KUCHING: The government is urged to allocate funds in order to encourage more authors to publish biographical works about various prominent figures and personalities in Sarawak.
In making the call, Senior Fellow of the National Professors Council Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir said there is a need for such allocations as there is still a lack of publications about local figures and personalities.
“We must produce more biographies of various individuals in Sarawak. It is crucial to document their achievements, contributions and struggles for the state.
“At the same time, it also benefits the future generations especially in helping them to better understand and appreciate the history of past leaders.
“As such, I think that the government and related agencies need to provide large allocations for this purpose,” he said in an interview.
Jeniri pointed out the importance of biographies in recognising important figures, appreciating their services and contributions, and learning from their life stories.
“This is one of the ways to understand the life and career path of these individuals,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of training more writers to undertake the task of documenting biographies.
“However, these writers are passionate and willing to dedicate time to reading and research.
“As someone who is very interested in biographies, I find it quite exciting and satisfying to read the biographies that were written carefully and completed,” he said.
As a prolific author with more than 50 published book titles, Jeniri said he hoped to see other writers produce biographical works about Sarawak’s Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and former Head of State, Tun Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman.
“Thus far, I myself have published biographies of three former Head of States namely, Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee, Tun Pehin Sri Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub. The biography of Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce was published by Datuk Dr Sanib Saib.
“I have done my part by publishing three of the biographies,” he said while sharing that his next mission is to publish a biography of Tun Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman.
He added that a biography about Tun Taib as the Head of State should also be written and documented, even though there are about 15 biographies about him when he was the chief minister have been published, but not as the Head of State.
“All these people are important figures and leaders of Sarawak and have played important roles in the development of the state,” he said.
