By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Sept 11 — The 2021 Selangor Literary Prize (HSS) has received close to 200 works from various quarters, including from professionals like lecturers and education professors.
Media Selangor Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohamed Fareed Mohamed Ashaaree said the awards have also managed to attract the participation of artists from Indonesia.
“HSS is the only literary award that allows for participation transcending state and national borders. We accept works from Perlis to Sabah and Sarawak, as well as our neighbouring countries.
“Many entries were received from all layers of society, be they school students, teachers, lecturers and institution professors. Even former MPs and government ministers have sent in their works,” he said.
Mohamed Fareed was speaking at the awards ceremony, held at Hotel Saujana Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening, which was also attended by National Laureates Datuk Seri A Samad Said and Datuk Anwar Ridhwan.
The ceremony was officiated by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, and was also attended by National Laureates Datuk Seri A Samad Said and Datuk Anwar Ridhwan.
He added the competition, organised in cooperation with the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, cultural journal Svara, and the social media page Tukang Puisi, will include a new category for novels in the awards next year
The prize, which was first awarded in 2015 for short stories, poems and essays, was introduced by Amirudin when he was serving as state executive councillor for youth development, sports, culture and entrepreneurship.
The works that have been evaluated every year since the prize’s launch are published in SelangorKini’s weekly newspaper and news portal, under the state government’s official information agency Media Selangor Sdn Bhd.
Starting in 2021, the Selangor Literary Prize now features three more publishers, aimed at expanding writers’ involvement and improving the quality of works for the awards.
Each of the prize’s categories consists of one grand winner and four prize winners, who are awarded RM5,000 and RM1,000 respectively. Their works are catalogued in the Si Pena book, and will be launched during the prize ceremony the following year.
