WOMEN  IN MALAYSIAN LITERATURE AND INTELLECTUALISM

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Women writers have  made important contributions in the development of Malaysian literature and intellectualism. Their emergence and involvement  can be traced to the pioneering figures, Ibu Zain, Kamariah Saadon, Jahlelawati and later  Adibah Amin, Zaharah Nawawi and Khadijah Hashim,  Ibu Zain or Hajah Zainon Sulaiman, (1903-1989)  who was a teacher with English education is remembered as an advocater of education for girls through her writings in Majalah Guru or Bulan Melayu, . Bulan Melayu was the first women’s magazine in Malaysia, initiated by Ibu Zain herself  and it played an important role in creating awareness amongst women on the importance of education.

Creative writings in modern fictions began in 1934, with the production of a short story Kesedihan Perkahwinan Paksa (The Misery of Forced Marriage) by Hafsah, published in a magazine, Pengasuh. Later in the same year, a fiction entitled Waktu Isyak Menangkap Pencuri written by Siti Nurmah, was published. However, novels written by women writers surfaced much later, that is, as late as 1941, about 15 years after the first novel written by a man writer.

Where Poetry is concerned, Women have been involved in poetry writing since 1930 with the emergence of a poem in a newspaper Lidah Benar by  Hasnah Brahim, and later, on May 7, 1936,  Zainun Nasir published her poem entitled "Women Must Wake Up”,   in the magazine Al-Hikmah. Other names detected before 1940 were Perawan Kampung, Kalthum Awang dan Wok Jamilah.

The presence of women poets became more noticeable after 1945 following the end of Japanese occupation. Several names that appeared were Mariam Abdul Ghani, Fatimah Othman, Wanita Kampung, Hafsah Perak,  Siti Aishah,Kamariah Johor and Normah Kamarudin. These were followed by names that later became important in Malaysian literature, Ibu Zain, Salmi Manja and Anis Sabirin.. Poems by Salmi Manja and Anis Sabirin were  included in an  anthology  Puisi Melayu Baru (The New Malay Poetry (1942-1960) compiled by Ali Haji Ahmad, 1966, together with important Malaysian poets Masuri S.N., Tongkat Warrant, A.Samad Said, Noor S.I., M.Ghazali, A.S.Amin, Kassim Ahmad, Suhaimi Haji Muhammad, Nahmar Jamil and Jihati Abadi. 

           

Some of the early literary works by women writers in Malaysia, introduced new ideas to the society, particularly in the efforts to elevate women’s status. There were fictions about forced and unhappy marriages in which, the writer suggested a smart way out of  unhappiness without rebelling or breaching social values and norms. The narrative strategies organized by the writer suggest that the woman can achieve her freedom through means which do not contradict the religious values, customs and norms of her society.

Such features were more prevalent in post-independence literatures, in novels such as Seroja Masih Di Kolam (1968) by Adibah Amin, and Badai Semalam (1968) by Khadijah Hashim. For example, Badai Semalam related the struggle and perseverance of a woman to realize her dream of continuing her studies to university level. Through this novel, the writer brought to the fore the image of a woman of the new generation who is modern in her thinking, ambitious, and willing to work hard to realize her dreams.

Based on the early novels it can be seen that women writers’ depictions of women were not too drastically different from those of male writers. Although women were depicted as highly educated and career-driven, after marriage these women were still expected to play the five main roles as specified in the Panca Darma Wanita. However, the women writers in the early 1930s attempted to apply specific features in highlighting real-life experiences of women, i.e., in displaying the emotions of joys and sorrows, and in expressing their desires and dislikes. However, these specific features were not outstanding enough and were still peripheral in nature compared to the other aspects of convention which had greater control over writing styles. The features that were more noticeable in these novels were the experiences of the women whose lives are subjected to the customs and values which confine and oppress them. The writers showed that generally women at that time were still not free to realize their own dreams and visions as they were still bound by their domestic roles, the influence of men and societal values.  Hence, although the writers tried to voice their demands for the rights and status of women, their voice and bravery at that time were still drowned by the dominance of patriarchy. 

            It is therefore evident that women writers in Malaysia have endeavored to express their experiences in the effort to elevate the status and prestige of women. At the same time, repeated attempts were made by these women writers to deviate from the male dominant system. For this purpose, they revealed a unique way of narrating by not adhering to the conventional writing styles, specifically the ones practiced by men writers. As such, women writers at this stage exhibited attempts to dismantle the narrating style through the presentation of women’s experiences as well as through a different usage of language.

POETRY

More names appeared in the mid-sixties. They were  Maimoonah Haji Omar, Rahimah M.Y, Noraini Shahrin, Azizah Shahrin, Halimah Haji Ahmad, Aina M, Maznah Ali who became regular contributor in  weekly newspapers such as Utusan Zaman, Mingguan Malaysia and Berita Minggu and monthly magazines  Mastika and Dewan Masyarakat .

But the work of women poets were generally not given due attention and criticism. There were hardly any write up, review or essay that examines their work in literary magazines or academic journals.

Public opinion about the inferiority of women writer's works began to change in the early 1970s. This change was brought  about by the Malaysian Literary Prize  established in 1971. The literary world seemed surprised when  several  women writers appear as winners. And this proved that women work should not be underestimated.

In 1982, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) credits by issuing a special collection of poems poetess. Anthology is defined  as Kembang Melati. Compiled  by Suhaimi Haji Muhammad and Pyan Hussein. It includes works of seven poetess  Salmi Manja, Anis Sabirin, Maimoonah Haji Omar, Zurinah Hassan, Muhammad Nor Aini Muhammad, Siti Zainon Ismail and Zaihasra. Kembang Melati is the only anthology of women poetry. Jasmine flower is the only poetess poetry ever published by DBP. After that the group published Mustika Diri (DBP, 1994) compiled by  Ahmad Kamal Abdullah and Siti Asiah Murad.

Siti Aishah  Murad story. However Mustika Self is not limited to poetry. It involves writing in all genres namely poetry, short stories, plays and literary essays. Poet of women and the number of the poems contained in Mustika Self is Habsah Hassan (6), Hasnah Ibrahim, (3), Khadijah Hashim, (1), Mahaya Mohd Yassin (10), Maimon Rahman (2), Mariam Omar (3 ), Maznah Ali (4), Norzeha Kasbi (6), Radziah M.Zin (3), conflicts Jamil (3), Rogayah A.Hamid (2), Sairah Haji Antin (2), Salmi Manja (3), Susan Ismail (2), Siti Zainon Ismail (2), Siti Zaleha M.Hashim (5), Sitti's Haji Abd Muttalib (20, Zaiton Ajamain (6), zakiah Maritime (2), Zanariah Wan Abdul Rahmadn (2), Zurinah Hassan (5).

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