in Sarawak to introduce writers and their works at the national and international levels.
Perhaps there needs to be a comprehensive plan for that?
Yes, such a plan should be developed by the Sarawak Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in collaboration with writers’ associations in the state so that Sarawak’s dream of having a National Laureate can be realised.
If Sarawak has a National Laureate, is it a sign that Sarawakian writers’ works have reached the top position?
As I mentioned earlier, the National Laureate is a personal recognition and is not limited by state or region.
Therefore, having a National Laureate in Sarawak does not mean that Sarawakian writers’ works are already in the top position. However, the existence of a National Laureate in the state is expected to motivate writers to produce high-quality works.
What is your challenge to Sarawakian writers to achieve the National Laureate?
Awards and recognition usually come after the creation of a literary work. Therefore, the main challenge for writers in Sarawak is to produce quality literary works that have an impact on national and international audiences.
Good work will elevate the names of the writers, including placing them in a position to receive awards and recognition.
