Acclaimed writer Zaharah Nawawi has died at 82

SHAH ALAM - Malaysian acclaimed writer Zaharah Nawawi died today at KPJ Rawang Specialist Hospital this morning. She was 82.

Condolences over her death has been pouring in through various social media channels including over Facebook.

The distinguished writer was known for her achievements and works such as ‘Anugerah’ (1995), one of the longest novels in Malaysia which earned her the Southeast Asian Writers Award in September 1996 at Bangkok, Thailand.

The novel with 1,351 pages tells about the history of the Malay struggle against the Malayan Union in demanding independence. It was described by researchers as a novel with 3-in-1 with historical, political and feminism aspects and it was adapted to theatre show several times.

Zaharah worked at Utusan Melayu as a journalist at Mingguan Malaysia and Editorial Board Member of Wanita magazine from 1968 to 1976, and Editor-in-Chief at Mastika magazine as her last position in the company.

After leaving Utusan Group, Zaharah worked at Berita Publishing, a subsidiary of The New Straits Times Group) from 1976 to 1985 as the After leaving Utusan Group, Zaharah worked at Berita Publishing, (a subsidiary of The New Straits Times Group) from 1976 to 1985 as the General Editor of Malay Language Publications which covers all magazine and book publications in the language.

Her last position with the group was General Editor of Malay Language Publications that published magazine and book publication.

In addition, Zaharah’s work ‘Jalur Sinar Di Celah Daun’ became the study material of scholars in Europe especially France, Denmark and Australia.

She is also known for her workshops under her KEPEZI (Kelab Penulis Zaharah Nawawi) club which produced several new, distinguished authors with Faisal Tehrani, Siti Jasmina Ibrahim and Haryati Abu Nasir, just to name a few.

Born on May 5, 1940 at Kampung Parit Jawa, Batu Pahat, Johor, she started writing at an early age of 12, and has not stopped since.