Many Malaysians has ignored the existence of out English Malaysian writers indeed. Thus, the presence of Kee Thuan Chye to UPM was something great and meaningful to me as a TESL student.
There were about three classes sat together in the lecture hall and listened to Kee Thuan Chye’s speech. At the first glance, he looked so cool and professional. He deserved to get respect as one of the successful English Malaysian writers.
The way he talked yesterday about his backgrounds, career and Malaysian’s current politic resembled himself as well known English Malaysian writer. The thing that really awakened me was his background. He was not so clever during school time like any other excellent students. Yet, he managed to build his confidence to write in English. The first play he watched had inspired him to read the play itself hence encouraged him to make up his own play. Since that, he started to write stories and plays.
Most of his plays were about Malaysian’s history. He really got himself into the current politics which he applied them into his plays. One of his plays was; The Swordfish, Then the Concubine, but it was not published. We learned this play this semester. Kee Thuan Chye asked for our comments about this play; do we like this play and why? Some of us gave good comments and he said that he would revise it again to suit the current situation. He worked for this play for ten years – it was a very long time!!! This is a real play writer who never satisfied with his own job and kept revising it to be the best play for his readers.
At the end of the conference with Kee Thuan Chye, I could feel the aura of English Malaysian writer in him. I regretted that I have been ignored about writing a piece of English work until I learned this course. If only I was inspired when I was nine, then only I could start writing my own writing since that, by now, I should have numerous pieces of English works which I dreamed on. Ahahah! I told myself, if I want o be successful like him, I should started early as I could. Yes, I should start now!!! Do not wait any longer Nelly!!!
Being a writer. =) we`ve experienced that and both knew that was not easy. Well, someday if I go to bookstore and find your name on the bookshelves, i definitely going to buy the book!!
ReplyDeleteKee Thuan Chye is an inspiration because his idea is; 'i can be whatever i want in my writing world'. It`s not easy to write for public, and for Kee Thuan Chye style, he deliver the message in sinical way. For example in his play the swordfish than the concubine. I admire him but i must have guts to be like him. His radical idea open people views.
To be a person to change the world. Ironic, but someday maybe I will join u lina. Trying to change the people perception. Yeah!
I cannot believe that Kee Thuan Chye have that kind of impact on you, considering that you hate to write, however, it is good that now you want to start.
ReplyDeleteI want to confess also that Kee Thuan Chye visit had made me ache with guilt that i have stop writing for quite some time, he is sooo inspirational. I agree with Mokhlis when he quoted Mr Kee saying that 'I can be whatever I want in my own world'. I think that is really amazing.
Lina, you said you regretted of being ignorant about writing, well, same here - me too!
Let us all change together (for the better la)