Asas '50
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Writers' Movement '50 (Angkatan Sasterawan '50) or better known as Asas '50 is the first and oldest literary association in post-war Malaya and the Malay region. Founded on 6 August 1950, Asas '50 represented the voice of the community and utilizes literature as the ideal thrust towards the independence of Malaya in 1957. The association's philosophy of “Art For The Society” formed the main shaping force in the development of Modern Malay literature. The literary body was pioneered by Muhammad Ariff Ahmad (MAS), Kamaluddin Muhammad (Keris Mas
), Abdul Wahab Muhammad (Awamil-Sirkam), Abdul Jalil Haji Nor (Merayu Rawan), Munir Ali (Rosmera), Kumasi Haji Dainuri (Teruna Jaya), Abdul Majid Husain (Hamzah), Masuri Salikun (Masuri S.N), Abu Yamin Kasun, Ahmad Ramli Abdul Karim (Ramlimah), Muhammad Daud and Muhammad Yusof Yaacob (Jim).
Asas '50 was dedicated in the development of literature
that would be beneficial to the society
. It held on to the belief that literature is an integral part of the society. Since its inception, Asas '50 has never deviated from its mission. Evidence of this can be seen in its concerted effort to promote and propagate literature through seminar
s, workshop
s, forums, dialogues, courses etc. The association also actively participates in various national and regional initiatives. The association's membership comprises writer
s, teacher
s, lecturer
s and journalist
s amongst various other professions. Today, the expertise of its members is sought by various national and regional committees.
One of the landmark event in the early history of ASAS 50 is the debate on the purpose of literature. The debate was between two groups, the Utusan Melayu group, headed by Asraf and the Majalah Hiburan group headed by Hamzah Hussien. The crux of the debate was whether to follow "Art for Society" (Seni untuk Masyarakat) or "Art for Art's Sake" (Seni untuk Seni). According to a researcher, Athi Sivan (1997), Hamzah propagated the Gautierian call for purity of art to distance Asas 50 from the left wing ideologies prevalent at that time in Singapore, especially in Utusan Melayu. This ensued the debate and it lasted more than a year before slowly fading away with Hamzah left Asas 50 to form a new literary organisation.
The philosophy held by Asas '50 was described by Keris Mas as follows:
Today, Asas '50 still plays an instrumental role in the development of literature and language in the region. It is currently led by active writers and activists of literature and language who are experts in their own field and right. Asas '50 is currently spearheaded by Mohamed Pitchay Gani (President), Mohamed Latiff Mohamed (Deputy President), Yazid Hussein (Vice President), Abdul Samat Ali (Secretary), Hoirull Amri Tahiran (Secretary 2), Muhammad Herwanto Johari (Head of Youth and Head of Programmes), Namira Mazlan (Head of IT) and Irwan Jamal (Head of Publication
s).
An attempt initiated by Asas '50 to absorb the splinter literary groups such as Grup Gelorasa and Pass into Asas '50 was carried out in 1974. A new slogan
“Literature for the Community” was coined to provide a mutual understanding and mission amongst the new members of Asas '50. In addition, this slogan was generic and did not have any ideological
leanings of any the other previous associations. Thus, the slogan is accepted by all the new members of Asas '50. However, the battleground has changed for Asas '50 as it was no longer fighting for the independence and physical extrication of the community. This time, Asas '50 aim to free the community from psychological and intellectual oppression left behind during the reign of the colonial masters and the Japanese Occupation
. ‘Independence' was superficial as the community still glorified the masters to the point of diminishing and trivializing their very own identity. Asas '50's mission is still very much schooled in the concept of “Literature for the Community” even though it has since changed its slogan.
A significant and historic contribution made by Asas '50 was the introduction of the Roman spelling in the Malay language. The Jawi writing was initially the modus operandi. However, since the 3 rd Malay Language Congress (Kongres Bahasa ke-3) in 1956 and under the initiation of Asas '50, the Malay Archipelago
saw a reformation and revolution in the Malay language arena. As a result, the Roman spelling was integrated into the Malay language and this has remained till today. This change was undoubtedly beneficial for the community as it eases the process of acquiring knowledge as the Roman spelling was also used in the English language
. Research and study of materials and sources from the west to be used by the locals were thus made more accessible and decipherable. The introduction and usage of the Roman spelling had such an influential impact that it has since engulfed the use of Jawi in daily matters and in the education scene. Only Brunei
still practices the use of Jawi.
. The association is also responsible in the push towards independence for Malaya in the 1950s and the changes made to the Malay language via the 3 rd Malay Language Congress (Kongres Bahasa ke-3). In the 1970s, Asas '50 initiated the Malay Literary Prize (Hadiah Sastera) which is now known as the Malay Literary Award (Anugerah Persuratan). This enabled the works and efforts of writers to be recognized and appreciated. Asas`50 was also recognized as the first Malay literary body in the region to hold the Regional Malay Literati Conference (Pertemuan Sasterawan Nusantara) in 1977. This has since been integrated and adopted as bi-annual event for the Malay literary scene in this region.
In the 21st century, Asas '50 made significant strides in its aim to involve and liaise itself with national based organizations. The association is the first Malay association to have sealed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the National Library Board
(NLB). In addition, Asas '50 has also published “Leksikon”, a comprehensive directory, complete with detailed descriptions, of 70 reputed writers in Singapore
from 1965 to 2005. The launch of “Leksikon” also immortalized Asas '50 as the first association to have held an event at the new NLB building at Victoria Street.
Asas '50 has been the country's official representative in learning the development of the Malay literature in the region. The association works arm in arm with regional literary associations such as Gapena (Malaysia), Asterawani (Brunei), Horisons (Indonesia
) and others. Many of its members are also involved in activities organised and held by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
(DBP), Mastera and Mabbim.
Townsville Campus. Today, a number of these members are appointment holders in the association's executive committee
.
The drive and commitment of these young members spurs the promotion and realization of many national based activities. Among the significant contributions made by these youths was in the spearheading of the 12th Regional Malay Literati Conference (Pertemuan Sasterawan Nusantara ke-12). The youth wing assumes the role of moving force behind Asas '50. Their unconceited efforts bear fruit to the first Singapore Malay writers' directory, Leksikon and Dari Gerhana Ke Puncak Purnama, a detailed biography
that documented the developments of Asas '50 throughout the years.
s. A large number of these publications however were only produced in early 2000s. However, there were already numerous counts of books published independently by members of Asas '50. Among the landmark publication was the 2005 release of Abdul Ghani Hamid's Petikan Rasa/Extracts of Feelings. Funded by National Arts Council via the Singapore Cultural Medallion
Grant, the book was a bilingual compilation of Abdul Ghani Hamid's poems and painting
s. Another significant book published by Asas '50 was “Memoir Perjalanan Mas” in 2004. This historical biography of Muhammad Ariff Ahmad depicted the life and struggles of Mas. The importance of this book lies in the passionate involvement of Muhammad Ariff Ahmad in the Malay culture, language and literary arena. Inadvertently, this book has become the unofficial documentation of the Malay literary movement history in Singapore.
However, the most outstanding accolade has to be reserved for Asas '50 efforts in publishing the first Malay writer's directory called Leksikon. A collaborative effort with the NLB, this book represents the apex of Asas '50 publication as it was the first of its kind in the Singapore Malay literary scene. Detailed information of the creative writers
in Singapore since 1965, is available in this book. Therefore, Leksikon is testament to the association's commitment in documenting and promoting the achievements of the Malay writers in Singapore. Another one for the history books is the association's publication of an anthology
of poems and short stories
called “Menyongsong Pelangi” in 2005. This anthology comprises literary works contributed by reputed and young writers alike and is released in commemoration of Asas '50's 55 years celebration.
. Films by P. Ramlee
were greatly influenced by Asas '50 as the objectives of those films mirrored those of the association's. In fact, there was also some sort of connections and friendships linking P.Ramlee to Asas '50. For example, Asraf's wife, Fatimah Murad, was the editor of P.Ramlee's film magazine called the “Majalah Bintang.” Thus, Asraf capitalized on this avenue and network to inject the ideologies held by Asas '50 as well as to trade views and opinions with P.Ramlee. Historical film enthusiasts and observers have recognized the film “Bujang Lapok
” to breathe the same ideologies as that of Asas '50. The film is said to contain satirical
stabs at the community at that point in time. An obvious trait prevalent in these films was the use of the actors' real name such as “Ramlee”, “Sudin” and “Aziz.” This was P.Ramlee's method of highlighting the emotional aspect and the reality that shrouded the community of yesteryear.
s etc. unearthed the ills of the community from the social, religious, political and economical perspectives. In fact, the number of literary works published in the local newspaper
totaled at 3,200 from 1,600 writers as of 1965. This huge reception has made Singapore Malay literature synonymous with the term “newspaper literature (sastera akhbar).” Inadvertently, Asas '50's mission was propagated and proliferated by the local newspaper which obviously had the same ideologies as the literary association.
collection of Malay writers and manuscript
s. Another project piloted by NLB and Asas '50 was the “Potret Tun Seri Lanang.” In this project, Asas '50 acted as the middleman in obtaining the literary works of the Tun Sri Lanang
award winners, which included books, publications, private collections and others. These will then be displayed at the special collections section of the NLB.
The part played by Asas '50 in the growth, development and progress of the Malay literature span a wide scope and has impacted the community intrinsically. The association has consistently upheld its mission and vision of “Literature for the Community” with utmost integrity and responsibility. Asas '50 has spearheaded a myriad of initiatives to preserve the image of the community, country and that of the writer himself. From its battle towards independence for Malaya to its inexorable aim of uniting the splinter Malay literary groups, Asas '50 has managed to form a united front under the manifesto “Literature Develops Humanity.” The climax of Asas '50 achievements is manifested in the installation of the Malay Literary Prize (Hadiah Sastera), which inevitably raised the status and stature of writers in our societal mould.
Keris Mas
Keris Mas , born Kamaluddin Muhamad, was a prominent Malaysian literary figure and was one of the founders of the Asas '50 literary movement...
), Abdul Wahab Muhammad (Awamil-Sirkam), Abdul Jalil Haji Nor (Merayu Rawan), Munir Ali (Rosmera), Kumasi Haji Dainuri (Teruna Jaya), Abdul Majid Husain (Hamzah), Masuri Salikun (Masuri S.N), Abu Yamin Kasun, Ahmad Ramli Abdul Karim (Ramlimah), Muhammad Daud and Muhammad Yusof Yaacob (Jim).
Asas '50 was dedicated in the development of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
that would be beneficial to the society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
. It held on to the belief that literature is an integral part of the society. Since its inception, Asas '50 has never deviated from its mission. Evidence of this can be seen in its concerted effort to promote and propagate literature through seminar
Seminar
Seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is...
s, workshop
Workshop
A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods...
s, forums, dialogues, courses etc. The association also actively participates in various national and regional initiatives. The association's membership comprises writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
s, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s, lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
s and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s amongst various other professions. Today, the expertise of its members is sought by various national and regional committees.
One of the landmark event in the early history of ASAS 50 is the debate on the purpose of literature. The debate was between two groups, the Utusan Melayu group, headed by Asraf and the Majalah Hiburan group headed by Hamzah Hussien. The crux of the debate was whether to follow "Art for Society" (Seni untuk Masyarakat) or "Art for Art's Sake" (Seni untuk Seni). According to a researcher, Athi Sivan (1997), Hamzah propagated the Gautierian call for purity of art to distance Asas 50 from the left wing ideologies prevalent at that time in Singapore, especially in Utusan Melayu. This ensued the debate and it lasted more than a year before slowly fading away with Hamzah left Asas 50 to form a new literary organisation.
The philosophy held by Asas '50 was described by Keris Mas as follows:
"In the field of literature, the proponents of ASAS 50 adopted a new breathe of style, employing a mode of languageLanguageLanguage may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
that is fresh, departing from the preceding genre of writers, propounding the themes of societal awareness, politics and culture with the aim of revitalizing the spirit of freedom, the spirit of independence of a people (bangsa) of its own unique sense of honourHonourHonour or honor is an abstract concept entailing a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or corporate body such as a family, school, regiment or nation...
and identityIdentity (social science)Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
, upholding justiceJusticeJustice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and combating oppressionOppressionOppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and...
.
.... We criticised societal backwardness and those whom we regard as the instruments responsible for the birth of such backwardness. We criticised colonialismColonialismColonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
and its instruments, that is, the elite class, those whose consciousness have been frozen by the influence of feudalismFeudalismFeudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
and myths, and superstitionSuperstitionSuperstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events....
that has been enmeshed with religionReligionReligion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
."
Today, Asas '50 still plays an instrumental role in the development of literature and language in the region. It is currently led by active writers and activists of literature and language who are experts in their own field and right. Asas '50 is currently spearheaded by Mohamed Pitchay Gani (President), Mohamed Latiff Mohamed (Deputy President), Yazid Hussein (Vice President), Abdul Samat Ali (Secretary), Hoirull Amri Tahiran (Secretary 2), Muhammad Herwanto Johari (Head of Youth and Head of Programmes), Namira Mazlan (Head of IT) and Irwan Jamal (Head of Publication
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
s).
Seni Untuk Masyarakat
With the motto Seni Untuk Masyarakat (The Arts For The People), it was inspired by the Indonesian writers movement, Angkatan 45, and has been described as a watershed moment for the development of Malay literature in the region. Seen as an angry young men movement, it championed several aims:- To free Malay society from those elements of its culture which was obstructing or negating the pursuit of modernityModernityModernity typically refers to a post-traditional, post-medieval historical period, one marked by the move from feudalism toward capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization, the nation-state and its constituent institutions and forms of surveillance...
and progressProgress (history)In historiography and the philosophy of history, progress is the idea that the world can become increasingly better in terms of science, technology, modernization, liberty, democracy, quality of life, etc...
; - To advance the intellectual awareness of the rakyat (Malay masses) towards the ideals of social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, prosperityProsperityProsperity is the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and/or successful social status. Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes others factors which are independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness and health....
, peacePeacePeace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and harmonyHarmonyIn music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
; - To foster Malay nationalism; and
- To refine and promote the Malay languageMalay languageMalay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
as the lingua francaLingua francaA lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
of Malaya.
An attempt initiated by Asas '50 to absorb the splinter literary groups such as Grup Gelorasa and Pass into Asas '50 was carried out in 1974. A new slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
“Literature for the Community” was coined to provide a mutual understanding and mission amongst the new members of Asas '50. In addition, this slogan was generic and did not have any ideological
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
leanings of any the other previous associations. Thus, the slogan is accepted by all the new members of Asas '50. However, the battleground has changed for Asas '50 as it was no longer fighting for the independence and physical extrication of the community. This time, Asas '50 aim to free the community from psychological and intellectual oppression left behind during the reign of the colonial masters and the Japanese Occupation
Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak
Throughout much of World War II, British Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak were under Japanese occupation.The Japanese Empire commenced the Pacific War with the invasion of Kota Bahru in Kelantan on 8 December 1941 at 00:25, about 90 minutes before the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii at 07:48 on 7...
. ‘Independence' was superficial as the community still glorified the masters to the point of diminishing and trivializing their very own identity. Asas '50's mission is still very much schooled in the concept of “Literature for the Community” even though it has since changed its slogan.
Language
Asas '50's contributed significantly towards the development of the Malay language and was described by kakiseni.com as"the movement that championed the use and development of the Malay language"Asas '50's contribution to the Malay language scene is irrefutably intrinsic to the language's development. It was described by Kakiseni.com as The thousands of literary works written in the Malay language exhibited a diverse form of writing styles as well as the use of contemporary terms to explain a certain phenomena experienced by the community at that point in time lay as a testament of Asas '50's success. In addition, a number of Asas '50 members are teachers and journalists. Therefore, the development and progress of the Malay language is inevitably more dynamic as compared to the generations that were restricted and stagnated by feudalism and the lack of contemporary terms in the Malay language.
A significant and historic contribution made by Asas '50 was the introduction of the Roman spelling in the Malay language. The Jawi writing was initially the modus operandi. However, since the 3 rd Malay Language Congress (Kongres Bahasa ke-3) in 1956 and under the initiation of Asas '50, the Malay Archipelago
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
saw a reformation and revolution in the Malay language arena. As a result, the Roman spelling was integrated into the Malay language and this has remained till today. This change was undoubtedly beneficial for the community as it eases the process of acquiring knowledge as the Roman spelling was also used in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Research and study of materials and sources from the west to be used by the locals were thus made more accessible and decipherable. The introduction and usage of the Roman spelling had such an influential impact that it has since engulfed the use of Jawi in daily matters and in the education scene. Only Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
still practices the use of Jawi.
Trend Setter
The fact that Asas '50 has managed to remain strong up till today is in itself an amazing feat. In its 55 years, the association has created a number of landmark initiatives for almost each generation of its existence. Asas '50 is the first registered Malay literary association and it is also the first to begin a literary culture rooted as the social protest or the social criticSocial criticism
The term social criticism locates the reasons for malicious conditions of the society in flawed social structures. People adhering to a social critics aim at practical solutions by specific measures, often consensual reform but sometimes also by powerful revolution.- European roots :Religious...
. The association is also responsible in the push towards independence for Malaya in the 1950s and the changes made to the Malay language via the 3 rd Malay Language Congress (Kongres Bahasa ke-3). In the 1970s, Asas '50 initiated the Malay Literary Prize (Hadiah Sastera) which is now known as the Malay Literary Award (Anugerah Persuratan). This enabled the works and efforts of writers to be recognized and appreciated. Asas`50 was also recognized as the first Malay literary body in the region to hold the Regional Malay Literati Conference (Pertemuan Sasterawan Nusantara) in 1977. This has since been integrated and adopted as bi-annual event for the Malay literary scene in this region.
In the 21st century, Asas '50 made significant strides in its aim to involve and liaise itself with national based organizations. The association is the first Malay association to have sealed a Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
(MOU) with the National Library Board
National Library Board
The National Library Board is a statutory board of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore...
(NLB). In addition, Asas '50 has also published “Leksikon”, a comprehensive directory, complete with detailed descriptions, of 70 reputed writers in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
from 1965 to 2005. The launch of “Leksikon” also immortalized Asas '50 as the first association to have held an event at the new NLB building at Victoria Street.
Asas '50 has been the country's official representative in learning the development of the Malay literature in the region. The association works arm in arm with regional literary associations such as Gapena (Malaysia), Asterawani (Brunei), Horisons (Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
) and others. Many of its members are also involved in activities organised and held by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka is the government body responsible for coordinating the use of the Malay language in Malaysia and Brunei.-History:...
(DBP), Mastera and Mabbim.
Youth Wing
Since its inception, the crux of Asas '50 has always been formed by a group of young and dedicated writers who are passionate in understanding the struggles of the community. These young writers are usually at their most productive and prolific as they continue their search for their own identities and self. The Asas '50 youth wing was started in 2002 to shape the next generation of leaders and activists in the Malay literary scene. This aim was strongly advocated by Masuri S.N, who believed that the strength of an association is reliant on the youths, who will eventually receive the baton to carry the association into the next phase of its mission. The younger members Asas '50 mainly comprises the trainee teachers of the National Institute of EducationNational Institute of Education
The is an institute of the , Singapore.NIE, Singapore, provides all levels of teacher education, from programmes to for in-service teachers and executive for Principals, Departmental Heads and other school leaders. NIE also administers postgraduate programmes that lead to the award of in...
Townsville Campus. Today, a number of these members are appointment holders in the association's executive committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...
.
The drive and commitment of these young members spurs the promotion and realization of many national based activities. Among the significant contributions made by these youths was in the spearheading of the 12th Regional Malay Literati Conference (Pertemuan Sasterawan Nusantara ke-12). The youth wing assumes the role of moving force behind Asas '50. Their unconceited efforts bear fruit to the first Singapore Malay writers' directory, Leksikon and Dari Gerhana Ke Puncak Purnama, a detailed biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
that documented the developments of Asas '50 throughout the years.
Publications
To date, Asas '50 actively publishes a wide variety of bookBook
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s. A large number of these publications however were only produced in early 2000s. However, there were already numerous counts of books published independently by members of Asas '50. Among the landmark publication was the 2005 release of Abdul Ghani Hamid's Petikan Rasa/Extracts of Feelings. Funded by National Arts Council via the Singapore Cultural Medallion
Cultural Medallion
The Cultural Medallion is a Singapore cultural award conferred to those who have achieved artistic excellence in dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film....
Grant, the book was a bilingual compilation of Abdul Ghani Hamid's poems and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s. Another significant book published by Asas '50 was “Memoir Perjalanan Mas” in 2004. This historical biography of Muhammad Ariff Ahmad depicted the life and struggles of Mas. The importance of this book lies in the passionate involvement of Muhammad Ariff Ahmad in the Malay culture, language and literary arena. Inadvertently, this book has become the unofficial documentation of the Malay literary movement history in Singapore.
However, the most outstanding accolade has to be reserved for Asas '50 efforts in publishing the first Malay writer's directory called Leksikon. A collaborative effort with the NLB, this book represents the apex of Asas '50 publication as it was the first of its kind in the Singapore Malay literary scene. Detailed information of the creative writers
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
in Singapore since 1965, is available in this book. Therefore, Leksikon is testament to the association's commitment in documenting and promoting the achievements of the Malay writers in Singapore. Another one for the history books is the association's publication of an anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of poems and short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
called “Menyongsong Pelangi” in 2005. This anthology comprises literary works contributed by reputed and young writers alike and is released in commemoration of Asas '50's 55 years celebration.
Impact on Malay Film Industry
Interestingly, Asas '50 has also played an important part in the early Malay film industryFilm industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
. Films by P. Ramlee
P. Ramlee
Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee, was a Malaysian film actor, director, singer, songwriter, composer, and producer. Due to his contributions to the movie and music industry and his literary work, he is often considered the icon of Malay entertainment in Malaysia, Singapore, and Sumatra .-Biography:P...
were greatly influenced by Asas '50 as the objectives of those films mirrored those of the association's. In fact, there was also some sort of connections and friendships linking P.Ramlee to Asas '50. For example, Asraf's wife, Fatimah Murad, was the editor of P.Ramlee's film magazine called the “Majalah Bintang.” Thus, Asraf capitalized on this avenue and network to inject the ideologies held by Asas '50 as well as to trade views and opinions with P.Ramlee. Historical film enthusiasts and observers have recognized the film “Bujang Lapok
Bujang Lapok
Bujang Lapok is the first comedy film directed and acted by P.Ramlee. They were later followed by:*Pendekar Bujang Lapok*Seniman Bujang Lapok*Ali Baba Bujang Lapok-Plot:...
” to breathe the same ideologies as that of Asas '50. The film is said to contain satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
stabs at the community at that point in time. An obvious trait prevalent in these films was the use of the actors' real name such as “Ramlee”, “Sudin” and “Aziz.” This was P.Ramlee's method of highlighting the emotional aspect and the reality that shrouded the community of yesteryear.
Impact on Local Media & Newspaper
The truth is, the local newspaper has also held the principle of “Literature for the Community” by publishing literary works that speak of the latest phenomena and dilemma faced by the community all through the years. These poems, shorts stories, essayEssay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s etc. unearthed the ills of the community from the social, religious, political and economical perspectives. In fact, the number of literary works published in the local newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
totaled at 3,200 from 1,600 writers as of 1965. This huge reception has made Singapore Malay literature synonymous with the term “newspaper literature (sastera akhbar).” Inadvertently, Asas '50's mission was propagated and proliferated by the local newspaper which obviously had the same ideologies as the literary association.
The Resource and Reference Compass
The NLB has recognized Asas '50 as the ideal resource and reference pool for its “Singapore Literary Pioneers Gallery” and NLB Online Repository of Artistic Works (NORA) projects. This includes a databaseDatabase
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
collection of Malay writers and manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s. Another project piloted by NLB and Asas '50 was the “Potret Tun Seri Lanang.” In this project, Asas '50 acted as the middleman in obtaining the literary works of the Tun Sri Lanang
Tun Sri Lanang
Tun Muhammad bin Tun Ahmad, better known as Tun Sri Lanang, is the Bendahara of the royal Court of Johor Sultanate who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries...
award winners, which included books, publications, private collections and others. These will then be displayed at the special collections section of the NLB.
The part played by Asas '50 in the growth, development and progress of the Malay literature span a wide scope and has impacted the community intrinsically. The association has consistently upheld its mission and vision of “Literature for the Community” with utmost integrity and responsibility. Asas '50 has spearheaded a myriad of initiatives to preserve the image of the community, country and that of the writer himself. From its battle towards independence for Malaya to its inexorable aim of uniting the splinter Malay literary groups, Asas '50 has managed to form a united front under the manifesto “Literature Develops Humanity.” The climax of Asas '50 achievements is manifested in the installation of the Malay Literary Prize (Hadiah Sastera), which inevitably raised the status and stature of writers in our societal mould.