By Rosli Abidirn Yahya
Bandar Seri Begawan - The Association of Creative Writers of Brunei Darussalam (ASTERWANI) is set to host the 9th Borneo-Kalimantan Dialogue commencing today in an effort to forge a network among the scholars and creative writers towards mutual understanding and cooperation.
The three-day event, which will be held at Asma Hotel in Jerudong, will see a presentation of 14 working papers from scholars and intellectuals in Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, giving them a venue to conduct views and debates on related issues.
Presenters from Brunei include Pehin Dato Dr Ustaz Hj Awang Mohd Zain, Minister of Religious Affairs (The Role and Contribution of Brunei to Regional Malay Literature); Pehin Dato Ustaz Awang Hj Yahya (Malay Literature: Upholding Malay and Islam); Dr Hj Morsidi Hj Muhamad (Early Poems of Yahya MS: The Question of Humanity and Social Critics); and Mohd Zefri Ariff (Engineer and Entrepreneurs of Malay Literature Emporium).
From Malaysia, the presenters are Prof Madya Hj Arbak Othman of Universiti Putra Malaysia (Borneo Poems: Research, on Interpretation and Poetry Message Development); Ja‘afar Hj Harridan (The Contribution of Malay Newspapers in Sarawak Towards the Development of National Literature); Jasni Matlani (The Development of Islamic Poetry in Sabah); Ha7ami Jahari (Initial Analysis on ‘Malay Methodologies); Poul Nanggang (Developing Aesthetic in the Gulf of Tomorrow - Manifestation of National Culture); and Hj Hamzah Hamdani (Borneo Kalimantan Malay Letters: Heritage, Hope and Challenge).
Indonesia will be represented by Drs Viddy AD Daery (The Legend of Sultan Sandokan of Brunei); Drs Zulfaisal Putera (The Success of Rubrik Dahaga in Banjannasin Post Daily Newspapers in the 80‘s); and Korrie Layun Rampan (The History of East Kalimantan Literature in the middle of Constellation of Indonesian Literature).
The dialogue, which first began in Miri, Sarawak in 1987, saw positive results in yielding literary developments over the years.
The area of concentration in the dialogue will include adapting positive thinking related to sensitivities and responsive to the political phenomena, economy, social, culture and technology, among others.
Source: www.brudirect.com (4 Agustus 2007)
