Local Writer Set To Receive Coveted SEA Write Award
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - The 2005 SEA Write Award recipient for Brunei Darussalam formally received the acknowledgement letter from Acting Director of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Brunei yesterday afternoon at the Universiti Brunei - Darussalam (UBD), stating that he will receive the coveted literary award in Bangkok, Thailand.

DBP Acting Director Dr Mataim Bakar informed the recipient, Ampuan Dr Hj Brahim Ampuan Hj Tengah, the dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Science, UBD that the SEA Write Award judging committee of Brunei has selected him for the award based on his contributions to literature in the Sultanate as well as regionally.

"On behalf of the judging committee of SEA Write Award, I congratulate you. I hope, with the recognition, you will continue to contribute towards the Malay literature progress in the country and within the region," he said.

Now in its 27th year, the programme has been recognised as one of the region's prestigious literature awards.

Brunei Darussalam sent its first recipient, Muslim Burmat - Brunei's top novelist --to receive the award in Bangkok in 1986.

Since then, 19 literary writers of various genres have received the coveted recognition for their literary contributions.

Ampuan Dr Hj Brahim said he felt honoured for being selected this year and believed that every literary writer will get his or her turn to receive the award in the near - future.

He will be departing for Bangkok, Thailand on October 6 at about 2 pm to receive the award from HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, on behalf of HRH Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, on October 12 at The Oriental Bangkok.

While there, he will be having a hectic schedule towards fulfilling the SEA Write Award 2005 week.

Together with recipients of the 10 member countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Ampuan

Dr Hj Brahim will be attending various activities such as an introduction to the award recipients, meeting members of writers association, lunches with award sponsors, and visits.

Apart from Dr Ampuan Hj Brahim, recipients include Acep Zamzam Noor from Indonesia,_Bounseune Sengmany (Laos), Miech Ponn (Cambodia), Wuthichart Choomsanit (Thailand), Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim (Malaysia), P. Krishnan (Singapore), Malou Jacob (The Philippines) and InrasaraPhu Tram (Vietnam).

Poet laureate of the Commonwealth Virginia Rita Dove will be this year's guest speaker at the Royal Gala Night on October 12 where the recipients receive their awards from the royal guest of honour.

The Sea Write Award programme was initiated 27 years ago by organisers at institutions like the Oriental Hotel and Thai Airways. It aims to encourage writers to write and to recognise the creative literary talents in the region. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with