National Literary Writers Association honours local writers for contribution
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

The three writers, (from left to right): Muslim Burmat, Zefri Ariff Brunei and A Hashim Hamid with Prof Dato' Dr Hj Hashim Awang, a professor at the Malay Literature Department, Literature and Social Science Faculty, UBD

Three books by local literary writers were launched by the National Literary Writers Association (ASTERAWANI) at a function held at the Restoran PGS in Kiulap yesterday afternoon. The books, published by the Malay Literature Department, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), were Terbang Tinggi (Fly High) by the nation's top novelist Muslim Burmat, Memorinduku (My Yearning Memos) by A Hashim Hamid and Rapat (Meeting) by Zefri Ariff Brunei.

The launching was officiated by the guest of honour, Prof Madya Dr Hj Hashim bin Hj Abd Hamid, the leader of ASTERAWANI cum Director of Academy of Brunei Studies, UBD.

Also present were Prof Dato Dr Hj Hashim Awang, a professor at the Malay Literature Department, Literature and Social Science Faculty of UBD, Dato Paduka Hj Mahmud Hj Bakyr, UBD lecturers and staff, officials of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and members of ASTERAWANI.

The event was also a thanksgiving ceremony for four of ASTERAWANI's members who either obtained honours in literature or have contributed much towards the development of literature.

Muslim Burmat was awarded the Anugerah MASTERA 2002, Prof Madya Dr Hj Hashim received the Anugerah Derma Bakti GAPENA, Rahim MS the SEA Write Award 2001 and Borneo Bulletin's journalist Rosli Abidin Yahya, the 2002 SEA Write Award, which he received in Bangkok, Thailand last year.

In his address, Prof Madya Dr Hj Hashim hit back at critics who said literature was no longer relevant in the era of globalisation and electronic economy. "Literature makes people more 'human', and appreciative of the arts and environment."

"There is a need for 'balance' so that people can be more appreciative to the people, society and environment through the manipulation of 'beautiful' words in literature," he suggested.

Literature, he added, educates people on the moral and beauty aspects of life. More importantly, he went on to say, it opens up the minds of people to promote thinking!

The organising chairman, Dr Ampuan Hj Brahim bin Ampuan Hj Tengah, the deputy leader of ASTERAWANI, in his opening address said the event was one of the many organisation's activities. He added that ASTERAWANI also organises seminars, workshops, conferences, summits, dialogues, competitions, research and publication of working papers.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin