A. Samad Said

 

Abdul Samad bin Mohamed Said (born 8 February 1932) is a Malaysian novelist and poet. In May 1976, he was named by Malaysia literature communities and many of the country's linguists as the Pejuang Sastera [Literary Exponent] receiving, within the following decade, the 1979 Southeast Asia Write Award and, in 1986, in appreciation of his continuous writings and contributions to the nation's literary heritage, or Kesusasteraan Melayu, the title Sasterawan Negara or National Laureate.

Education

A native of the Malaccan Kampung village of Belimbing Dalam, near the town of Durian Tunggal, young Abdul Samad completed his primary education during the World War II years of 1940–46 at Singapore's Sekolah Melayu Kota Raja (Kota Raja Malay School). During the wartime occupation of Malaya and Singapore by the Japanese Empire, he attended the occupying authorities' Sekolah Jepun school for a brief three-month period. Upon the war's conclusion, he furthered his studies at Singapore's Victoria School, graduating in 1956 with Senior Cambridge Certificate.[4] Although starting as a clerk in a hospital, he was soon able to achieve his ambition of becoming a full-time writer in Utusan Melayu, Warta Tebrau and Berita Harian, authoring numerous poems and short stories in the years to come.

Achievements

Pejuang Sastera (1976)

SEA Write Award (1979)

Sasterawan Negara (1985)

Sasterawan Nusantara (1999)

His poem, "The Dead Crow" was translated into English language and was included in the Malaysian lower secondary school English literature curriculum from 2000 to 2009. 

Works

A. Samad Said wrote in almost all field of literature and creative writing. Two of his notable works are Salina, about a prostitute in Malay pre Independence dan Hujan Pagi (translated to English as Morning Post), considered as Malaysia's first magical realisme novel. He wrote novel, short stories, poem, essay, drama and article. Among his anthologies are Suara Dari Dinding Dewan (2003) and Dirgahayu Dr. Mahathir & Rindu Ibu (2004). His most recent anthology of essays is Ilham Di Tepi Tasik (2006). A. Samad Said is also known as Hilmy, Isa Dahmuri, Jamil Kelana, Manja, Mesra and Shamsir.

• Salina
• Bulan Tak Bermadu di Fatehpur Sikri
• Sungai Mengalir Lesu
• Di Hadapan Pulau
• Langit Petang
• Daerah Zeni
• Benih Harapan
• Benih Semalu
• Daun Semalu Pucuk Paku
• Warkah Eropah
• Al-Amin
• Suara Dari Dinding Dewan
• Hujan Pagi
• Lantai T Pinkie
• Wira Bukit
• Adik Datang
• Cinta Fansuri