5 Malaysian Women Poets

Happy Malaysia Day!

A very talented friend of mine who loves writing poems.

Do visit her blog!

 http://akumemangkerek.blogspot.com/?view=flipcard

Upon celebrating Malaysia Day, I thought of posting about our Malaysian Women poets. 

1. Liew Suet Fan

Liew Suet Fan and S.C. Shekhar wanted to record the ties that exist between different peoples in the region before they disappeared entirely. – KAMARUL ARIFFIN / The Star

Liew Suet Fan, 51, is passionate about social culture. Back then, she used to walk for 6 miles everydat from Brickfields to her school, St. John. Coming from a poor family background, Liew's a fighter. At a young age, she's been dreaming of becoming a writer. Liew's father was an English teacher in Taiping and he used to read poems of Keats and Wordsworth to his children. As people didn't think that she could make a living with only writing, Liew tried teaching at school, working in advertising and been in public relation career for 20 years. 6 years ago after her mother passed away, Liew was in her 40s and had no financial responsibilities. Thus she decided to give herself 5 years to become a writer.

Here's an interesting article about her by The Star! (http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?sec=lifebookshelf&file=%2F2011%2F4%2F10%2Flifebookshelf%2F8448414)

Works by Liew Suet Fan:

2. Bernice Chauly

Born in Georgetown to Chinese-Punjabi teachers, she read education and English literature in Canada as a government scholar. For over 20 years, she's been actively involved in the creative industry as a writer, photographer, actor and filmmaker. 

Do visit her blog to find out more! 

(http://bernicechauly.com/?page_id=523)

Works by Bernice Chauly:

3. Shirley Geok Lin-Lim

Shirley was born in Malacca, and raised by her Chinese father. She attended missionary schools and her first languages are Malay and Hokkien (Chinese dialetct). However, Shirley can read English by 6 years old. After college, she emigrated to the States and finally residing currently in California. 

Works by Shirley Lim

4. Azalia Suhaimi

My personal favorite, the 21st century Literature. Photopoetry, short & sweet.

Married on 8th January 2011 and blessed with a baby girl on 10th March 2014. Azalia first realized she wanted to be a writer was when she was 10 years old as she had too many diaries. At 12 years old, she began writing fiction, passing it around to friends. By 13 years old, she started writing poems, mostly about family, romance and teenage dreams. When Azalia went travelling suring college, she fell into journalism and then finally settling into photopoetry. 

Do visit her lovely blog!

(http://www.azaliasuhaimi.com/)

5. Angela Yong

In 1926, Angela was born in China and then emigrated to Sarawak with her family. Her father who was ill went back to China and passed away, leaving his family in Sarawak. Coming from a poor family background, Angela and her siblings were raised by nuns in a convent. She has 13 children and successfully published her book in 1998 by 72 years old. 

Works by Angela Yong: 

1. One good thing but not both (1998) : Anecdotes

2. Different Lives, Different Fates (2000) : Anecdotes

3. Through the Back Door (2001) : Anecdotes

4. 160 Foochow Proverbs & Idioms (2002) : Translation

5. Green Beans & Talking Babies (2003) : Anecdotes

6. Sarawak Rojak (2006) : Anecdotes

Honestly, this is my first time encountering most of our Malaysian women poets. And I must say, our writers are not that bad. I personally think their literary work should be included in Malaysian English studies. 

Till next post!