Passionate about national language

Zulkurnain (second from left) handing over a mock cheque to Dr Nathesan (fourth from left) during the Sastera Johor Awards

JOHOR BARU: Retiree Dr S. Nathesan has poured his heart and soul for more than 40 years into writing and producing academic books in Bahasa Malaysia.

The 65-year-old who was born in Malacca has so far written 11 books and 250 articles as well as research papers.

His writings are about the proper techniques of writing and using the national language.

“My passion in writing and producing papers for Bahasa Malaysia started some 40 years ago,” he said, adding that he has a doctorate in Malay Linguistics from Universiti Malaya.

Dr Nathesan said that his interest in writing and his former job as a Malay linguistics lecturer had led to him coming up with several academic books and articles.

“Teaching and writing are two things I find important since I have been doing this all my life,” said the father of three.

Dr Nathesan added that throughout his journey of being a writer, he has written Persoalan Penggunaan BM dan Penyelesaiannya (first and second edition), Laras Bahasa Ilmiah, Pendekatan dan Teknik Pendidikan BM and several other books since the 1990s.

He has also written articles and research papers that have been published in Pelita Bahasa, Dewan Bahasa, Jurnal Bahasa magazines as well as in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian newspapers.

Dr Nathesan received the Non-Malay writer award during the Sastera Johor Awards that was attended by Johor Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Zulkurnain Kamisan.

The event was held at Warisan Sultan Abu Bakar complex.

Meanwhile, recipient for the Sasterawan Johor award Shapiai Mohd Ramly, 66, said that he enjoyed describing and expressing his feelings by writing poems.

The former lecturer has received many awards previously for his poems.

“I always feel satisfied and happy whenever I express my thoughts and feelings by writing a poem since the early 1990s,” he said.

They were among 36 recipients to receive awards.

Dr Nathesan took home RM2,000 while Shapiai was awarded RM7,000.