Local writer at literature summit
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Hj Jawawi.

A local writer joined 200 literati from the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) for a three-day language and literature summit in Kuching, Sarawak commencing Thursday.

At the event experts discussed cultural cooperation and development in the region. It is expected to end today.

Haji Jawawi bin Hj Ahmad, a language officer of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei also delivered a working paper at the summit.

Its focus is to find a suitable approach to strengthen literature, language and cultural programmes and to discuss socio-cultural issues of the Malay stock in BIMP-EAGA.

A total of 18 working papers were delivered at the summit by literature and cultural experts, including from Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.

At the opening ceremony held at the Merdeka Palaca last Thursday, the Sarawak Tourism Minister Dato Sri Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg said a more pragmatic approach should be used to develop the region's creative industry.

"Our creative industry such as music, films, drama, theatre and books should be developed in tandem with the development of a country and culturists, artists and writers could help build up the industry," he said.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin