Translator Fan (left) and author Ruhaini are charting the next chapter for the 'The Last Days Of Jesselton' book after their PEN Presents x International Booker Prize honour. Photo: Pauline Fan
Bahasa Malaysia literature is beginning to find its footing on the international stage, with Sabahan writer Ruhaini Matdarin’s Hari-Hari Terakhir Di Jesselton (The Last Days Of Jesselton) recently named among the six winners of the inaugural PEN Presents x International Booker Prize programme (based in Britain).
The initiative, which champions translators from the global majority, highlights voices and narratives often overlooked in mainstream literary circuits. This year’s winning projects span five languages and regions, each opening doors for new readerships and perspectives.
