Labuan - Thirty-three members of Brunei Darussalam Literary Writers Association (Asterawani) and two officers from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports attended a three-day literature gathering in Labuan, aimed at seeking a platform for greater and wider cooperation.
Entitled "Dialog Teluk", the event was also attended by literature activists from Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Kuala Limpur.
On hand to officiate the opening of the gathering yesterday was Member of Parliament for Labuan Datuk Haji Yusuf Haji Mahal.
Ten working papers were presented by literary writers of Asterawani, Labuan, Limbang, Sabah, Miri and the Union of National Writers of Malaysia (Gapena) of Kuala Lumpur, including a keynote address by Professor Dr Datuk Zainal Kling.
Brunei presenters were Asterawani Secretary and head of delegation Haji Jawawi Haji Ahmad and Asterawani committee member Mohd Zefri Ariff.
Haji Jawawi, a prolific poet who was also a recipient of SEA Write Award 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand, delivered a working paper on "Bahasa Beradat Disanjung, Kepuitisan Merantang Ilmu Disambut".
A forum on "The Bay of Brunei is a Catalyst of Regional Kinship" was held to mark the end of the gathering.-Rosli Abidin Yahya
Source: Brunei-Online.com