Malay Literature in the 1970s

Summary

A discussion of the context of Malay literary development in the 1970s inevitably begins with mention of the racial riots of 13 May 1969. Among other things, the ethnic disturbances of this time highlighted what was perceived as the basic problem of Malay poverty and the pervasive issue of economic imbalance among the ethnic groups. Dissatisfied with their inferior economic position, Malays became more vocal in their demand for greater share in the wealth of their country. In the face of mounting pressure, the government introduced several economic strategies outlined in the New Economic Policy (NEP). Implemented on 1 July 1969, the question of eradicating poverty, especially that of rural poverty, which had featured persistently in economic planning, was to receive emphasis yet again. Alongside this issue was that of eliminating the close correlation between ethnic group and economic activity. As such, the NEP strove to make it possible for bumiputera(s) or the indigenous population and the Malays to own thirty per cent of the corporate sector by 1990. To bring about these objectives, the policy introduced several measures geared towards generating a more progressive rural economy, reducing dependence on semi-subsistence agriculture and providing economic opportunities for greater participation in both the rural and the urban economy. For the Malays, the 1970s was to be a period of better opportunities and expanding prospects. As underlined in the NEP, the government saw its task as that of maintaining steady economic growth, developing the country and forging a nation in which the twin issues of poverty and identification of race with economic activity could begin to be resolved. The era of “giving substance to independence” of the 1960s was now to give way to what was commonly known as zaman pembangunan (an era of development). Modern While on the one hand, the period was marked by some measure of perceived economic success and also promises of even greater progress in the economic sphere, it was also a time in which continuing problems seemed to defy solution.