Fadley Faisal
A prolific Bruneian writer who passed away in 2021 was celebrated in an event held by the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) yesterday.
The late Dato Paduka Haji Muslim bin Haji Burut, who was a Southeast Asian (SEA) Writer Awards winner in 1986, had a spotlight on his work during the DBP’s Multaqa Sasterawan Brunei, which honours local literary talents who had won national and regional awards.
Dato Paduka Haji Muslim, also known as Muslim Burmat, also won Anugerah Sastera Nusantara in 1999, Hadiah Sastera Mastera in 2001 and 2007, Tokoh Sastera Brunei Darussalam in 2002 and Anugerah Sastera Mastera in 2006.
In attendance was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad, who presented waqaf to the late writer’s family, as well as to a representative of Kampong Beribi Mosque.
DBP Acting Director Suip bin Haji Abdul Wahab was also present.
A forum focussing on the late writer’s work was held, which involvedpanellists Senior Language Officer Dr Haji Mohd Ali bin Haji Radin, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) lecturer and recipient of the 2011 SEA Write Awards Mohd Zefri Ariff bin Mohd Zain Ariff (Zefri Ariff Brunei) and former UBD lecturer Haji Kamis bin Haji Tuah.
The discussion was moderated by Syahwal Nizam bin Haji Yani.
The event also saw a performance based on one of Muslim Burmat’s works by the Putra Seni Group.
Yesterday, the minister officiated the re-opening of the DBP Book Shop at the DBP building at Jalan Airport Lama in Berakas.
