Siti Zainon Ismail named national laureate

Traditional arts researcher and writer Siti Zainon Ismail is the 14th person to get the award.

PUTRAJAYA: Traditional arts researcher and writer Siti Zainon Ismail has been named the national laureate by the education ministry. She is the 14th person to win the award.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik said Siti Zainon earned the award for her contributions towards the development of national literature.

Siti Zainon’s impact in spreading knowledge at the national and international levels and her leadership in literary associations are among other factors that won her the coveted recognition,

“With the advice of other national laureates — we did not exclude the views of previous laureates — the selection panel has chosen Siti Zainon Ismail as the recipient of the 14th National Laureate award,” Maszlee said at a press conference at his ministry today.

The national laureate title was last given in 2015 when poet Zurinah Hassan was named as the first female recipient of the award.

Maszlee added that Siti Zainon would receive a cash award of RM60,000, and the publication of 50,000 books — equivalent to a maximum of RM500,000 — to be bought by the government and given to schools, libraries, departments and government agencies

“Siti Zainon will also receive free medical amenities in first-class wards in whichever public hospital she chooses, as well as facilities for literary activities.

“Not only that, Siti Zainon will be given facilities for the publication of works, translation of works in foreign languages and a living allowance worth RM5,000 a month,” he said.

Siti Zainon was born on Dec 18, 1949. She has written three novels, 10 collections of short stories, 25 collections of poetry and has edited seven short story anthologies and five poetry anthologies.

Siti Zainon, who was born in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, has also written 18 academic works, 21 essays on literary research, and 21 monographic essays, among other works.

Siti Zainon previously received national recognition when she won the Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia six times, Anugerah Budayawan Selangor, Anugerah Tokoh Seni Budaya, and the Pingat Seri Mahkota Selangor.

She has received international recognition, too, including winning the SEA Write Award (1989) and awards from Indonesia and South Korea. - FMT