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
Highlights
Before 1965, Malay literature in Malaysia and Singapore was one and the same entity
This was mainly due to the dynamic activities of Angkatan Sasterawan50 (Asas 50), together with their friends from the media and film industries
Before the separation in 1965, Malay literature in Singapore and Malaysia was always regarded as a shared entity
Summary
Before 1965, Malay literature in Malaysia and Singapore was one and the same entity. Malays in the Peninsula and in the island of Singapore considered it a shared literature. For some time, Singapore was the main centre of literary development This was mainly due to the dynamic activities of Angkatan Sasterawan (Asas 50), together with their friends from the media and film industries. This article will show that a split occured and there exists two different sosio-political ecospheres, activists of Malay literature and language in Singapore have persevered, and along with activists and institutions in Malaysia, continued to develop and uplift a shared Malay literature. For this purpose, this article will examine historical developments that occured in Singapore and Malaysia since 1965. It will focus on the determination, plans and activities carried out to ensure that Malay literature continues to develop uninterrupted in Singapore, and the unity of the literature of these two nations is not fragmented, but instead can continue to develop as one literature they are no longer in the same socio-political ecosphere
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