- ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star
KOTA KINABALU: Local writers should take Sabah’s cultural and ethnic elements as inspirations for their works.
State Special Tasks Minister Datuk Arifin Arif (pic) said Sabah was rich with cultural heritage, ethnic elements and nature.
"These are some of the elements I think writers here can use as the focal point of their writings and other products," he said.
He said this after launching 12 books by local writers here recently.
Arifin said if these elements were highlighted and used as the theme in every book, it would turn out to be just as good, if not of better quality compared with the publications from other states or other countries.
He said the ministry supports all forms of creative writing and literature, as long as they were able to develop the cultural scene in the state.
He called on more people, especially the youth to try their hands in writing, and hopefully, publish their works.
"The government, my ministry as well as the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry of Sabah will try their best to help local writers through exposure in schools, associations and other avenues," Arifin said.
With the right platforms and initiatives, it would not be impossible to create more quality writers from Sabah in future, he said.
He said the existing platforms were through the Language and Literature Council, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and the state libraries where efforts to bring writers together to promote their works were ongoing.
Citing an example, Arifin said a recent book festival organised at the new state library in Tanjung Aru could be an annual event to encourage reading, writing and publication among Sabahans.
"We are confident that Sabahans are talented enough to go international and compete in the global arena," he said.
He said with proper efforts and initiatives in place, Sabah too can organise national and even international level book festivals in future.
Arifin said he hopes to get more publishers to tap into the young talents here.
"We have to be proud of our own local creators and writers because many of their works have been translated into other languages by other countries such as Singapore.
"This is proof that we are as good as those from outside Sabah," he added.
