Malaysian Literature in English

1. Malaysian Literature in English

2. Historical development Literature written in English has a presence in Malaysia that stretches back over a century and a half Associated with four different elite communities: “The Straits-born” [Late 1800s – Early 1900s] Malayans [1940s – 1965] Malayan writers who became Malaysian citizens after 1965 Malaysian writers [1970s onwards]

3. 1. The “Straits-born”[Late 1800s – Early 1900s] Chinese Peranakan community in the Straits Settlements Publications: The Straits Chinese Magazine (1897-1907) The Straits Chinese Literary Association Recorder (1918) The Straits Chinese Annual (1930) Straits Eurasian Advocate (1888-89) – later changed to Straits Advocate The Indo-Chinese Patriot (1895-1900)

4. Mission: Advocating the cause of Straits affairs in general and of the Straits-born community in particular Promote intellectual activity amongst the Straits-born people

5. 2. Malayans [1940s – 1965] The explosion of creativity at the University of Malaya in Singapore from 1949 onwards, and its diffusion outside the university in the years up to 1965. The New Cauldron published by the University of Malayain 1949 was inspired by a common political project: the creation of a Malayan nation, in which a Malayan Literature would play a part.

6. Writers in English in this period: Ee Tiang Hong Wong Phui Nam Edwin Thumboo Kassim Ahmad Lloyd Fernando Lee Kok Liang

7. 3. Malayan writers who became Malaysian citizens after 1965 Political changes that occurred from 1965 onwards: Singapore left Malaysia in 1965 The National Language Act of 1967 May 13, 1969 incident in Kuala Lumpur The New Economic Policy in 1971

8. Effects: Bilingual writers moved to writing more in Malay. e.g. Muhammad Haji Salleh Most writers found themselves in a state of exile. Physical exile: Ee Tiang Hong migrated to Australia, Shirley Lim migrated to the United States. Mental exile: Lloyd Fernando – “novels of mourning”, K. S. Maniam – history of subaltern Indian presence in Malaya

9. Writers: Lloyd Fernando K.S. Maniam Kee Thuan Chye Shirley Lim Cecil Rajendra Salleh Ben Joned Muhammad Haji Salleh

10. 4. Malaysian writers [1970s onwards] Direct result of social policies from the 1970s onwards: Malay language – medium of education The rise of a prosperous Malay middle-class – educated, or who have spent a considerable amount of time, abroad. Not linked to UK but other centres of cultural production: the United States, Australia, and also sites in Asia such as Singapore.

11. Educational policies in the 1990s that encouraged the acquisition of skills in digital media, new technologies of distribution through the internet, and above all technological changes in film-making Evolution of the independent (indie) film, and the short film Kuala Lumpur English-language theatre scene has blossomed Writers of Malaysian heritage writing from outside Malaysia

12. Writers: Chuah Guat Eng Adibah Amin Karim Raslan Dina Zaman Huzir Sulaiman Amir Muhammad Yasmin Ahmad Yang May Ooi Tash Aw Tan Twang Eng