| "People's
poet T. Alias Taib dies"
Utusan Malaysia,
8/19/2004, page 7
Tengku Alias Taib (T. Alias Taib), a prominent,
versatile literary figure also known as people's poet, died of a
heart attack after he performed the Maghrib prayer at his home in
Lembah Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.
T. Alias, born in Kampung Pandang Engku Sar,
Batas Baru, Kuala Terengganu, on February 20, 1943, received his
higher education at Kuala Terengganu Teacher's Training College
from 1960 - 1962.
Prolific since 1964, the poet also founded
the Terengganu Young Writers' Association and a member of the National
Writers' Association (PENA). The writer-poet was also a linguist
who strived to set the tone for what is now known as Bahasa Melayu.
In issues concerning the Malay language, T. Alias was a stickler
for proper use of the language, struggling and striving to ensure
that Bahasa Malaysia was technically sound, proficient and proper.
He left behind an impressive body of work -
poems, essays and features.
His best works are compiled in the following
collection - Angin Badai (1975), Kuala Lumpur
(1975), Pemburu Kota (1978), Tinta Pena (1981),
Pertemuan (1982), Bunga Gerima (1986), Bintang
Mengerdip (1985), Seberkas Kunci (1985) and Puisi-rama
Merdeka (1986).
T. Alias' poems had a salient characteristic
- social criticism that probed the problems faced by the Malay community.
Using his unique perspective, T. Alias delved into issues of socio-economy,
environment and humanities, always using the creative language for
which he was famous.
|
Obituary of Alias Taib by Eddin Khoo
Read by Chris Merrill
at the start of the 2004 residency, in memoriam
Tengku Alias Taib
3 Poems
Translated by Eddin Khoo
duniaku |
my world
Penggali
Kubur | Undertaker
Godot | Godot
Obituary
"People's poet T. Alias Taib dies"
Utusan Malaysia, 8/19/2004, page 7
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