Two Ecospheres, One Literature: Post-1965 Developments in Malay Literature in Singapore and Malaysia

  • Md. Salleh Yaapar Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract

Before 1965, Malay literature in Singapore and Malaysia was a single, shared entity. In fact, for a while, Singapore was one of the major centres of literary development, particularly through the endeavors of authors in Angkatan Sasterawan 50 (Asas 50) and friends in media and film. Singapore's withdrawal from Malaysia in 1965 was an event that brought major changes, especially for Malay literature in Singapore. However, as this article hopes to show, although the split gave rise to far-reaching influences and two different socio-political ecospheres, activists of Malay language and literature in Singapore have persevered. Along with Malaysian activists and institutions, they continued to develop and enrich a shared Malay literature. For this purpose, the article will study historical developments in Singapore and Malaysia since 1965, particularly the diligent efforts, plans and activities to ensure that Malay literature continues to develop uninterrupted in Singapore. It also shows that the unity of the nations' literatures are not fragmented, but instead can continue to develop as one literature. Results of the observation show that early awareness, planning, strategy, positive action and determination have ultimately succeeded in nurturing and developing one Malay literature in Singapore and Malaysia that produces manifold results.


Keywords: Malay literature, Singapore, Malaysia, socio-political ecosphere, cooperation

Author Biography

Md. Salleh Yaapar, Universiti Sains Malaysia

School of Humanities

References

Anuar Othman and Mana Sikana, 2003. Jatuh Ke Laut Menjadi Pulau: Pemikiran Sastera Malaysia & Singapura.Singapore:Anuar Othman & Associates Media Enterprise.

Anugerah Persuratan 2011: Kumpulan Karya dan Ulasan Juri, 2013. Singapore: Darul Andalus Pte. Ltd.

Dari Jendela Zaman Ini / From the Window of this Epoch, 2010. Kuala Lumpur/Singapore: ITBM & National Arts Council, Singapore.

Hadijah Rahmat, 2000. Di Tengah Alam. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Hadijah Rahmat, 2005. Mengukir Air di Pesisir: Sastera Melayu Indonesia Dalam Arus Jagat. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

http://hardiaziqin.blogspot.com/2011/10/faktor-faktor-yang-mempengaruhi.html; accessed on 10 November 2013.

Isa Kamari, 2002. Satu Bumi. Singapore: Pustaka Nasional Pte Ltd.

Isa Kamari, 2006. 33 Puisi Tanah Suci. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Ameen Serve Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Isa Kamari, 2006. Atas Nama Cinta: Novel Epik Sejarah. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Ameen Serve Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Isa Kamari, 2007. Memeluk Gerhana. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Ameen Serve Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Isa Kamari, 2009. Rawa: Tragedi Pulau Batu Putih. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Ameen Serve Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Isa Kamari, 2010. Menara. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Ameen Serve Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Isa Kamari, 2011. Duka Tuan Bertakhta. Kuala Lumpur: Al-Ameen Serve Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Keris Mas, 1979. 30 Tahun Sekitar Sastera. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Mohamed Pitchay Gani Bin Mohamed Abdul Aziz, 2005. Leksikon: Direktori Penulis Melayu Singapura Pasca 1965. Singapore: Angkatan Sasterawan `50 and National Library Board, Singapore.

Nazmi Yaakub. "Ambil iktibar ASAS 50" in Berita Minggu, 30 November 2010.

Nizqin. "Kearah sastra yang beridentiti S'pura" in Berita Harian, 29 May 1977.

Nurul Farina Nazlan. "Sastera Melayu Singapura" in Berita Harian, 7 February 2011.

Padilah Haji Ali, Jamaludin Mohd. Sulong and Arshad Rawian (ed.), 2012. Meneliti Jejak, Membaharui Babak. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Rahimidin Zahari and Kartini Anwar (ed.), 2012. Melangkaui Jambatan Kedua: Cerpen terpilih dari Malaysia & Singapura/ Beyond the 2nd Link: Selected Short Fiction from Malaysia and Singapore. Kuala Lumpur/Singapore: ITBM & National Arts Council, Singapore.

Rasiah Halil, 1991. Orang Luar. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Rasiah Halil, 2013. Nyanyian Si Anak Dagang. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Ravi Velod and Cheng Puay Koon, 2002. The Difference between Malaysians and Singaporeans. Singapore: NewsBooks.

Singapore Ministry of Culture, 1965. Separation: Singapore's Separation from the Federation of Malaysia 9th August, 1965. Singapore: Ministry of Culture.

"Singapura Anggota Terbaru MASTERA". Kosmo, 18 October, 2012.

Sumadi Sarkawi, 1979. "Ke mana matlamat cerpen2 hari ini," Berita Harian, 25 June.

Ungku Maimunah Mohd. Tahir, 1987. Modern Malay Literary Culture: A Historical Perspective. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Vadaketh, Sudhir, 2012. Floating on a Malayan Breeze: Travels in Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore: National University of Singapore Press.
Published
2014-06-01
How to Cite
YAAPAR, Md. Salleh. Two Ecospheres, One Literature: Post-1965 Developments in Malay Literature in Singapore and Malaysia. Malay Literature, [S.l.], v. 27, n. 1, p. 1-17, june 2014. ISSN 2682-8030. Available at: <https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/MalayLiterature/article/view/4328>. Date accessed: 29 mar. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.37052/ml.27(1)no1.