Biotechnology student Tay Yi Lun and Chinese Studies student Tan Jee Chin were proud winners at the 13th Sin Chew Hua Zong Literature Newcomer Award Presentation Ceremony (第13届星洲日报花踪文学奖新秀奖) held at New Era College on 15 March 2015.
Tay’s winning entry titled “Holding the Umbrella for You” (为你撑伞) earned him the First Prize in the Newcomer Modern Poetry category (新秀新诗组) while Tan received the Judges’ Prize in the same category for his poem titled “The Indulgence for Youth” (为青春填写的赎罪券).
“The Hua Zong Literature Award is a major award in Malaysia’s literary field and winning the First Prize in the newcomer category is an important recognition to my talent in poem writing,” enthused Tay, who was also one of the winners in the 12th Religious Literary Award in 2014 (see: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fcatid=25&fcontentid=10489). The Biotechnology final year student shared that “Holding the Umbrella for You” was written while waiting for an experiment result in the laboratory. “I like both science and literature, and I am constantly finding a balance between them. Writing poems can embellish one’s life as poetry has a certain aesthetic which allows us to take a break from our overwhelming lives and indulge in the subtleties of words,” shared Tay. He explained that “Holding the Umbrella for You” is a poem of love and politics. It depicts a young couple championing democracy at Hong Kong’s Occupy Central movement but at the same time, the couple also needs to battle their respective internal conflicts. The poet teaches the girl how to not turn away but face reality more maturely and bravely.
Driven by the passion to write, Chinese Studies final year student Tan also submitted his poem and was pleasantly surprised by the win. “Winning the Judges’ Prize made me realise what is worth going after in my life,” remarked Tan who plans to delve deeper into writing and research in literature. “The Indulgence for Youth” was written by Tan to lament the fact that graduation is close and that his youth is slipping away. “While I look back at some past events with regret and helplessness, I can’t help but feel bad. However I have to move on in life. So the only thing I could do to atone for such ‘sins’ is to request for an indulgence for my fading youth,” he explained.
Both Tay and Tan received a trophy each. Tay was also awarded RM 3,000 while Tan walked away with RM 750.
The Sin Chew Hua Zong Literature Newcomer Award is part of the 13th Sin Chew Hua Zong Literature Award. The award presentation ceremony was held earlier in conjunction with the inaugural Hua Zong Literature Camp for Youth (首届花踪后浪文学营) to award winning new young writers. The 13th Sin Chew Hua Zong Literature Award Presentation Ceremony will be held on 18 July this year at KLCC Level 3, Plenary Theatre.
The bi-ennial Sin Chew Hua Zong Literature Award is a highly-acclaimed literary award widely recognised by the Chinese communities around the world. The Award has been playing a pivotal role in spurring the development of Malaysian Chinese Literature and encouraging the discovery of new writers. The Award has also nurtured and inspired a number of prominent Malaysian Chinese writers who have made a mark in the literary world.
Read Tay’s “Holding the Umbrella for You” (为你撑伞) here and Tan’s “The Indulgence for Youth” (为青春填写的赎罪券) here.
Proud winners Tan (left) and Tay posing with their trophies
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