Keris Mas
Encyclopedia
Keris Mas born Kamaluddin Muhamad, was a prominent Malaysian literary figure and was one of the founders of the Asas '50
literary movement. His numerous contributions to Malay language
literature (especially in the short story form) led him to become Malaysia's first National Laureate in 1981.
, Pahang
, Keris Mas received his early education at the Malay School in his village, before going to the Tawalib school in Sumatra
, and the Muallimin Al-Islamiah College.
After World War II
, he joined the Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (The National Malay Party of Malaya) (PKMM) wing in Pahang
, and was actively involved in its branch in Singapore
. In the party, he held the Information Officer post.
He also worked with several newspapers, such as the Melayu Raya, Warta Negara (until 1956), and Utusan Melayu in Singapore
(as the Editor of Publication). He is credited with contributing a lot towards the development of Mastika
magazine and Utusan Zaman, a Malay-language newspaper in Jawi script.
He joined the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
in December 1956 as an editor, and his highest post, before his retirement on 10 June 1977, was as the head of the literary development section. After his retirement, he continued to be a Penulis Tamu (Resident Writer) at the University of Malaya
and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
.
He is also the author of four novels: Pahlawan Rimba Malaya (Hero of the Malayan Jungle) (1946); Korban Kesuciannya (His Holy Sacrifice) (1949); Saudagar Besar dari Kuala Lumpur (The Big-Time Merchant From Kuala Lumpur) (1983); and Rimba Harapan (The Jungle of Hope) (1983).
His works are distinguished by their themes of addressing social injustice and strong and lively characters that resonate with the reader.
, Abdul Samad Ismail
, Masuri SN and others.
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 that end, members employed a realist style in their writing, deliberately going against established genres that they felt were too preoccupied with stylistics and the trivial aspects of human life, thus not reflecting the reality of human life.
Keris Mas himself described the movement as follows:
It is still a registered body until today. Its motto however has since developed to "Seni Bina Manusia" or "Literature develops humanity". Its primary philosophy however still maintains. ASAS 50 has also since developed its youth wing to develop and nurture budding talents. Today, its youth wing is led by highly motivated individuals who each is developing their own identity, approach, and style towards the Malay literature, language and culture.
of Malaysia, Tun Hussein Onn
.
In 1981, he became the first recipient of the Sasterawan Negara award.
In 1989, he was also conferred an honorary doctorate in literature by Universiti Sains Malaysia
(The Science University of Malaysia).
Asas '50
The Singapore Writers' Movement '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...
literary movement. His numerous contributions to Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
literature (especially in the short story form) led him to become Malaysia's first National Laureate in 1981.
Biography
Born in Kampung Ketari, BentongBentong
Bentong is both a town and a district in Pahang, Malaysia. The district covers an area of 1,831 km². It is located 80 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, just across the main range, Titiwangsa Mountains. The original main street going into Bentong town has been modified to a dual carriageway...
, Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, Keris Mas received his early education at the Malay School in his village, before going to the Tawalib school in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, and the Muallimin Al-Islamiah College.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (The National Malay Party of Malaya) (PKMM) wing in Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, and was actively involved in its branch 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...
. In the party, he held the Information Officer post.
He also worked with several newspapers, such as the Melayu Raya, Warta Negara (until 1956), and Utusan Melayu 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...
(as the Editor of Publication). He is credited with contributing a lot towards the development of Mastika
Mastika
Mastika , mastícha; is a liquor seasoned with mastic, a resin gathered from the mastic tree, a small evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region...
magazine and Utusan Zaman, a Malay-language newspaper in Jawi script.
He joined 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:...
in December 1956 as an editor, and his highest post, before his retirement on 10 June 1977, was as the head of the literary development section. After his retirement, he continued to be a Penulis Tamu (Resident Writer) at the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
and 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:...
.
Literary career
Keris Mas' main contribution in the field of local literature was in short stories. By the end of the 1960s, he had written about 60 short stories. His first short story was Wasiat Orang Bangsawan (The Last Will and Testament of a Nobleman), published in the magazine Suluh Malaya (The Malayan Torch) in 1946. His works are now contained in the following anthologies: Mekar dan Segar (Rise and Shine) (1959); Dua Zaman (Two Eras) (1963); Patah Tumbuh (What Is Lost Returns) (1963); and Pertentangan (Conflict) (1968).He is also the author of four novels: Pahlawan Rimba Malaya (Hero of the Malayan Jungle) (1946); Korban Kesuciannya (His Holy Sacrifice) (1949); Saudagar Besar dari Kuala Lumpur (The Big-Time Merchant From Kuala Lumpur) (1983); and Rimba Harapan (The Jungle of Hope) (1983).
His works are distinguished by their themes of addressing social injustice and strong and lively characters that resonate with the reader.
Asas 50
Asas 50 (Angkatan Sasterawan 50) (Writers movement '50) came to existence on 6 August 1950. Keris Mas was one of the 19 founding members (comprising teachers and journalists) of the movement, which includes Usman AwangUsman Awang
Usman Awang was a Malaysian poet, playwright and novelist. Malaysian National Laureate . He was born into a penniless family in Johore, and had done coolies and served as a policeman when he was young. He was good at writing traditional Pantun poems...
, Abdul Samad Ismail
Abdul Samad Ismail
Abdul Samad Ismail , who often went by the moniker Pak Samad, was a Malaysian journalist, writer and editor.- Early life :Samad was born on 18 April 1924, in Singapore, where he also attended Victoria School...
, Masuri SN and others.
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 modernity and progress;
- To advance the intellectual awareness of the rakyat (Malay masses) towards the ideals of social justice, prosperity, peace and harmony;
- To foster Malay nationalism; and
- To refine and promote the Malay language as the lingua franca of Malaya.
To that end, members employed a realist style in their writing, deliberately going against established genres that they felt were too preoccupied with stylistics and the trivial aspects of human life, thus not reflecting the reality of human life.
Keris Mas himself described the movement as follows:
"In the field of literature, the proponents of ASAS 50 adopted a new breathe of style, employing a mode of language 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 honour and identity, upholding justice and combating oppression.
.... We criticised societal backwardness and those whom we regard as the instruments responsible for the birth of such backwardness. We criticised colonialism and its instruments, that is, the elite class, those whose consciousness have been frozen by the influence of feudalism and myths, and superstition that has been enmeshed with religion."
It is still a registered body until today. Its motto however has since developed to "Seni Bina Manusia" or "Literature develops humanity". Its primary philosophy however still maintains. ASAS 50 has also since developed its youth wing to develop and nurture budding talents. Today, its youth wing is led by highly motivated individuals who each is developing their own identity, approach, and style towards the Malay literature, language and culture.
Awards
In 1976, he was given the Pejuang Sastera (Literary Pioneer) award by the third Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Malaysia, Tun Hussein Onn
Hussein Onn
Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn who is of 3/4 Malay and 1/4 Circassian ancestry was the third Prime Minister of Malaysia, ruling from 1976 to 1981. He was granted the soubriquet Bapa Perpaduan...
.
In 1981, he became the first recipient of the Sasterawan Negara award.
In 1989, he was also conferred an honorary doctorate in literature by Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia is a public university with its main campus in Penang, Malaysia. There are three branch campuses: one in mainland Penang , one in Kelantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and a offshore collaboration with a university in India...
(The Science University of Malaysia).