Content Question

1. What common issues are highlighted in MLIE?

Malaysian literature in English has a wide scope of issues that is being used by the writer. This issue is often sensitive in the eye of Malaysian who has conservative thinking. English language writer usually more open minded than the Malaysia language writer because they are educated with overseas university. The issues that being uttered in Dina Zaman book as example is homosexuality, premarital sex, adultery and the justification of Islam itself.

2. How are the issues related to the past and the present?

As we know, the issue that I mention before is sensitive topic that often not being converse by the Malaysian. This issue can be link to the past and present, for example in her book “I am Muslim”; she discuss about gay and lesbian. In the year of 21st century, this sensitive issue is being discuss outspoken by Dina Zaman in her interview with a lesbian girl where in the past this issue is rarely discuss nevertheless if there were a Malaysian writer that include homo sexual issue in his or her piece before the 21st century; I doubt that if it will going to be publish. Another example that we can take is sex, in her book she spoke about sex education; as a means to educate the teenage in Malaysia about six concepts: human development, relationships, family and marriage, interpersonal skills, health and behaviour and society and culture. Contraception is to be explained to those between the ages of 13 - 19, while abortion is going to be elaborated in a general context. Sex education has not been expressed by the government in the old days. It is only in the 21st century it is being proposed. Clearly, the issue that voiced by Dina Zaman have connection between the past and present.

3. How are the issues relevant to the future?

The issue of finding the right of faith and the true meaning of Islam was always relevant, not just for the present times, but also for future. As we know, the moral values of our generation had become worst day by day. The lost their old on religion and was finding the true way of faith to back home. Dina Zaman, therefore, was bold enough by reviewed and questioning about the issue of practices in Islam. As in the future, we can find the answer about all the practices in Islam that we do since our childhood. Besides that, the issue of which type of Muslim was also relevant to future because reader will asking themselves which category are they in to and what had they do be the right one. A matter of point, religion issue was always relevant throughout the tomes because as human, we believe in God and we live with it.

4. What issues are typical for particular race?

As Malay itself, Dina Zaman was doing well in knowing the typical Malay. The issue rise up by her is the issue of no question in Islam. We just had to believe and no questioning about what we practice in Islam. We just had to obey the practice because it was by generation been followed. Besides than that, the issue of myth and supernatural power was brought in because Malay was typically known as believe hard on he supernatural power, although they are supposedly rely on God for their prayers.

5. Why are some issues common for particular race?

Malaysia writer are from multiracial, jus to name a few, some of them are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Each race in Malaysia has unique traits. As a writer, they try to introduce this uniqueness by their writings. In their writings, a typical issue was profound as a trademark of their own respective race. As example, Shirley Lim usually talks about Baba Nyonya and Karim Raslam was known by the Malay issue.


6. What does the issue hold for MLIE?

MLIE will have a brighter future because Malaysian had new the important of English. Government had made English literature as a syllabus in school and honoured MLIE writer with some award. Besides than that, we can see more new writer was born from MLIE because younger generation had appreciate about the independence in literature, especially in English. They want to make a strong root for MLIE so that the other generation will benefit and know about our own identity of MLIE.