KUCHING: Seven winners emerged from the 10th Anugerah Sastera Negeri Sarawak (ASNS) competition organised by Sarawak Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).
The announcement of the winners was officiated by Assistant Education and Technological Research Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee on Tuesday (July 6) via Zoom.
The winner for ‘Anugerah Sasterawan Negeri Sarawak’ was Zainal Abidin Suhaili; the late Awang Bujang Awang Hamdan won the ‘Anugerah Khas Bahasa dan Sastera’ and Janang Ensiring won the ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Kategori Bahasa Iban’.
Awang Bujang Awang Hamdan 
Janang Ensiring 
Zainal Abidin Suhaili
Abang Median Abang Said won two awards, namely ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Genre Novel’ and ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Genre Cerpen’.
Similar to Abang Median, Ja’afar Hamdan won two awards, namely ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Genre Puisi’ and ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Genre Esei Kritikan’.
The winner for ‘Anugerah Sasterawan Negeri Sarawak’ will receive a RM20,000 cash prize, a RM6,000 cash prize goes to the ‘Anugerah Khas Bahasa dan Sastera’ winner and a RM4,000 cash prize respectively going to the ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Mengikut Genre (Novel, Puisi, Cerpen, Esei Kritikan dan Drama Skrip’ as well as ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Mengikut Kategori Bahasa (Iban, Bidayuh, Melayu Sarawak, Melanau, Cina, Orang Ulu dan Inggeris)’ winners.
Dr Annuar disclosed that 32 nominations were received by the competition’s secretariat for the 10 categories.
He noted that the two nominations for ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Mengikut Kategori Bahasa (Inggeris)’ and one nomination for ‘Anugerah Penulis Sarawak Mengikut Kategori Bahasa (Cina)’ were disqualified as they did not fulfil requirements.
Dr Annuar pointed out that the selection and decision for the ASNS were made by the panel assessors committee appointed by the state government.
“The committee conducted two special meetings and discussions to discuss, review and evaluate the works produced by the nominees.
“I would like to congratulate the winners and it is hoped that with this recognition, all Sarawakian writers will strive in their efforts to produce high quality works that are as outstanding as those produced by local and foreign writers.”
