Recognition long overdue for Sarawakian writers in national literature

KUCHING: An engaging session with senior lecturer in English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Dr Fiona Lee Hsiao Yen, shed light on the often-overlooked presence of Sarawakian writers in Malaysian literature, highlighting the need for greater representation beyond Peninsular Malaysia.

The discussion began with members of the audience expressing gratitude and personal insecurity about entering the field of publishing, while also raising questions about Fiona’s interest in literature and her research focus.

“My main objective was to share knowledge with the Kuching audience about Sarawakian writers who have gained international recognition, and to encourage the strengthening and development of literary activities in Malaysia,” she said.

“When I studied overseas, people asked me if I was a Sarawakian writer, and I realised I didn’t know much about it,” she said to Sarawak Tribune.

She was presenting ‘Sarawakiana Talk: Sarawakian Literature as World Literature’ at Meeting Room 3, The Hills Shopping Mall here on Friday.

“That made me question why our history of Malaysian literature is so focused on the Peninsular, when in fact Sarawak and Borneo have many writers who have achieved recognition internationally.

“It’s an imbalance I want to address by ensuring that writers from Sarawak, such as Golda Mowe, Kulleh Grasi, Zhang Guixing, and Li Yongping, are also recognised,” she said.

She emphasised that teaching and research in Malaysian literature should ensure representation from diverse geographical and linguistic backgrounds, noting that Malaysia’s true strength lies in its diversity.

“The more languages we know, the more knowledge we have. One way to keep it alive is to continue the language,” she said.

Fiona also highlighted the importance of translation in expanding Malaysian literature globally.

“One more thing, we also see the importance of translation if we want to ensure that Malaysian literature is known around the world. But I also want to ask, in Malaysia, what is the role of translation for us?

“If we don’t know our own language, how can translation be used as a way for us to know more about the languages that exist in Malaysia? We are all limited in terms of how many languages we can read, but can translation be a way for us to better know what our other Malaysians are also writing about?

“So, the role of translation is in helping us understand our cultural diversity, and on the subject of language diversity, we know that in Malaysia, there has been a long history of language discrimination as an issue of conflict and also an issue to divide us,” she said.