BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: “Science and mathematics are not the only means to develop a nation, literature itself is a reflection of society which contains philosophy of life, spiritual education and awareness of nation. Without it, people won’t know their racial background and history.” Borneo Bulletin reported.
The 27th recipient of the SEA Write Award, Pg Hj Mahmud bin Pg Damit, who writes under the pen name Mahmudamit, expressed his views of modern society that lacks in understanding of literature.
The latest SEA Write Award recipient, who received his award in Bangkok, was received at the Brunei International Airport yesterday by the Language and Literature Bureau Director, Hjh Aminah bind Hj Momin. Jubilant family members and friends were also seen at the arrival hall.
According to Mahmudamit, he was active in Writing in the 60s and won first prize for writing short stories in an event organised by Astrawani Brunei Darussalam Association in 1964. He also came second in writing an anthology for the Language and Literature Bureau in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of Brunei’s independence.
The Language and Literature Bureau has published two of the recipient’s poems – Dwimadah Ekaweadah (2000) and Sepi di Tengah Kota (2010).
Sepi di Tengah Kota was selected by a panel from the Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for the award. This work contains 86 poems and it emphasises the socio-political, cultural and economic aspects.
“Initially, I did not think that the panel would select me as a recipient of this SEA Write Award. I am grateful to Allah the Almighty, the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and specially the Language and Literature Bureau that continues to uplift the status of writers in Brunei Darussalam since 1986,” Mahmudamit told the Bulletin.
Founded in 1979, the SEA Write Award annually recognises and honours the works of contemporary poets and writers in Southeast Asian countries, presenting awards to a winner from each country.
The objective of the SEA Write Award is to encourage authors to lift the status of literature in the region and to also strengthen the friendship between the writers and create understanding, harmony, cooperation and unity through literature.