Anwar engages with National Laureates to foster cultural empowerment

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with seven National Laureates at Seri Perdana on Friday (June 28) to discuss efforts to empower Malaysia's arts, culture, and literature.

Anwar said the dialogue, which lasted more than an hour and a half, allowed him to hear firsthand the laureates' concerns and suggestions.

"We had an extensive dialogue, and many brilliant ideas were shared by the laureates," he said in a Facebook post on Friday.

One proposal was to establish a Nusantara Literature Council as a platform for exchanging ideas among Nusantara countries and boosting translation efforts. The role of cultural attachés was also considered.

Another suggestion was to make the area around Jalan Belfield and Jalan Bukit Petaling, which houses the offices of the Federation of National Writers Associations of Malaysia, Rumah Pena, and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, a focal point for literary, linguistic, and cultural activities.

The discussion also touched on the teaching and learning of local and world literary masterpieces and the role of the National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage in ensuring more in-depth emphasis on foundational, diploma, and undergraduate programmes related to literature.

"I also suggested that the great works of our National Laureates be published in more attractive formats to be given as souvenirs to government guests. These works can also be distributed at Malaysian embassies abroad as public reading material," Anwar added.

Anwar also expressed his appreciation for the discourse with the National Laureates and the ideas they presented. He assured that the government would give serious attention to efforts to elevate the status of the nation's arts, culture, and literature in line with the Malaysia Madani vision.