IT is timely that the Sidang Kemuncak Penulis Malaysia, to be held at the end of this month, will focus on the theme “Literature as the Pillar of National Development”.
The summit is being organised by Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia, the National Writers’ Association of Malaysia, the Language and Literary Agency and the Federation of National Writers’ Association. Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir will officiate the summit.
The papers are to focus on the tapestry of Malaysian literature, creating peaks of excellence in sustaining works and internationalising Malaysian literature.
The debate remains whether “literature is for literature’s sake” or for society. A similar debate remains in higher education — whether “knowledge is for knowledge’s sake” or knowledge is for employment.
The debate to define whether Malaysian literature is only literature in Malay written by Malaysians or literature written in any of the languages of Malaysia, and may be written by non-Malaysians, rages on. The prescription of what Malaysian literature is will have political as well as ethnic overtones.
Society has set itself the agenda to become a knowledgeable and virtuous society. Economists and politicians cannot achieve this exalted agenda. A knowledge- and virtues-based society must have from its ranks a community of writers who have lofty ideas to achieve a vision.
Only great minds of great and honourable writers can generate ideals the next generation can accept.
Great minds and great writers do not just come from large or rich nations.
The experiences of life and the drama of living constitute the conditions and backgrounds from which thinking, feeling, sensing and reflective writers pen words which are bold and moving, leading the next generation towards greatness.
As the nation boldly defines itself and constructs new realities in all domains, in literature, it has to move away from the vestiges of the colonial and post-colonial past, third world mentality, emergent and peripheral domains, and set out into the mainstream. To do so, it must free itself of what a Germans scholar once described as “servility, blind obedience, dogmatism, inflexibility and discrimination against others”.
Malaysian scholar Noritah Omar noted that “one of the biggest challenges faced by writers of modern Malay literature is to depict the multicultural reality of modern Malaysian life… not only to depict an ethnocentric reality populated with Malay characters and issues that are seemingly of exclusive concern to Malay community”.
Analysing the citations for 111 Nobel laureates in Literature from 1901 to this year (writing in many languages), the following benchmark cues as challenges for our writers are noted: “…profoundly sensitive, fresh, beautiful verse, and poetic thought; lofty idealism; the sympathy and love of truth which describe different types of human beings; inspired writings exemplifying the classical humanitarian ideals and high qualities of style; rare strength and fertility of poetic imagination; an intellectual curiosity of wide scope; bold, comprehensive and artistically-significant writings in which human problems and conditions have been presented with a fearless love of truth and keen psychological insight; for the power, honesty and deep-felt emotions of tragedy; for vigorous and graphic art of description and ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters; varied and significant writings which champion humanitarian ideals and freedom to think…”
Great works are not just about works of the past but the best works are yet to come.
Great works are not just works in the English language but works in other languages as well, including indigenous languages.
Great works are not just works in the religious traditions but also works in the secular traditions.
Great works are not just those which have won the Noble Prize for Literature or other international awards, but include works which have not won awards at all.
All stakeholders in national development should use literature to promote the best of Malaysia’s virtues and goodness, framed by universal humanitarian virtues shared by all.
Regardless of whether their works are accepted or otherwise, Malaysian writings in languages writers are masterful in should continue, with resolve to contribute to the noble endeavour to develop and unite the nation.
The younger generations are searching for role models and leaders who can fill the vacuum of sterile leadership, or, with truthful boldness, counter the doctrines of hate, psychologically levelling down, diminishing or marginalising people. Leaders who are also great writers can reach individuals and elevate their self-esteem, sense of belonging and pride of being citizens of a just society.