Three Bruneian writers recently received the Southeast Asia (SEA) Write Awards in Bangkok, Thailand. The organisers extended invitations to Brunei Darussalam to send awardees for the SEA Write Award for 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The presentation of awards held at the Dusidalai Hall, Chitralada Garden, Dusit Palace on August 10, was presided by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, Princess of Thailand.
Recipient of the 2019 SEA Write Award for Brunei Darussalam was the late Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Tamat (Salmi Mesra) for his poetry collection in Kumpulan Puisi Mata Hati II, represented by his spouse, while Haji Bujang bin Haji Matnor (Bujang MN) was awarded for his novel, Angin Koperasi for 2020.
Dr Haji Morsidi bin Haji Muhamad (Morsidi MH) was the recipient of the 2021 award for his poetry collection in Kumpulan Sajak Sungai, LAUT dan KiTA.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, through the Language and Literature Bureau, served as the Secretariat for the SEA Write Award for Brunei Darussalam. Awardees were selected by a judging panel in their countries, and were evaluated based on their published works, according to a criteria set by the organisers.
Brunei was first invited in 1986 to send writers to receive the SEA Write Award. Since then up to 2021, a total of 36 local writers have been recognised and honoured with the prestigious award. For over 40 years, the SEA Write Award has acknowledged outstanding writers and poets from ASEAN member countries which include Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The SEA Write Award serves as a platform to elevate local writers to the same level as regional writers, to recognise prominent writers in ASEAN member countries in the field of literature, to strengthen friendship and camaraderie among writers and literary figures. The recognition also hopes to provide encouragement to writers, poets, and literary enthusiasts in the Sultanate and to enhance the dignity of literature at the national and regional levels.
The awardees also participated in a panel discussion at the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, attended a reception, gala dinner and poetry reading at the Royal Ballroom, Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok. – Adib Noor
