ON MALAYSIAN LITERATURE

           When Nature Cries

                                                     (original tittle Ketika  Alam Menangis)

           I have spoken out 

           when they harm the hills 

            and wound the trees 

            Where I learn to write poetry

           But they say I must learn to face reality 

-          This is the age of industry 

            We cannot avoid deforestation 

            We need more houses for the growing population

            May be they are right 

           but it breaks my heart 

           as they sit to calculate their profit 

           the wind is jumping on the roof

           Water attacking villages and coasts 

           It’s my people who suffer the most 

           Let the poor cling to lifeboats 

           or drift with the mud and tide 

           we need stylish houses 

            For the country’s images and pride

            Let the earth be sad and desperate 

           The country does not need romantic poets.

                                     ZURINAH HASSAN

                                      Malaysia National Laureate.

                                           Volume 3,   Issue 1.

ZURINAH HASSAN

Zurinah Hassan is one of Malaysia's foremost poets

and literary figures. Her distinguished career spans several decades, during which she has made significant contributions

to modern Malay literature through poetry, prose, literary criticism, and public lectures. Her writing is deeply rooted 

in the cultural heritage of the Malay world while exploring universal themes of humanity, faith, love, identity, history, nature, and social responsibility.

Her poetry has reached an international readership through translations into English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian, an achievement that reflects the universal appeal 

of her work and contributes to the growing recognition of Malaysian and Southeast Asian literature worldwide.

In addition to her poetry collections, Zurinah Hassan is the author of A Journey Through Prose and Poetry, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in collaboration with the International Islamic University Malaysia. The collection offers valuable insights into her literary journey, creative philosophy, and the cultural influences that have shaped her writing. It also documents her experiences as a Malaysian woman writer and her commitment to preserving and enriching the Malay literary tradition.

Throughout her career, Zurinah Hassan has participated in literary seminars, poetry readings, and cultural programmes in Malaysia and abroad. Her work continues to inspire readers, students, scholars, and translators, demonstrating that poetry written in the Malay language can transcend geographical and linguistic boundaries. Through her lifelong dedication to literature, she has helped bring the voice of Malaysian poetry to the international stage. 

When Poetry Crosses Borders

Poetry begins in one language, but its deepest hope is to speak to humanity beyond borders.

Over the years, my poems, originally written in Malay, have been translated into English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian. Each translation represents more than a change of language. It is a journey from one culture to another, allowing readers from different parts of the world to encounter Malaysian literature through poetry.

As a Malaysian and Southeast Asian poet, I regard this as one of the most meaningful milestones of my literary life. Yet these translations have received little public attention. Most were published quietly, with very little promotion. Consequently, many readers, both in Malaysia and abroad, are unaware that my work is available in these languages.

I have therefore decided to share this story myself—not to seek praise, but to celebrate the power of literature to cross borders and to encourage greater appreciation of Malaysian poetry on the international stage.

Every translation is the result of trust, dedication, and collaboration between the poet and the translator. I am deeply grateful to the translators and publishers who believed that these poems deserved new voices in other languages.

My hope is that these translations will continue to introduce international readers to the richness of Malaysian literature and inspire more translations of Southeast Asian poetry in the years to come.

Poetry belongs to no single language. When a poem is translated with care and sensitivity, it becomes a bridge between cultures and reminds us that our shared humanity is greater than our differences.

Zurinah Hassan is Malaysia's National Laureate (Sasterawan Negara) acclaimed for her outstanding contributions to contemporary Malaysian literature. 

 A Journey Through Prose and Poetry  is jointly published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and IIUM Press (International Islamic University, Malaysia).It traces Zurinah Hassan’s  literary journey, creative process, and the cultural and social context of her  writing. It also discusses the emergence of Malaysian women writers and her experiences as one of them.

This book is valuable because it does more than introduce her poetry—it explains how and why she writes. For readers, researchers, translators, and literary festival organisers, it provides the background needed to appreciate her work.

In this volume, Zurinah Hassan reflects on her lifelong journey as a writer, revealing the creative processes behind her poetry and short stories. She also examines the cultural and social environment that shaped the voices of Malaysian women writers, offering readers and researchers a deeper understanding of her literary philosophy and the development of modern Malay literature.

A Journey Through Prose and Poetry should become one of the cornerstone references for Zurinah Hassan international profile.

 Zurinah Hassan is one of Malaysia's most distinguished poets, whose works have contributed significantly to contemporary Malay literature. Her poetry is deeply rooted in Malaysian culture while exploring universal themes of humanity, love, faith, identity, history, and the natural world.

An important milestone in her literary career is that her poems have been translated into English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian. These translations have introduced her poetry to readers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds and demonstrate the international appeal of literature written in the Malay language.

Although these translations have not received the publicity they deserve, they represent an important achievement for Malaysian and Southeast Asian literature. They affirm that poetry written in Malay can speak meaningfully to readers across cultures and continents.

Through her writing, lectures, and public readings, Zurinah Hassan continues to promote poetry as a bridge between peoples, languages, and civilizations. 

 A

DUNIA SEBUAH PASAR RAYA/ THE WORLD IS A SHOPPING MALL

published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka,2025.

Poetry has the power to cross borders, cultures, and languages. Zurinah Hassan, Malaysia's National Laureate, is one of Southeast Asia's most distinguished poets. Her works have been translated into English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Japanese, introducing her poetic voice to readers across the world.

Her poetry collection, The World Is a Shopping Mall, is a profound reflection on consumerism, globalization, faith, memory, and the enduring values that define our humanity.In an age where material success often overshadows compassion, these poems ask timeless questions:What cannot be bought? What gives life its true meaning?

Deeply rooted in Malaysian culture yet universal in vision, Zurinah Hassan's poetry invites readers from every corner of the world to rediscover the beauty of reflection, empathy, and the human spirit.

The World Is a Shopping Mall

is more than a book of poems—it is an invitation

to think, to feel, and to see the world

with renewed wisdom.

"The finest poetry does not merely

describe the world—it transforms

the way we see it."

The Future of Women’s Leadership in the Competitive Digital Creative Ecosystem.

Extract of my interview for the book,  Futures According to Women terbitan MIGHT (Malaysian Industry -Government Group for HighTechnology).

As I always say to young people and aspiring writers, there has never been a better time to build your talent and your future in writing. The digital era has opened doors that were once very difficult to access. If you are as old as I am, you would understand the struggles I went through. When I started writing in the 1960s, there were not many writers. There were other women who wrote, and some names appeared in newspapers earlier than mine. However, not all of them survived  as creative writers.

At that time, It was believed that one could not make a living from writing, and girls who wrote were often seen as day dreamers. In my younger years, my parents even advised me to stop writing, fearing that it might affect my academic performance.

Today, the situation is very different. There are far more opportunities for women to sustain a career in writing. Women can now make a living through literary and creative work. Government agencies such as Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) provide funding and support for literary and cultural activities, including theatre performances. Today, many women work successfully as writers, scriptwriters, directors,  earning a respectable living and contributing meaningfully to the cultural landscape.

Malaysia has a rich heritage that can be showcased through creative digital content.

I have been asked many times how I face the digital era. As a writer born and shaped by print media, including newspapers and magazines, do I feel sad that people no longer read them as much? To this, my answer is no. Literature is not only books or print media. Literature existed orally even before the invention of printing machines.

We adapt and change with technology. When I was young, even as a teenager and especially as a girl, I could not watch cultural performances. There were rarely any cultural shows in my village, aside from commercial funfairs, so my exposure to cultural experiences was limited.

At that time, I only heard about wayang kulit, hadrah, kuda kepang, and bangsawan being staged in other states and faraway places.

Fortunately, we had a radio at home not every household did. Through the radio, I listened to songs with beautiful poetic lyrics, as well as bangsawan and syair. The radio became my window into literature and culture. Then came television. Through television, we could not only hear but also see bangsawan performed, much like watching it live on stage.

Today, opportunities are wide open. Various forms of cultural performances can be accessed and enjoyed every day. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube provide instant visibility for cultural content. Netizens are creating videos on traditional crafts and cultural practices that can reach millions of viewers, even beyond national borders.

With such vast opportunities available today, women can play a much greater role, and these opportunities must not be wasted. Talent can and should be developed from childhood, as young children are now exposed to books and computers from an early age. This potential must be nurtured and not allowed to go to waste.

One of the longstanding issues women faces is a lack of recognition. In the past, many women were excluded from formal education. From my experience, it was difficult for girls to continue schooling beyond primary education. Secondary school were far in town. We have to  get up before dawn and be on the road as early as six in the morning to catch public transport to school. Fortunately, my parents believed in education for everyone. However, many parents in the village felt it was neither worthwhile nor safe to send their daughters to school. They were mostly poor farmers who believed it was better to save money than to spend it on books. 

In the previous generation, children listened to stories, folklore and pantun sung by their mothers and grandmothers. In this sense, women were the ones who spread and preserved literature, nurturing cultural knowledge within the family and community.

Women are naturally closer to their children and continue to play this role today by nurturing and guiding the next generation of creators. Through transmedia storytelling where stories are told across podcasts, blogs, videos and social media. Women can craft multidimensional narratives that reflect modern fragmented experiences. AI-assisted writing tools enable experimentation and collaboration, expanding creative possibilities rather than replacing the author’s voice. Social media platforms, virtual writing groups, and online workshops foster networks that once required physical proximity. Women authors can mentor one another, share opportunities, and build cross-cultural collaborations.

Featured Quotes

The following proposed quotes reflect YBhg. Datuk Dr Zurinah Hassan’s perspectives on literature, culture, and the evolving role of women in shaping Malaysia’s intellectual and creative landscape. These options highlight different facets of her insights, illustrating how art, intellect, and cultural heritage contribute to the nation’s future. 

Quote Option 1 – Culture Beyond Print​

“Literature does not belong only to books or print. Long before printing machines existed, stories lived through voices, songs, pantuns, and folklore. Technology does not erase culture, it gives it new ways to survive, travel, and be remembered.”

Quote Option 2 – Women as Cultural Carriers​

“For generations, it was women who carried stories through lullabies, folktales, and everyday life. Today, digital platforms allow women to continue this role on a global scale, preserving heritage while shaping new narratives for the future.”​

Quote Option 3 – Empowering Women Empowers the Nation​

“Helping women is not only the right thing to do it is an investment in the future. When women are empowered, families thrive, communities become more resilient, and creativity flourishes. The problems women face will ultimately affect us all.”