Kuala Lumpur, Nov 26 – Yayasan Sakti is to honour on Sunday 10 local Tamil writers for their contribution to the growth and development of the Tamil language.
Its director, Datuk R. S. Thanenthiran, said each writer would receive RM2,000, a plaque and a certificate at the third annual ‘Cherish & Share’ programme to be held at Universiti Malaya.
The event is being held with the cooperation of the Prime Minister’s Department and the support of the university’s Department of Indian Studies in the effort to popularise Tamil literature among Malaysians.
Thanenthiran, who is also Makkal Sakthi Malaysia president, said Malaysia had more than 2,000 active Tamil writers who contributed various literary works from time to time, such as novels, short stories, poems and drama scripts.
“The publishing of Tamil literary works must be continued to preserve the Indian cultural heritage and Tamil literature for the benefit of the younger generation,” he said.
He said the launching of 10 Tamil books authored by Malaysians by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at an event last year gave a tremendous boost to Malaysian Tamil writers.
“Najib’s seriousness in appreciating the role played by Tamil writers gives ample avenue for them to publish more books and to help young and budding authors to hone their writing skills,” he said.
Thanenthiran said Yayasan Sakti would publish the books and give each writer 100 books of their own works as well as distribute the books free to those attending the event.
– Bernama
