Chuah Guat Eng (Part ii)

Part 2

In the interview that was conducted by UPM’s student, Juliet Lavania Kaur a/p Soba Singh, she asked on Chuah Guat Eng’s opinion about the current status of English Literature in Malaysia. Dr Chuah stated that, the prognosis is good because many younger Malaysians and ex-Malaysians are now writing. More importantly, she emphasise that  these younger writers are well supported by a growing infrastructure: more local and international publishers interested in Malaysian writings; more universities offering courses in Malaysian literature in English; more creative writing courses run by English departments in universities as well as by private individuals; and more reading and discussion groups that meet either virtually on the Internet or physically in educational institutions and in private homes. This means that Malaysians are getting more interested in writings and their involvement in this field, which is the English Literature are stimulates by the growing infrastructures in Malaysia.

Source: Juliet Lavania Kaur a/p Soba Singh

Echoes of Silence

EoS not only deals with issues of post-colonialism and post-Independence Malaysia but also with the subversion of the Western concept of mystery novel itself. The book is a life size protest against Western domination especially in the media industry.

 Her other works

Chuah Guat Eng has published four short stories that were short enlisted of the NST and Shell Writing Competition III in 1992. They are “The Power of Advertising” (published in New Sunday Times, 28 June 1992), “Forbidden Fruits” (NST, 5 July 1992), “The Day Andy Warhol Died” (NST, 9 August 1992) and “The Old House” (NST, 30 August 1992).

These stories address various themes and explore diverse life situations from the male-dominated world of business, to domestic issues of extramarital affairs and guilt betrayal, to child abuse and questions about good parenting, to fears of aging and portrayal of the world of spinsterhood. 

Huzir Sulaiman

About Him

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One of the most critically acclaimed dramatists in Southeast Asia, and a 2007 Yale World Fellow, Huzir Sulaiman writes for theatre, film, television and newspapers, and is a consultant on public policy issues for the arts and heritage sectors.

Huzir was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was educated at Princeton University. He now lives in Singapore, where he is a co-founder and Joint Artistic Director of Checkpoint Theatre.

His plays are frequently performed in Malaysia and Singapore and have been presented in Tokyo, Berlin, New York, and London. His work is collected in Eight Plays(Silverfish Books) and his plays - 14 to date - are studied in universities in the region. They range from Atomic Jaya (1998), a classic satire on what would happen if Malaysia decided to construct an atomic bomb, to Cogito (a commission of the 2007 Singapore Arts Festival), a lyrical exploration of grief, memory, and what it means to be human.

Wide Angle, his fortnightly column in Malaysia’s leading English newspaper, The Star, covers diverse topics in culture, politics, and society. He currently teaches playwriting at the National University of Singapore, and is working on a novel.

He may be reached at info@huzirsulaiman.com .

Source:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huzir-sulaiman

Interview: Huzir Sulaiman of Atomic Jaya

Atomic Jaya is acclaimed playwright Huzir Sulaiman’s cheeky reimagining of Malaysia attempting to build an atomic bomb. He talks to us about the history of the show and the ties that bind Singapore and Malaysia.

ByKhairul Amri

How did the idea for the play come about?
It was inspired by Malaysia’s mega-projects: Petronas Twin Towers, Multimedia Super Corridor, Bakun Dam and bizarre things like the World’s Biggest Ketupat. It was an interesting kind of national hubris that was developing. So I thought to myself, what would be the most mega of national mega-projects? Nuclear weapons, of course!

Do you enjoy taking pot shots at real world issues?
All playwrights work from real life to some extent. My early work dealt quite a bit with society and politics, but my recent work has explored a more interior landscape. Atomic Jaya captures the joyful madcap energy of a certain period of the country and my life.

Are Malaysian authorities OK with the idea?
Absolutely. It was written with a lot of love, and it fundamentally celebrates Malaysian-ness in all its hilarious and crazy forms.

What do you think Singapore would do if Malaysia decided to build the A-bomb?
It’s really not likely to happen, seeing as Malaysia did sign the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty more than 40 years ago. But if it did, I’m sure the behind-the-scenes diplomacy would kick into full swing. Again, a series of good meals might sort things out.

How would you describe the differences between a typical Malaysian and a Singaporean?
Singaporeans are a little more punctual, and a little more private. If Singapore was building an atomic bomb, they’d have finished it already, and we wouldn’t know about it.

Do you think the two countries might merge one day?
I don’t think an outright political merger is likely, but greater cooperation and openness would be great. Gastronomically, we would rule the world together.