PETALING JAYA, May 19 — The state government plans to hold literature classes under a RM2 million fund to produce Selangor’s new generation of authors, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The programme would help local authors sharpen new talents and provide financial backing to participants, he added.
“I will study the working paper with the Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS). God willing, we can implement it this year itself,” he said when met at the Authors and Artists’ Town Hall at Sunway Resort Hotel here last night.
Under the programme, young writers would be guided by experienced authors so they may produce quality works, Amirudin explained.
“With this support, we will produce young writers guided by our authors. Maybe there would be new works that are quite (impactful) and interesting for us to publish this year or the next,” he added.
Amirudin also said this is a state government effort to produce quality literary works that carry the voices of the people.
Earlier, he officiated the programme that drew over 70 participants, including seven National Laureates, 19 authors, and local writers to discuss developments in the world of literature and writing.
Among the National Laureates present were Prof Emeritus Muhammad Salleh, Dato’ Anwar Ridhwan, Datuk Zurinah Hassan, Prof Datuk Siti Zainon Ismail, and Dato’ Rahman Shaari.
Amirudin added that the event was a good platform to share ideas on developing the literary field.
He said it was “a very good (brainstorming session) seeing as those who attended were literary and writing greats… a good experience. Many insightful ideas can be proposed in the future”.
