| Lyna Mohamad |
THE Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof has called on the Brunei Darussalam Association of Writers (Asterawani) to continue to nurture young writers.
Speaking at the launching of the 6th Brunei Writers Gathering at the Balai Sarmayuda of the Language and Literature Bureau which he officiated yesterday, the minister stated that the development of literature, and language in particular, will help the public shape their identity as true Bruneians.
Writings by local writers should be disseminated across the world by translating them to foreign languages such as English, French, Arabic, Chinese and others, he added.
“This obviously is not an easy task as it needs skills in respective languages, but can be implemented systematically in stages, which will expand our language and literature.”
The minister also expressed his delight over the writing of the State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned (Adi Rumi) saying that his poetry collection has been translated into English with the title ‘Window on the World’.
As an initial step, the minister suggested that books that won the SEA Write Award (Southeast Asian Writers Award) should be given priority to be translated, and in realising this, cooperation from all those involved in the field of language and literature is needed.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof delivering his speech during the ceremony. – LYNA MOHAMAD
Writers form an important circle in the community, and through their writings various thoughts, views, ideas and new knowledge are disseminated with the aim of building the nation, the minister said, adding that writers need a meeting venue to share their experiences in their bid to develop the local literature.
Yesterday’s event also saw the minister launching two poetry anthologies published by Asterawani and the Language and Literature Bureau.
The theme for this year’s gathering was ‘Semarak Sastera Era Kebawah Duli’, and in line with this concept, the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam encourages local writers to be active in the writing field, be it creative or non-creative literature, as long as their works highlight the harmonious living of people in the country.
A total of six working papers were presented by local writers during the event which also saw a keynote address by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, also known as Badaruddin H O.
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