3rd Anugerah Sastera Mastera postponed to Sunday.

The presentation of local literary award, the 3rd Anugerah Sastera Mastera has been postponed to Sunday, September 21, said Dayang Aminah Hj Momin, the Acting Director of Language Literature Bureau (DBP), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

All guests who have received their invitations have been told to take note of the new date. She said due to technical problems, the event which was supposed to be held on Friday has to be moved to Sunday. However the itinerary, the venue and time remain unchanged, she added. The event will take place at the Rizqun International Hotel commencing at 3.45pm.

The guest of honour, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Jumat, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports is expected deliver a speech and present prizes to award winners from Mastera member nations of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The event will also witness the delivery of speeches from chairpersons of Mastera Malaysia, Mastera Indonesia and Mastera Brunei Darussalam. All the three award winners from the three countries will deliver speeches after the presentation of prizes where they will each receive $10,000 in prize, a souvenir and a plaque.

Guests will break their fast together and perform maghrib prayers before being treated to dinner.

The award is given out by Brunei every three years to literary figures and writers from the three member nations of Southeast Asia Literature Council. The award is one way for the country to thank the contributions of regional literati towards the development of Malay literature, thanks to the joint cooperation of various sponsors.

The first recipients for the award in 2003 were Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Yahya bin Hj Ibrahim or Yahya M.S. from Brunei Darussalam, Sas-terawan Negara (National Laureate) Muhammad Abdul Biang or Arena Wati from Malaysia and Ajip Rosidi from Indonesia.

In 2006, prolific local novelist Muslim Burmat became the second recipient of Anugerah Sastera Mastera for Brunei Darussalam at a reception held at the Royal Berkshire Hall, JPCC Polo Club in Jerudong.

Tan Sri Dato' Prof Emeritus (Dr) Ismail Hussein and Sutardji Calzoum Bachri were the co-recipients of the award for Malaysia and Indonesia in recognition of their contribution to literature development in the region.

Ulasan