Tributes pour in for Salleh Ben Joned, Malaysia's 'uncrowned poet laureate'

Artist and activist Fahmi Reza's tribute portrait of a young Salleh Ben Joned, which he shared on social media. Photo: Fahmi Reza

The death Malaysian literary hero Salleh Ben Joned this morning (Oct 29) has sparked a wave of tributes to a man renowned as a sharp-witted, fearless and charismatic poet/essayist. Here are a few notable salutes:

"Salleh Ben Joned's knowledge of literature was superbly matched with a keen sense of humour and a willingness to always push boundaries. His worldview was humane and Malaysian, with none of the ethno-religious parochialism or political chest-thumping that marked the stodgy literary establishment types," says publisher, editor and filmmaker Amir Muhammad.