A Samad Said (born 9th April 1935; also known as Hilmy, Isa Dahmuri, Jamil Kelana, Manja, Mesra, and Shamsir) is a unique voice in the realm of Malay-language literature. From poems, short stories and novels, to plays and critical essays, his contributions to each genre stand apart from the rest in their creativity and innovation -- bridging the work of those in the ASAS 50 movement and heralding the arrival of a next generation of writers.

The Untiring Scholar

Samad was born in Kampung Belimbing Dalam, Durian Tunggal, Malacca. His family moved to Singapore six months later, where he attended Sekolah Melayu Kota Raja, then the Victoria Institution. Through self-study, he acquired the Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1956.

From an early age, Samad was a voracious reader, traversing the worlds presented by local Singaporean writers like Asraf, Usman Awang and Han Suyin; works by Ajip Rosidi, Rendra, Pramoedya, Achdiat, Hamzah and Wijaya Mala inspired him -- aside from the usual Western classics. Samad would collect clippings of short stories from local papers and analyse these works, before writing his own. Such was the budding writer’s dedication that he also set out to translate foreign literature, thereby heigthening his fascination for, and knowledge of, writing.

Samad’s newspaper career included writing for Fikiran Rakyat (when it was headed by Ahmad Boestaman), Utusan Zaman (with Usman Awang), serving as Editor for Berita Harian, and as Special Assistant to the Group Editor of the New Straits Times.

Samad was a member of Angkatan Sasterawan 50 -- ASAS 50, a movement of writers that championed both the Malay language and nationalist causes. However, while the writers of ASAS 50 used literature as a means in the rally for Independence, Samad -- though sympathetic to the cause -- had a different style, and differing aims.

In 1978, a growing realisation that his true calling was with literature had him applying to be released from his full-time duties at Berita Harian. After that, he remained one of six Special Assistants contributing articles and features to the paper. In late 1981, he was Warta Teberau’s Editor-in-Chief; his last newspaper stint was as Head of Literary Development with the New Straits Times group of papers.

These days, Literature has him: Samad is a full-time creative writer, and he continues to appear in readings and poetry declamations in and around the Klang Valley.

Salina

Besides his careful research and reading of other authors, it is Samad’s untiring attention to details -- characters, nature, small things and small creatures -- that make his work come to life. He has the rare ability to find meaning in all things, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

At 23, Samad’s first novel, Salina (originally titled Gerhana), was published. A story of the residents of Singapore’s Kampung Kambing, after World War 2, the novel chronicled poverty, moral degeneration in the city, and struggle for self in the midst of destruction. The characters in Salina resonated as true people in all their complexity.

Scholars hailed Samad’s novel as the first work of Malay literature of international standard, and it became the defining line between the works of the old and the new generations of writers -- and the dividing line between Samad and the writers of the 1950s. Salina became a must-read in the pantheon of Malay literature.

Other Works

Sungai Mengalir Lesu, Samad’s second novel, also concerned life and suffering after war; the Japanese occupation of Singapore, though brief, left a lasting impression on the writer, who was a child at the time.

His other prose works include the novels Di Hadapan Pulau, Langit Petang, Daerah Zeni, and a memoir about writing, entitled Dari Salina ke Langit Petang.

Samad is also renowned for his poetry. He was one of the first writers in the region to experiment in free verse, with great success. Notable poetry publications include Liar di Api, Benih Harapan (1973), Daun Semalu Pucuk Paku (1975) and Benih Semalu (1984).

Awards & Recognition

1976: Pejuang Sastera (Literary Pioneer) award
1979: Panellist to the Sasterawan Negara (National Laureate) award board
1979: SEA Write Award
1985: Sasterawan Negara (National Laureate) award
1993: ASEAN Award in Literature
1997: a ‘Datuk’-ship, conferred by the Yang Dipertua Melaka

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Loo Jia Wen is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer based in Kuala Lumpur. She also paints, potters, writes about her travels and hopes to be a food writer when she grows up.

This biography is an edited translation from Biografi Penulis Wajah (Edisi Ketiga), published by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.