Renowned literary figure Baharuddin Zainal or ‘Baha Zain’ has been named the recipient of the 12th National Laureate Award.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, when announcing this today, said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah would present the award at a date to be fixed later.

He said the award was given to literary figures writing in Malay who made huge contribution to the country’s literary development.

“The selection of this personality is based on his excellent contribution in the country’s literary development through his creative works and thinking and literary activities at national and international levels,” he told a media conference at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.

Baharuddin would receive, among others, RM60,000, and sponsorship of RM500,000 to publish 50,000 copies of his work to be distributed to schools and government departments and agencies.

As a recipient of the award, he would also receive free first class medical facilities at any government hospital.

Baha Zain, who was born in Hutan Melintang 73 years ago, began writing when he was in secondary school and made his name through his work, ‘ Perempuan dan Bayang-Bayang ’, which was published in 1974.

His other achievements included being named the recipient of the 2011 National Writers Association’s (Pena) ‘ Tokoh Pena ’ award in 2011 and the South-East Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Awards) in 1980.

In March last year, Dr Ahmad Kamal Abdullah or Kemala was named the 11th National Laureate.

- Bernama