Born on 26 March 1942, Muhammad Haji Salleh is one of Malaysian well-known authors. On a fine Friday dawn, Muhammad Haji Salleh came into this wonderful world. However, he moved away from his place of birth that is Temerlok, Trong, some times after his birth. Later, his moved to Sungai Aceh, and Bukit Mertajam, Penang, which is his mother’s hometown.
Muhammad began schooling in 1949 in Sungai Acheh School, Nibung Tebal, Penang. After he had accomplished his standard three education, he was chosen to continue his studies in an English medium Anglo-Chinese School, Nibung Tebal. A year later, his family moved to Bukit Mertajam. He entered High School Bukit Mertajam at standard six level. In 1957, finishing Form Three there. It was in 1958 when he entered the Malay College, Kuala Kangsar. While studying, he had won the Wise and Bulter Scholarship for Composition and Translation in two languages. Since then, he came to be aware his ability in these languages. While enrolling in formal education, he was sent to religious school too.
Muhammad taught for some times before he went to Brinsford Lodge, Wolverhampton to study. In 1960,he taught in Trade School, Teluk Air Tawar. He had been teaching in several schools in different states of Peninsular Malaysia before he became a tutor in University of Malaya in 1968. In 1970, he became a lecturer in National University of Malaysia. For many years, he was director and head of several departments in the university. In 1977, he was a Visiting Professor in North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1992-1993, he was a Fulbright Visiting Researcher in University of California, Berkeley. In 1993-1994 he was the Chair of Malay Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Holland. In 1999-2000 he was a fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto Univerwsity. Since 2000, he has been a professor of the School of Humanities in Science University of Malaysia, Penang.
Muhammad began writing when he was a student in the Malayan Teachers College in Wolverhampton. His fluency in both English and Malay enables him to write simultaneously in both languages. He has published several collections of poems. His only collection of poems written originally in English is ‘Time and its People’, which is published in 1978. In 1977, his anthology of poems ‘Perjalanan Si Tenggang II’ won the Asean Literary Award. The book was translated into English in 1979 by himself and was called ‘The Travel Journals of Si Tenggang II’. The poem 'si tenggang's homecoming' has been selected to be one of the poems for Upper Secondary School English Literature since 2000. Another of his poem 'history' was also selected to be studied for the Upper Secondary School Malay Literature. Besides, he is much published journals. Among his more important works are ‘Tradition and Change in Contemporary Malay-Indonesian Poetry’, ‘Pengalaman Puisi’, ‘Cermin Diri’ Yang Empunya Ceritera: the Mind of the Malay Author, Beyond the Archipelago, Rowing Down Two Rivers, and Laughter and Romance in the Archipealgo.
Muhammad is also active in various literary activities. He was the Founder President of Translators’ Association of Malaysia (1978-1981). He was also member of the panel judges of variourecognition. In 1991, he received the sixth National Laureate Award. Before that, he has received several awards, including the Southeast Asian Literary Award (MASTERA) 2001, SEA Write Award, 1997, ASEAN Literary Award, 1977, Australian Cultural Award to Asian Artists (1975), Volkswagen Foundation Grant for Research on the Theory of Malay Literature (1986-1988).
Muhammad taught for some times before he went to Brinsford Lodge, Wolverhampton to study. In 1960,he taught in Trade School, Teluk Air Tawar. He had been teaching in several schools in different states of Peninsular Malaysia before he became a tutor in University of Malaya in 1968. In 1970, he became a lecturer in National University of Malaysia. For many years, he was director and head of several departments in the university. In 1977, he was a Visiting Professor in North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1992-1993, he was a Fulbright Visiting Researcher in University of California, Berkeley. In 1993-1994 he was the Chair of Malay Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Holland. In 1999-2000 he was a fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto Univerwsity. Since 2000, he has been a professor of the School of Humanities in Science University of Malaysia, Penang.
Muhammad began writing when he was a student in the Malayan Teachers College in Wolverhampton. His fluency in both English and Malay enables him to write simultaneously in both languages. He has published several collections of poems. His only collection of poems written originally in English is ‘Time and its People’, which is published in 1978. In 1977, his anthology of poems ‘Perjalanan Si Tenggang II’ won the Asean Literary Award. The book was translated into English in 1979 by himself and was called ‘The Travel Journals of Si Tenggang II’. The poem 'si tenggang's homecoming' has been selected to be one of the poems for Upper Secondary School English Literature since 2000. Another of his poem 'history' was also selected to be studied for the Upper Secondary School Malay Literature. Besides, he is much published journals. Among his more important works are ‘Tradition and Change in Contemporary Malay-Indonesian Poetry’, ‘Pengalaman Puisi’, ‘Cermin Diri’ Yang Empunya Ceritera: the Mind of the Malay Author, Beyond the Archipelago, Rowing Down Two Rivers, and Laughter and Romance in the Archipealgo.
Muhammad is also active in various literary activities. He was the Founder President of Translators’ Association of Malaysia (1978-1981). He was also member of the panel judges of variourecognition. In 1991, he received the sixth National Laureate Award. Before that, he has received several awards, including the Southeast Asian Literary Award (MASTERA) 2001, SEA Write Award, 1997, ASEAN Literary Award, 1977, Australian Cultural Award to Asian Artists (1975), Volkswagen Foundation Grant for Research on the Theory of Malay Literature (1986-1988).
Taken from:
http://www.angelfire.com/me5/muhammadhs/page_1.htms literary competitions and awards. His contribution in literature gains wide
Muhammad Haji Salleh has changed the Malay melodramatic poetries into intellectual poetries...
The first time i heard his name was when i was in Form 4, through the poem, Si Tenggang's Homecoming...My teacher had made me believe that the poem was about Muhammad Haji Salleh himself as there is no way the poem has to do with Si Tenggang...
My first thought about malysian poetries is that they should rhyme...but after reading some of Muhammad Haji Salleh's works, he has changed my perspectives....
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