the formation of ASAS 50: its dynamics and links to
indonesia until 1957
Founded after a meeting on 6 August 1950 at the home of a graduate
of
the
SITC,
Mohd.
Ariff
Ahmad,
ASAS
50
was
the
first
literary
association
in
post-war Malaya. It was an association representing
the voice of the community, which utilized literature as the ideal
thrust towards independence for Malaya. Its manifesto of ‘Sastra
untuk Masyarakat’ (Literature for Society) together with its pioneers
such as Asraf, Keris Mas, Tongkat Warrant (or Usman Awang),
Masuri SN and Awani Sarkam,
formed the main shaping force in
the development of modern Malay literature.
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