More than 150 literary figures, writers and scholars from Brunei, Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan attended the recently concluded 9th Borneo-Kalimantan Dialogue at LR Asma Hotel in Jerudong for network-building, greater understanding and increased cooperation between them.
Participants witnessed the presentation of 14 papers from scholars and intellectuals in Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, including two keynote addresses from the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Dato Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain, and poet Yahya MS or Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Yahya.
In his address entitled ‘The Role and Contribution of Brunei Darussalam to the Regional Malay Literature‘, Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain said that the Sultanate‘s literary writers have been writing poems, short stories, novels and drama scripts.
‘Since 1986 until now, Brunei has produced 21 winners in literature who received the SEA Write Award in Bangkok, Thailand - a real recognition for literary figures in Southeast Asia.
‘Brunei‘s literature has been subjected to researches by Asterawani, Department of Museums, the Language and Literature Bureau and UBD.
‘Local writers distribute their works in the region and towards understanding the values of humanity in line with the teachings of Islam. As such, I urge all writers to write in line with these objectives,‘ he added.
Literary figure Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Yahya, meanwhile, presented a paper entitled ‘Malay Literature: Upholding Malay Leadership and Islam‘, in which he said that Malay scholars and intellectuals would table their proposals at conventions or summits in the hopes of being heard.
‘The problems besieging literature have long been voiced out by many parties. However, it seems that there has been no sign or visible way by relevant parties trying to improve it.
‘It has long been known that in order to conduct improvements, those involved must be fully prepared and do researches in order to achieve success.
Otherwise, it would be like going to the forest to look for woods, but not knowing the types that are available or needed,‘ he added.
Another presenter from Brunei, Mohd Zefri Ariff, called for writers to become engineers and entrepreneurs of Malay literature so that his or her work could reach a much bigger audience globally.
‘I suggest for infrastructures of communication network be built to incorporate writers, associations and libraries in order for our writers in Borneo to be better known all over the world,‘ he said in his paper, ‘Engineers and Entrepreneurs of Malay Literature Emporium‘.
The dialogue session series, which first began at Miri in 1987, has seen positive results in yielding literary developments over the years.
www.brunei-online.com (9 Agustus 2007)