KUALA LUMPUR: The late K.S. Maniam was a literary giant who managed to capture the Malaysian spirit in his impressive body of work.
This was the opinion of colleagues and friends of the writer, poet and playwright, who died of cancer at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre here on Wednesday. He was 78.
Professor Malachi Edwin Vethamani said that besides being passionate about his work, Maniam was also warm and friendly. Both of them had been friends since their days at Universiti Malaya’s English Department in the 1980s.
“I knew him for more than 30 years. I first met him in the 1980s to discuss his work and writings. Maniam was a lecturer and associate professor in UM.
“He was very generous with his time and would come to my classes and meet my students, who were studying his works,” said Malachi, who is now lecturing in University of Nottingham Malaysia’s School of English.
Malachi was among the first to break the news of Maniam’s death on Facebook.
He said last year, Maniam oversaw the publishing of his book entitled Selected Works, which was launched by his publisher, Maya Press, and University of Nottingham Malaysia.
At that event, fellow writers read Maniam’s work and actors performed his plays.
“He had been publishing works since the late 1960s. While he received international awards and recognition, sadly, this Kedah-born writer never received any awards in this country, largely because he wrote in English and not Bahasa Malaysia.
“After he was diagnosed with cancer, he continued to write. Prior to his passing, he was more into writing poems.”
Malachi last spoke to Maniam last week to invite him to become a panellist at an English language event, but the author declined as he was ill.
“The last time I saw him was in January for a television show hosted by Sharaad Kuttan. It was an interview about Malaysians writing in English.”
Among Maniam’s most famous works was The Return, a novel that is used in literature lessons for Form Five students.
Much of his works were also incorporated into the syllabus of university courses and had become the subject of research.
Maniam’s career spanned more than 55 years since he published his first work, a poem, in 1964 at the age of 22.
Sasbadi Holdings Bhd group managing director Law King Hui, who is also Maniam’s publisher, described him as a good friend.
“He was professional in his approach. I knew that he painstakingly rewrites his stories.
“He seemed to be a private person, but in reality, he was very warm. You could go to him to talk about anything, but he would never intrude into your life.
“I will always remember him as a good friend,” said Law, adding that Maniam was able to vividly describe the bygone eras of Malaysia.
Maniam’s former student, Dr Susan Philip, said the late writer explored themes of identity and belonging in his works.
“You might argue the society he portrayed in his works were not diverse since he focused on the Indian community in plantations. But fundamentally, he showed these characters learning to be Malaysian. In that sense, his works reflect Malaysian society because that’s what most of us are trying to do — learn to be Malaysian.
“He had that awareness that we are hybrid people, and we should acknowledge that hybridity.”
Co-founder of Five Arts Centre Datin Marion D’Cruz said she first met Maniam through her late husband, Datuk Krishen Jit, and was awed by his ability to write thoughtful plays.
“His plays are masterful, complex, deep, tough and unusual, exploring issues of race, class, power and the human psyche,” she said.
Maniam leaves a wife, son, daughter and two grandchildren. He will be cremated at the Petaling Jaya City Council Crematorium in Kampung Tunku at 11am today.