Muhammad Dahlan Abdul Baing (or Andi Mohammad Dahlan Andi Buyung) (30 July 1925 – 25 January 2009), whose pseudonym was Arena Wati, was a Malaysian writer. He was declared as the Malaysian National Laureate in 1988. His writings were in the

Malay language Malay ( , ; , Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language spoken primarily by Malays (ethnic group), Malays in several islands of Maritime Southeast Asia and the Malay Peninsula on the mainland Asia. The lang ...

. He also known as Duta Muda dan Patria.

Life

He was born in Jeneponto,

Makassar Makassar ( ), formerly Ujung Pandang ( ), is the capital of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of South Sulawesi. It is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia and the country's fifth-largest urban center after Jakarta, ...

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

(now Indonesia). Arena received his early education in Dutch schools, Hollands Indische School, before the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. During World War II, at the age of 18, Arena Wati became a seaman. His experience in this field improve his skills in writing and produce a good novel. He completed his secondary education at Makassar in 1953. After graduating from school, Arena Wati became a journalist and work with publishing company in Singapore, and then to

Johor Bahru Johor Bahru, abbreviated as JB, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and the second-largest district economy. Covering an area of ...

and

Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...

. During this period, he has become a citizen of Malaysia and between 1962 and 1974, and later served as the editor of Pustaka Antara. Most of the work of Arena Wati based on academic, imaginative, thought-provoking and scathing criticism and venomous. He was married with six children. He died of

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

. He was buried at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery.

Works

Arena Wati's works often focus on the struggles of the poor and the disadvantaged. His work "Sandera" is widely viewed as one of the finest Malaysian novels. His first novel is a story of three cruises (Kisah Tiga Kapal) in 1959 where his published in Singapore. * Lingkaran (1962), * Sandera (1971), * Rontok (1980), * Eno (1985), * Syair Pangeran Syarif (1989), * Syair Pangeran Syarif Hasyim Al-Qudsi (1989), * Syair Perang Cina Di Monterado (1989), * Burung Badai (1990), * Turina (1991), * Citra (1991), * Memoir Arena Wati Enda Gulingku (1991), * Ombak Samudera(1992), * Meniti Kala (1993), * Panrita (1993), * Sudara (1994), * Mevrouw Toga (1995), * Begawan (1996), * Koleksi Terpilih Arena Wati (1996), * Sukma Angin (1999), * Getar-Getir Maya Kumpulan Cerpen (2000), * Trilogi Busa (2002), * Armageddon (2004), * Kutukan Dari Langit (2004), * Langkah Pertama Kumpulan Cerpen Awal 1954-1959 (2004), * 7 Tegak Bersama (2005), * Warna Sukma Usia Muda (2005), * Cakra Waruga (2006).

Awards

His numerous awards included:- * South East Asia Literary award – the SEA Write Award, an award presented by the

King of Thailand The monarchy of Thailand is the constitutional monarchy, constitutional form of government of Thailand (formerly ''Siam''). The king of Thailand (, historically, ''king of Siam''; ) is the head of state and head of the ruling Chakri dynasty. ...

, and his 1988 investiture as the National Laureate. * Anugerah Sasterawan Negara (1987). * Sukma Angin (1999) won the Literature Prize Perdana Malaysia 1998/99 * Sastera Majlis Sastera Asia Tenggara ( Mastera Literary Award) 2003.

References

* "National Laureate Arena Wati Dies", Bernama News Agency, 25 January 2009
A Makasar man; his works live on
{{Authority control Malaysian people of Malay descent Malaysian novelists 2009 deaths 1925 births People from Makassar Malaysian people of Bugis descent Malaysian Muslims Indonesian emigrants to Malaysia S.E.A. Write Award winners Naturalised citizens of Malaysia Malaysian National Laureates