SHAH ALAM – The empowerment of creative writing among schoolchildren needs to be improved from time to time through clear planning and strategy so that their talents can be marketed to local and international markets, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She said the success of five young writers from the Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Art School (SSeM) in producing five books written in English, as well as their attractive visual arts prove that the learning process under the Education Ministry (MoE) successfully unearths and nurtures talent.
She noted that this success, through the Young Emerging Talent programme with the cooperation of the National Book Council of Malaysia and SSeM, was also the result of parental support as well as close cooperation from all parties in ensuring production of existing talents for the world market is sustained.
Fadhlina, who was speaking at the launch of the five books in conjunction with the Selangor International Book Fair here today, said it is not impossible that SSeM will function as a reference centre for the production of art among students in the future.
“This effort needs to be expanded and developed further so that other students in this country can emulate the success of the SSeM students. It is our hope at MoE that this initiative is continued so that existing talents among students can be enhanced and marketed to local and international markets,” she said.
The five young writers are 13-year-old Ainur Safeeya Uzma Erfieza, who produced Reminiscing the Old Days; Nur Balqis Faqihah Noorlihakie, 16 (My Hero! The Time Traveller); Sarah Hanina Nadhrah Ahmad Patria, 16 (Valentine is a Tenacious Girl); Alisha Nabeeha Azhar, 16 (My Teacher), and Batreysa Nortajuddin, 16 (My Father’s Culture).
Earlier, all of them successfully exhibited their works at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany from October 19 to 23, and had the opportunity to gain experience in matching transactions, negotiating copyright transactions, and licensing works to hone their writing talents more professionally. – Bernama, December 8, 2022
