NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2011 12:28 PM PDT 2011/08/09 Several local writers were honoured at the Darul Takzim Eighth Literary Award recently IT was was an evening of splendour at the Persada Johor International convention centre, Johor Baru. Senior government officers, art enthusiasts, teachers and students thronged the Tanjung Puteri hall to witness the presentation of the Darul Takzim Eighth Literary Awards ceremony.
Their works comprise novels, short stories, poems, essays, articles and dramas. Recipients of the award were successful writers who received prizes ranging from RM500 to RM7,000.
The audience was entertained with poetry, music and dance. Two new books produced by the YWJ's Literary division, Seorang Pemikir (A Thinker) and Mohd Said Sulaiman, Cendekiawan Terbilang Johor (Mohd Said Sulaiman, Johor's distinctive intellectual) were also unveiled at the event.
"The awards are given to talented writers born in Johor and those who are not born in in the state but have resided in Johor for at least five years," he said. Dzul Karnain said a team of seven panelists comprising senior lecturers from the country's leading universities, senior officers of DBP, Gapena and Pena (National Writers Association) were assigned to evaluate the writers' works. The panelists include the prominent literary figure Associate Professor Dr Lim Swee Tin. This year's recipient for the "Hadiah Karyawan Sastera Johor" -- the most prestigious award of the event -- was Dr Amida @Hamidah Abdul Hamid, a retired academician from University Malaya. Anida, 68, whose uses the pseudonym Anis, has produced a long list of novels. She received RM7,000. Khairul Hafiz Abd Rahman, 39, received the Hadiah Cipta Karyawan Muda award which carried a prize of RM3,000. Kairul Hafiz, whose pen name is Serunai Faqir, is the owner of Astaka Villa Aksara, a media company. He said he started writing in primary school. "I just love writing. It gives me great satisfaction," said Khairul, who is a much sought-after speaker at workshops on novels and short-story writing. Winner of the children's novel category was Muhammad Hilal Asraf Abdul Razak, 21. His story was story entitled Remaja Mulia (Honourable Youth). Hilal received RM2,000. He is now in Jordan pursuing a degree course in Islamic law. Hilal's prize was received on his behalf by his father Abdul Razak Kaprawi. "My son has written 13 books," said Abdul Razak, a lecturer at the Temenggong Ibrahim Teachers Institute, Johor Baru. In her welcome speech, Asiah hoped that more literary enthusiasts, especially students and trainee teachers, would continue the work of their predecessors. She advised youngsters not to get too caught up in cyberspace but to develop their own creative-thinking skills. Ghani lauded the management of YWJ for organising the event. He congratulated award recipients and gave the assurance that the state government would assist in promoting the literary works of local writers. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| The day I beat the odds to win post Posted: 09 Aug 2011 08:06 AM PDT 2011/08/09 MY interest in political activism was sparked during my secondary schooling years in Sekolah Aminudin Baki in Kuala Lumpur in 1967. I was enrolled as a Form Three Science student. Since my family resided in Johor Baru, I spent my free time participating in school activities and programmes including sports. I was appointed secretary -- a post that many of my peers disliked -- of several clubs and associations
Armed with a well-earned SPM certificate, I secured a clerical post at the state treasury department in 1973. After a couple of years, I was transferred to the office of the Menteri Besar.
Under Othman and then Ajib, I administered the Umno Youth brass band, the former's baby. The only one of its kind in the country, the band consisted of 50 youth members and conductor the late Atan Ahmad.
Simultaneously, I became a member of the Yahya Awal Umno branch under the Pulai division. In 1985, following a re-delineation exercise, the Yahya Awal locality was placed under the jurisdiction of the Johor Baru parliamentary constituency. Thus the Yahya Umno branch went under the JB Umno division, which is headed by Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad to this day. In 1987, Mohd Khaled Nordin, (the current Higher Education Minister and Pasir Gudang MP with the title Datuk Seri), then Shahrir's political secretary, beat incumbent Zais Akilwon to win the JB youth division chief post. I was appointed division secretary by Khaled. However, our activities and programmes were short-lived following court order on the validity of he party. When the party recuperated the following year, I was appointed pro-tem leader of the JB youth division. Shahrir, Khaled and some disgruntled members only rejoined after much persuasion from high-ranking party leaders through a special resolution. In 1989, Khaled, with many youth supporters rallying behind him, affirmed nomination to challenge me for the youth division leader post. The odds were indeed in Khaled's favour. His credentials as a lawyer and former political secretary and his superior position in the youth hierarchy were sufficient to discourage me. I had a strategy for the two-week campaign, however, and during my term as pro-tem leader, my relationship with the branch leader was cordial and positive. Inside Diamond Jubilee Hall, the election venue, the air was fraught with tension and suspense. It was also packed with party representatives, observers and members of other divisions. Astonishingly, I won to retain the post by a margin of only five votes, to the shouts, applause and congratulatory messages from my supporters. However, my employment in government service prevented me from seizing the opportunities to move up in the political arena. In the 1990 general elections, the party machinery selected Khaled as the candidate for the Johor Baru parliamentary constituency. As youth leader, I campaigned tooth and nail to ensure a victory for Khaled. We remain close to this day although he is now a full minister. In 1993, after completing my term as youth chief, I gradually distanced myself from active politics to concentrate on my family. Upon retirement from government service late last year, I joined Warisan, a non-governmental organisation, as secretary. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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