ON MALAYSIAN LITERATURE

 The Modern Metaphor: The World is a Shopping Mall, transforms local cultural observations into a universal human statement. She masterfully shapes the English language into a vessel capable of carrying the specific isolation, transactional nature, and moral displacement brought about by global capitalism.

As the first woman to be elevated to the pinnacle of Sasterawan Negara, Dr. Zurinah Hassan has long been a trailblazer. With this self-translated volume, she expands her trailblazing legacy to the international arena. She proves that a writer from Southeast Asia does not need to wait for the Western gaze to discover her; instead, she possesses the linguistic command and intellectual stamina to present her own heritage directly to the world.

To read Dunia Sebuah Pasar Raya side-by-side in its bilingual format is to watch a genius at work. It is an enduring testament to a lifetime of literary devotion, proving that while languages may differ, the universal truths of human dignity, memory, and critique remain absolutely unbreakable under her pen.

Dunia Sebuah Pasar Raya / The World is a Shopping Mall stands as a monumental event in contemporary world literature. In this definitive bilingual collection, Dato' Dr. Zurinah Hassan—Malaysia's historic 13th National Laureate (Sasterawan Negara) and the first woman to ever receive the nation's highest literary honor—undertakes the rare and delicate craft of literary self-translation. By rendering her own masterful verses into English, the Laureate bypasses traditional ]external interpretation, offering international readers an unmediated encounter with the distinct rhythms, textures, and spiritual gravityof modern Malay poetry.

Building upon the rich ecological, historical, and maritime landscapes that defined her landmark collection Menghadap ke Pelabuhan (Facing the Harbour), Dr. Zurinah Hassan expands her artistic canvas to confront the realities of a globalized, contemporary society. Through striking imagery and sharp emotional economy, the title metaphor brilliantly reimagines our modern existence as a highly transactional space, crafting a universally resonant critique of capitalism, human displacement, and urban isolation.

           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.