12TH REGIONAL WRITER’S CONFERENCE 12 -14th Sept 2003

The Malay Writers Association of the ‘50s or better known as Asas ’50 will be organising a Regional Writers Conference, from 12th to 14th Sept 2003, at Mandarin Hotel, in the heart of Orchard Road. About 200 writers attended this biennial conference that has been attracting international interest since it was launched in Singapore in 1977. This year’s theme is Malay Literature – Identity and Global Appeal. Twenty distinguished writers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, Brunei and southern Thailand and southern Philippines presented their papers which among others, discuss the growth and appeal of Malay literature and the teaching of Malay literature in schools. Two key note papers were presented by Singapore’s poet laureate Dr Masuri Salikun (Masuri SN) and Malaysia’s Tan Sri Professor Emeritus Dr Ismail Hussein.The conference was officially opened by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Community Development and Sports. He also launched Asas ’50 Website. The conference also witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Angkatan Sasterawan ’50 and the National Library Board and this was witnessed by former Senior Parliamentary Secretary Home Affairs, Mr Mohd Maidin Pakeer.

Objectives

a aligning literary development to national development
b to inculcate a sense of awareness among the community in the region of the diversity in the Malay literary development
c to formulate a strategy towards the aspiration of achieving noble prize for Malay literature

Participants

a Distinguished writers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, Brunei and southern Thailand and southern Philippines
b Literary enthusiasts, teachers, trainee teachers and students.

Benefits

a Boost the image of Singapore as a centre of literary development because this historic event was iniated in Singapore by a Singapore based organisation.
b Add to the intellectual development of the teachers and students in the field of literature.
c Inspires more serious writers with the present of legendary writers and SEA Write Award winners.
d Long term commitment towards the aspiration of Singapore being a renaissance city