JOHOR BAHRU: The field of creative writing should be introduced comprehensively at all levels and layers of society, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad (pic).
She said each creative writing work like short stories, has intrinsic and extrinsic noble values that could be emulated by the public through reading.
“Values like these, which if absorbed through reading will shape the humanitarian skills and high personality value of the reader,” she said in a statement on Saturday (June 18).
Noraini said the launching of the ‘2022 Sayembara Cerpen Parit Sulong’ (Sampen) on Saturday was also able to polish young writers to produce creative work and encourage participants to express creative and critical thinking in the form of positive impact writing.
She said the programme, a collaboration between Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Higher Education Ministry and Batu Pahat Education Office was aimed at empowering Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge.
Meanwhile, UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman said the organising of the competition was in line with the aspiration of the establishment of UKM as a university that places national identity as the basis in uplifting the spirit of patriotism in society.
The contest is only open to students in the Parit Sulong parliamentary constituency with 32 primary schools and five secondary schools participating.
A total of 16 best short stories will be compiled in a book entitled ‘Ceritera Kulawangsa Parit Sulong’. – Bernama