Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to publish 8 books to promote Malay publications
|By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awg Badaruddin (right) signing a memorandum of intent witnessed by the DBP director Hj Abdul Hakim (second from right)

A total of 8 books will soon be published by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Brunei in its bid to increase the number of publications by local writers in Malay language. An agreement signing ceremony with the writers of the eight books was held at the DBP Brunei in Berakas yesterday afternoon.

Present at the signing ceremony was the DBP director, Hj Abdul Hakim bin Hj Mohd Yassin who signed on behalf of DBP, the publisher.

One of the writers who was involved in the signing agreement is Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awg Badaruddin bin Pengarah DP Hj Othman, a past recipient of SEA Write Award 1998, the ASEAN-COCI Award in 1993 and Lee Kuan Yew Award in 1995.

His new book, "Pada Hemat Saya" is an anthology of his personal views on the surroundings.

Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Hamid bin Mohd Daud wrote a historical book entitled "Perkembangan Persekolahan Agama di Negara Brunei Darussalam dari Tahun 1956 hingga 1984 Masehi (The Development of Religious Schools in Brunei Darussalam from 1956 - 1984)".

Dr Hajah Maimun Aqsha bin Abidin Lubis meanwhile wrote an academic book "Satu Perbandingan Kesan Tiga kaedah Pengajaran Bahasa Arab Terhadap Pencapaian Kemahiran Bahasa di Pusat Matrikulasi Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia".

Dr Haji Morsidi bin Hj Muhammad published his thesis for his masters degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1992.

The book entitled "Muslim Burmat dan Karyanya: Satu Anilisis Stilistik" depicts the writing style of one of Brunei's great novelists, Muslim Burmat.

A teenage novel by Pg Omar bin Pg Hj Othman, "Kembali Mengabdi" will also be published by DBP.

Another young writer, Hj Mohd Ali Hj Raden also wrote a novel, "Kota Kaca" which will also be published by the DBP.

A syair book entitled "Syair Ristaan" by Pg Hj Md Noor Pg Sarbain actually portrays a traditional writing style in syair verses. The book features the local Brunei family culture when a family member is about to get married.

"Tiada Lagi Perjalanan", written by Hj Ibrahim Hj Muhammad is also a teenage novel. Hj Ibrahim is the SEA Write Award 2001 recipient for Brunei Darussalam.

The DBP also announced that it will also publish another six books in the near future.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin