Malaysian Literature in English

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: 1. “The Straits-born” [Late 1800s – Early 1900s] 2. Malayans [1940s – 1965] 3. Malayan writers who became Malaysian citizens after Malaysian writers [1970s onwards]

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

 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

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  The New Cauldron published by the University of Malaya in 1949 was inspired by a common political project: the creation of a Malayan nation, in which a Malayan Literature would play a part.

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

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

 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

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

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.

 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

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