Title Writing as a medium in modern Malay literature Author Muhammad Ariff bin Ahmad Source Aksara: Menjejaki tulisan Melayu = Aksara: The passage of Malay scripts (231 - 239) Published by National Library Board

This document was digitised and archived with permission from the National Library Board Singapore.

Citation: Muhammad Ariff Ahmad. (2009). Writing as a medium in modern Malay literature. In Juffri Supa’at, & Nazeerah Gopaul (Eds.), Aksara: Menjejaki tulisan Melayu = Aksara: The passage of Malay scripts (231 - 239). Singapore: National Library Board.

,gkinan wujud e-sastera (sastera elektronik) .i komputer . Writing as a Medium in Modern ~aimanapun, pada hemat saya, selagi e-sastera 1 1 melalui komputer masih perlu dibaca maka Malay Literature rumi akan tetap relevan dipakai sebagai mya. Muhammad Ariff bin Ahmad .llahu alam bissawab ... .billahi-taufiq wal-hidayah ...

N HIS BOOK 'SARINAH' (1947), THE LATE IR. SOEKARNO, Ifirst President of , had mentioned, "we learn history to make us intellectual". And everyone knows that 231 history is a record of life experiences, be it an individual's or a nation's. That statement has an effect: those who deny history will not be intellectuals. asuk Kesatuan Guru-guru Melayu Slngapura dan History often shows the evolution and progress of a life, according to the condi­ :atan Sasterawan 50. ( termasuk beberapa perwakilan penerbit dari Singapura tions, period and what is desired of the living. The same happens to Malay literature. ohor Bahru yang tel ah bertindak keluar (walk-out) History proves that Malay literature started off as oral literature because liter­ inggalkan persldangan kerana permohonannya menjadi ature develops by word of mouth. rta penoh dltolak persidangan dengan lzin Pengerusl dangan. Folk literature like tales of: un, setelah tulisan rumi itu benar-benar menjadi • Pak Pandir, ma sastera Melayu Maden di Slngapura, amalan Islam >erkembangan dakwah lslamiah, bukan sahaja tldak • PakKaduk, sot atau tergugat; bahkan dengan tertubuhnya lebih So • Lebai Malang, Id generasl baru amalan Islam dlsinl bertambah maju. • Si Luncai, • Si Tanggang, Nakhoda Manis, combination of the scripts copy the words read by Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, and many more man as a source of obtaining information on knowl­ were passed on orally by storytellers ( who later edge, teachings and guidance to perfecting life. were called 'sahibul-hikayat') . As known by many, through Hinduism and With the advancement of human intellect Buddhism that were embraced once by the Malays at and civilization, along with technological develop­ the beginning of their civilization, written Malay liter­ ment and progress, Malay oral literature was then ature used pallawa, kawi and nagiri scripts as its tool. published in stages and known as written literature. After embracing Islam, the Malays began read­ The rise of the Malay intellect and civilization ing the Qur' an which is in Arabic and written in began when the Malays embraced religion. History the . According to Marco Polo when tells us that the first religion which influenced he stopped over at Perlak en route to China in 1295, the life of the Malays was Hinduism/ Buddhism. the Perlak people were already reciting the Qur' an. Teachings of Hinduism/ Buddhism were transmit­ The experience of reading the Qur ' an and ted to the Malays through the Old , Islamic texts in Malay (Arabic style and full of 232 with influences of Sanskrit. Arabic terms) eventually saw Arabic letters - later Terms like agama (religion), Tuhan (God), with some additions and system amendment - sembahyang (pray), puasa (fast), pahala (merit), being used to write Malay. dosa (sin), syurga (heaven), neraka (hell) and more With the addition of letters for ca, that are used in Malay till today are derived from ga, pa, nga and nya (that do not exist in Arabic) , Sanskrit. In fact, the term sastera (literature) also the omission of the Arabic diacritics a-i-u, and traces its roots back to Sanskrit. the replacement with alif-ya-wau as vocals for the Sastera originally meant 'writing' in Sanskrit. In Malay a-i-u, the modified Arabic writing Malay, sastera refers to language. With a prefix "su" was used to write Malay. (meaning beautiful in Javanese) , literature becomes The new writing, which had its spelling system susastera, meaning beautiful language. Literature is amended and revised over time, is known as the created and enjoyed by man through writing (also jawi script. The Johor people referred to jawi as the known as composition). Malay script. Writing is a jotting of phonemes of consonants Since then, except for being used in official and vocals, which are known as scripts or letters. A letters for royalty, jawi was also used in written 1ation of the scripts copy the words read by Malay literature - either for transcribing oral folk • Malay Language, a source of obtaining information on knowl­ literature into written literature or writing Malay Mathematics and Timetable, achings and guidance to perfecting life. translations of foreign literature, particularly • Health and Wellness,

2 known by many, through Hinduism and Hindu , Arabic/ Persian3 or English•. • Geography, sm that were embraced once by the Malays at Even newspapers, magazines, fiction, novels and History, and inning of their civilization, written Malay liter­ other literary works for public reading were mostly Art and Crafts. ;ed pallawa, kawi and nagiri scripts as its tool. printed in jawi until the 1960s, although since 1930s, er embracing Islam, the Malays began read­ there already rose a trend of publishing Malay books Qur' an which is in Arabic and written in written in the Roman script. bic script. According to Marco Polo when When I entered school in late 1933, there were ped over at Perlak en route to China in 1295, already old Malay literary works, including: .ak people were already reciting the Qur ' an . Hikayat Awang Sulung Merah Muda, : experience of reading the Qur' an and Hikayat Malim Deman, texts in Malay (Arabic style and full of • Hikayat Raja Bedurai Putih, :erms) eventually saw Arabic letters - later Hikayat Anggun Cik Tunggal, 233 me additions and system amendment - • Hikayat Bayan Budiman, ,ed to write Malay. and the likes, which had been printed for the Malay :h the addition of letters for phonemes ca, Literature Series, and MPH had printed the Malay 1ga and nya (that do not exist in Arabic), Schools Series in romanised script. ssion of the Arabic diacritics a-i-u, and Prior to 1950, vernacular Malay schools in Sam Kok, atau, Tiga Negri Berprang: Siok, Gwi sama Gor di acement with alif-ya-wau as vocals for the Singapore were still using the 3M approach (read­ jaman .. Han Teow" honeme a-i-u, the modified Arabic writing ing, writing and counting) in schools. Malay The only subjects taught in the jawi script d to write Malay. schools of that period taught both types of writing - were reading, spelling, writing and composition & new writing, which had its spelling system jawi and rumi. letters; whereas other subjects (including the Malay d and revised over time, is known as the Subjects taught in Malay schools then were: language) were taught in the rumi script. .pt. The Johor people referred to jawi as the • Jawi and Rumi reading, I entered school when I was almost 9, having :ript. Jawi and Rumi spelling (dictation), completed reading the Qur'an twice and taught to :e then, except for being used in official • Jawi and Rumi writing, read the newspaper in Jawi weekly by my father at >r royalty, jawi was also used in written Composition and Letters, home. Hence, reading jawi was not a problem for me as I was used to reading the magazines Warta On the day the Tenno Heika soldiers took Malaya, Warta]enaka and Tanah Melayu which were over Singapore (15 February 1942), I had bought a often brought home by my late father, even though I Remington typewriter "axe brand" from a teacher for

did not understand everything that I read5• $10.00 ( currency). With that type­ With regards to rumi (spelling, reading and writer (romanised script), I wrote a radio drama writing), I learnt the abc's, when I entered school. script for the Middle Syonan Drama group. In 1940, as a trainee teacher, other than read­ During the Japanese Occupation (15 February ing Utusan Melayu, Mastika and fiction printed in 1942 - 14 August 1945), there were two Malay Malaya in the jawi script, I also read many Malay magazines - SemangatAsia (publication of Marai books that were brought in from Java and Sumatra. Shimbun Sya Shimbun Sya) and FajarAsia (publica­ Books written in romanised Malay from Java tion of Sinsei Marai Kensetsu Sya) that were printed were said to have been written by the Semarang inrumi. Chinese; however, with the rise of a group called After World War II, aside from newspapers Pujangga Baru, many writers comprised Malays and magazines written injawi, the Cenderamata 234 from the region. Maktab Perguruan SITC and Kencanamagazines were Although the rumi spelling system within the published in Singapore in rumi since 1947. This was Dutch East Indies (known presently as Indonesia) followed by associations6 that published their bulle­ then was different from the system used in Malaya, tins in rumi - most were cyclostyled magazines. many Malay readers here were able to read books and That situation spurred the interest of many young magazines brought in from across the straits fluently. writers in the 5o's, including myself, who used the Many of us are familiar with names like Hamka, typewriter to produce their works in romanised script, Marah Rosli, Merari Siregar, Adi Negoro, Surapaty, A. although the newspapers and magazines to which the Hashimy and many more through their books writ­ works were sent and published were printed in jawi. ten in rumi that were brought here by others. But I It was then up to the compositor of the do not think that people there (Indonesia) knew of newspapers and magazines to transcribe the text names like Harun Aminurrashid, Wiwaha, Abdullah from rumi to jawi for printing and publication.

Sidek, Ahmad Bakhtiar and many of our other writers In 1952, ASAS '50 spearheaded a committee because they were unable to read books written and that comprised KGMS ( Singapore Malay Teachers printed in jawi. Union), 4PM (The Malay Youth Literary the day the Tenno Heika soldiers took Association), the Malay Language Board and discussed at the KPMMl that day was the issue of tgapore (15 February 1942), I had bought a the Trengkas Malay Institute in organizing a writing as a medium for development as well as the ton typewriter "axe brand" from a teacher for Pan-Malayan Malay Letters conference. The aim progress of modern Malay literature in Malaya. (British Malaya currency). With thattype­ was to foster collaboration among literary and There were participants who proposed to use romanised script), I wrote a radio drama language associations in the whole of Malaya in rumi as the official script for literature, based on ,r the Middle Syonan Drama group. developing the Malay literature here. practical reasons such as technical convenience as :ing the Japanese Occupation (15 February On 12 April 1952, the Pan-Malayan Malay Letters well as the importance of spreading Malay litera­ 4 August 1945), there were two Malay Conference was held at the Seaview Hotel, Singapore. ture to Malay-speaking areas. 1es - Semangat Asia (publication of Marai Representatives of 20 language and literary associa­ Many participants still held to the use of n Sya Shimbun Sya) and Fajar Asia (publica­ tions throughout Malaya and 86 observers' from vari­ the jawi script as the official Malay script. They ,insei Marai Kensetsu Sya) that were printed ous language and literary individuals attended the remarked that the jawi script had already become conference. part of life of the Malays, and considering its :r World War II, aside from newspapers The one-day conference discussed whether contributions toward Malay letters, it should there­ ~azines written injawi, the Cenderamata the proposed collaboration would be carried out fore be maintained as the official script for Malay

Perguruan SITC and Kencana magazines were through: literary writing. In fact, quite a number of the 235 :din Singapore in rumi since 1947. This was • a writers' association/ body for the whole of participants were worried that should jawi be given l by associations6 that published their bulle­ Malaya, or less priority, Islamic practices amongst the Malays umi - most were cyclostyled magazines. an integration of writers' bodies, or would then deteriorate or be affected8• t situation spurred the interest of many young a constitutionalised literary congress. There were also participants who wanted both n the 50 ' s, including myself, who used the The conference's decision was to collaborate scripts used. The agenda was discussed over half a day. er to produce their works in romanised script, through a constitutionalised literary congress, then However, KPMMl did not promptly decide 1 the newspapers and magazines to which the form and confirm the constitutionalised congress at which of the two scripts should be chosen as the ere sent and published were printed in jawi. the end of the conference that afternoon. official script for Malay letters in Malaya. It in ;is then up to the compositor of the The conference also decided that the first fact concluded with the appointment of a Script >ers and magazines to transcribe the text Pan-Malayan Malay Letters Congress would be held Investigation Committee consisting of: ni to jawi for printing and publication. the next day. 1. Chairman: Tuan Harun Aminurrashid

152, ASAS 'so spearheaded a committee On 13 April 1952, KPMMl (Kongres Persuratan 2 . Lead Representative: Tuan Mahmud bin Ahmad 1prised KGMS (Singapore Malay Teachers Melayu Malaya Pertama or First Pan-Malayan 3. Secretary: Keris Mas (Kamaludin Muhammad) 4PM (The Malay Youth Literary Malay Letters Congress) was realized. The agenda 4. Assistant Secretary: Tuan Ramli Abdul Hadi 5. North Malaya Rep: Tuan Mohd Assry Hj Muda • thereafter, report the research findings and the (LEPAS) committee's recommendations as to which

6. West Malaya Rep: Tuan A. Samad Idris (ASAS script ( either jawi or rumi) should be forma­ Negeri Sembilan) lised as the medium of modern Malay letters to 7. East Malaya Rep: Tuan Ahmad Wajdi (PAP the KPMM to be held about a year later. Kelantan) Headed by ASAS Negeri Sembilan, Negeri 8. South Malaya Rep: Tuan Yusof Harun (1PM) Sembilan Association of Village Heads and Negeri 9. Singapore & North Rep: Tuan Buyong Sembilan Association of Teachers, the KPMM2 Adil (LBM) was held from 1-2 January 1954 at King George V Secondary School, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

2..00 p.m., 1.January 1.954 The report of the KPMMl Spelling Committee was presented at 11.30 a.m. that same morning and discussed in detail. All representatives - 20 congress members and 5 special observers, contributed their opinions and recommendations. Heated discussions resulted in three proposals to be voted on:

1. to formalize rumi without affecting jawi -

proposed by KGMS, supported by ASAS '50.

2 . to formalize both scripts - proposed by LPS, supported by the Malay Language Board, and Gestetner Print Machine 3. to not make any decisions yet and consider the The Congress tasked the Committee to: matter further - proposed by 1PM, supported by research the extent to which jawi and rumi had the Great Malay Culture. been used in all aspects of Malay life; Eventually though, at 4.00 p.m., the KPMM • study the benefits and gains from the usage of reached an agreement: both scripts; and Based on the highest vote, " ... the Malayan ·eafter, report the research findings and the Malay Letters Congress today has decided that the Malaya, Singapore, complete with the official clos­ tmittee's recommendations as to which rumi script should be formalized for Malay Letters ing of the KPMMat the big palace in Johor Bahru, pt ( either jawi or rumi) should be forma- without removing jawi until time determines so." to discuss three papers on the rumi spelling system l as the medium of modern Malay letters to The decision meant that rumi was to be the offi­ presented at the Congress.

KPMM to be held about a year later. cial script for the development of modern Malay The KPMM3appointed a Malay Rumi Spelling ded by ASASNegeri Sembilan, Negeri language and literature, whilst jawi would not be Committee to check, correct and complete the rumi n Association of Village Heads and Negeri disturbed i.e. it would be left as was lest needed for spelling which was presented as proposal papers n Association of Teachers, the KPMM2 other purposes. and thereafter, establish a new rumi spelling system l from 1-2 January 1954 at King George V Initially, there were those who were reluctant to suited for modern Malay letters as decided in the ry School, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. accept or wholeheartedly agree with the Congress' KPMM2.

decision. In fact, some even accused ASAS'50 of killing In the pursuit of perfecting the rumi spelling n., 1 January 1954 jawi. Without realizing that the script in al-Qur' an system, the KPBMMSpelling Committee collaborated ,rt of the KPMMl Spelling Committee was was actually the Arabic script and not jawi, they with the Indonesian Spelling Team in Jakarta to d at 11.30 a.m. that same morning and blamed ASAS'50 for the cease of jawi reading and writ­ standardize the different spelling systems of the two :I in detail. All representatives - 20 congress ing in schools, thus resulting in Malay children not languages (Malay/Indonesian). 237 s and 5 special observers, contributed their being able to read the Qur'an. The collaboration produced a spelling system

; and recommendations. Following KPMM2' s decision, many publishers called Malin do spelling ( that is, spelling for Malay :ed discussions resulted in three proposals to continued to print magazines in jawi, but they also and Indonesian languages). Both parties also agreed on: began printing their books (including Malay language to implement the Malinde spelling system concur­ rmalize rumi without affecting jawi - and literature textbooks) in rumi. A number of rently in January 1954; however, as the saying goes: osed by KGMS, supported by ASAS'50 . publishers reprinted their jawi-written books in rumi. 'We can only plan; but God determines destiny.' rmalize both scripts - proposed by LPS, In 1957, Berita Harian and Berita Minggu began Politics changed Malaya (including Singapore) ,orted by the Malay Language Board, and publishing in rumi. That same year, I was paid by to in September 1963; Indonesia confronted )t make any decisions yet and consider the a publisher, Hashim Abdullah, to romanize two Malaysia. And the Malinde spelling for the Malay :er further - proposed by IPM, supported by books - Hikayat Si Miskin and Hikayat Mara Kerma language was stunted. ;reat Malay Culture. (copyright, Haji Mujtahid), that were published a Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 tually though, at 4.00 p.m., the KPMM few times in jawi. to become a republic. However, the LTK(Lembaga m agreement: The KPMM2' s decision on rumi led to KPMM3 Tetap Kongres) or Permanent Congress Board, :I on the highest vote, " ... the Malayan (16-21 September 1956) held at the University of Singapore, still respected KPBMM's decision on the usage of rumi as the medium of developing Indonesia and Malaysia began using the MBIM modern Malay literature. (Majlis Bahasa Indonesia-Malaysia) spelling system In 1966, the Indonesian confrontation against from January 1967, and Singapore officially imple­ Malaysia ended. The linguistic collaboration between mented the same spelling on 1 January 1972 ( five KPBMM and the Indonesian Spelling Team resumed. years after it was used in Indonesia and Malaysia). The Indonesia-Malaysia Language Council (MBIM) Today, the development of modern Malay literature

was formed, now known as MABBIM. in Singapore still uses the rumi script.

Independent Singapore formed its own JKE Now, we are still in the era of literature books. (Jawatankuasa Ejaan Melayu or Malay Spelling For Malay books, rumi remains the medium of

Committee) . In 1966, JKE supported KBKS (Kongres literary works. There is now the possibility of Bahasa Kebangsaan Singapura or National e-literature (electronic literature) being made Language Congress of Singapore) organized by the available online. In my opinion, however, as long as

LTK. KBKS put the implementation of the JKE spell­ Malay e-literature through the computer exists, rumi ing on hold to observe the development of spelling will remain relevant as its medium. 238 managed by MBIM.

NOTA/NOTES

This article was presented at the Aksara Seminar organized 6 Including Singapore Malay Teachers'Association and by NLBand PGBM{Persatuan Guru BahasaMelayu or Malay Angkatan Sasterawan50. Language TeachersUnion) at the National Library on 10 7 Not Including a few representatives from the publlshlng March 2007. industry from Singapore and Johor Bahru who walked out of 2 E.g.: Hlkayat Sri Rama; Hikayat Mahabrata and others. the conference because their application to participate was rejected with the permission of the ConferenceCha irman. E.g.: Hlkayat Lalla Majnun; Hlkayat Abu Nawas; Hlkayat Nab/ bercukur and others. 8 However, rum/ really became the medium of modern Malay literature In Singapore. Islamic practices and the 4 E.g.: Shakespeare'sTales; Golden Island; Robin Hood and the spread of Islamic dakwah was not only unaffected but like. progressed even further with the construction of more In fact, I won a crossword puzzle contest held by Warta than 80 new mosques here. Malaya in 1937. esia and Malaysia began using the MBIM BIODATA hasa Indonesia-Malaysia) spelling system ary 1967, and Singapore officially imp le- Muhammad Ariff bin Ahmad atau Mas merupa- Muhammad Ariff bin Ahmad or Mas is one of the e same spelling on 1 January 1972 (five kan salah seorang pengasas ASAS '50 (Angkatan founders of ASAS '50 (Angkatan Sasterawan '50) which it was used in Indonesia and Malaysia). Sasterawan '50) yang ditubuhkan pada 6 Ogos 1950. was established on 6 August 1950. During his term in development of modern Malay literature Dalam tempoh memegang jawatan di ASAS '50, beliau office in ASAS '50, he led many projects that contrib­ ,re still uses the rumi script. telah menerajui banyak projek yang menyumbang uted towards the development of Malay writing in Ne are still in the era of literature books. kepada perkembangan persuratan Melayu Singapura. Singapore.An active and prolific writer, his authority books, rumi remains the medium of Seorang penulis yang aktif dan prolifik, kewibawaan­ was brought to the fore through his multi-genre works, ,rks. There is now the possibility of nya terserlah melalui hasil karya beliau yang berba­ including poetry, short stories, drama, novel and essay. e ( electronic literature) being made gai-bagai genre seperti puisi, cerpen, drama, novel dan Muhammad Ariff is often nicknamed a 'walking ency­ ,n!ine. In my opinion, however, as long as esei. Muhammad Ariff sering digelar sebagai 'ensik­ clopaedia' on Malay language, literature and culture. terature through the computer exists, rumi lopedia bergerak' mengenai perkara-perkara yang He has written more than 50 books; these include short n relevant as its medium . bersangkut-paut dengan bahasa, sastera dan budaya stories, informational books, children's books and Melayu. Karangan beliau melebihi 50 buah buku, school textbooks. Muhammad Ariff often writes and 239 termasuk buku cereka, buku pengetahuan, buku contributes articles and essays for publication in the kanak-kanak dan buku teks sekolah. Muhammad mass media in Singaporeas well as Malaysia. Among Ariff juga banyak menulis dan menyumbang rencana the awards which he'd receivedinclude the Jasawan dan esei untuk penerbitan di media massa di Budaya Majlis Pusat (1984), Cultural Medallion Singapura dan Malaysia. Antara anugerah yang diteri­ (1987), NBDCS' Book Award: Poetry (1990) , Tun manya termasuk Jasawan Budaya Majlis Pusat (1984), Seri Lanang Award (1993) , S.E.A. Write Award 1g Singapore Malay Teachers' Association and Cultural Medallion (1987), Anugerah Buku NBDCS ,n Sasterowan50 . ': (1993), Majlis Pusat Pendeta Award (1999) and Su!uh luding a few representatives from the publlshlng Puisi (1990), Anugerah Tun Seri Lanang (1993), S.E.A. Budiman UPS12 Award. y from Singapore and Johor Bahru who walked out of Write Award (1993) , Anugerah Pendeta Majlis Pusat ference becausetheir application to participate was 2 I with the permission of the Conference Chairman. (1999) dan Anugerah Suluh Budiman UPS1 • ir, rumi really became the medium of modern iterature In Singapore. Islamic practices and the of Islamic dakwah was not only unaffected but NOTA/NOTES ;sed even further with the construction of more NBDCS: National Book Development Council of Singapore J new mosques here. 2 UPSI: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris