PUTRAJAYA: A new mentor–mentee programme involving National Laureates (Sasterawan Negara) will be introduced to strengthen Malaysia’s literary ecosystem and nurture young writers from an early stage, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She said the initiative will be part of a continuous effort, together with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the broader literary committee, to strengthen the authorship ecosystem and produce more writers.
“This will be followed by a continued commitment through programmes and initiatives to strengthen the national literary ecosystem.
“The mentor–mentee programme will be directly supervised by National Laureates,” she said during the National Laureate Award ceremony on Tuesday (April 28).
She also said that the DPB governing board chairman, Datuk Dr Mohd Anuar Haji Rethwan, and Malaysian Poetry Association (Penyair) president, Datuk Rahman Shaari, together with the country’s national laureates, will be given a mandate to strengthen the initiative as part of the government’s broader agenda to support literature as a driver of nation-building and civilisation.
“Through this structured ecosystem, we will be able to identify, guide and nurture young writing talent from an early stage, ensuring the continued excellence of Malay literature,” she said.
She also said the mentor–mentee programme is designed to reinforce these values by ensuring young writers are trained and guided early through direct engagement with National Laureates.
“This is very important because it allows us to cultivate talent from a young age in a more consistent way, guided by the National Laureates themselves,” she said.
Separately, national literary scholar and thinker, Dr Abd Rahman Napiah, or better known as Mana Sikana, has been named the 16th National Laureate, the country's highest literary honour.
Fadhlina said the selection was made based on his reputation as a prolific writer who consistently produced high-quality creative works throughout his career.
She said the late author, who passed away on May 26 last year, made contributions across various genres, including short stories, novels, and dramas that were full of critical thinking, human values and sensitivity to social reality.
“The important principle here is that the award is based on the individual’s body of work and intellectual contribution throughout their lifetime,” she said.
She also announced that the recipient’s heirs will receive official state recognition, including RM60,000 in cash, in addition to sponsorship of RM500,000 to publish 50,000 copies of his works, which will be bought by the government for distribution to schools, libraries, government departments and agencies.
“This is to ensure that the works continue to be read, appreciated and benefit society at large,” she said, adding that the award ceremony will be officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at a date to be announced by Istana Negara.
