PUTRAJAYA: Writer and cultural arts researcher Prof Dr Siti Zainon Ismail has been named the 14th National Laureate.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said Siti Zainon was chosen based on her contribution to the development of literature and impact on the spread of knowledge and leadership in the literary community at the national and international levels.
The award will be presented by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on Sept 21, he told a press conference here today.
Siti Zainon will receive ‘Warkah Penghormatan Negara’, a cash prize of RM60,000 and sponsorship of RM500,000 to publish 50,000 copies of her works which will be bought by the government for distribution to schools, libraries and government departments and agencies.
She is also entitled to free medical service in a first-class ward in any government hospital and facilities to write and publish literary works as well as translate suitable works into foreign languages.
For the first time, the 14th National Laureate will also receive a living allowance worth RM5,000 per month.
Siti Zainon, 69, was born in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur.
She has written 25 collections of poetry, 10 collections of short stories, seven short story anthologies, five poetry anthologies and three novels.
She has also written 18 academic works, 21 essays on literary research, and 21 monographic essays, journals, documentations and magazine catalogue.
Awards that she had won include SEA Write Award 1989, ‘Anugerah Budayawan Selangor’, ‘Anugerah Tokoh Seni Budaya’ and the Perdana Literary Award as well as awards from Indonesia and South Korea. – Bernama
