NATIONAL LAUREATE SHAHNON AHMAD DIES
Literary figure was in tune with people’s voice through his works
NATIONAL laureate Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Shahnon Ahmad was laid to rest at Sungai Tangkas Muslim cemetery in Bandar Baru Bangi yesterday afternoon.
Shahnon, 84, died of pneumonia at 7.30am at KPJ Hospital, Kajang, yesterday.
About 200 people, including his family and friends, attended solat jenazah (prayers for the deceased) at Surau Madani after zohor prayers.
His eldest daughter, Norhayati Shahnon, 58, said her father was admitted to the intensive care unit on Dec 22.
“He suffered a coughing fit and we brought him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia,” she said.
“I stayed with him during the four days he was in hospital. His condition showed signs of improvement in the last two days. He was transferred to the normal ward.” Shahnon is survived by his wife Datin Wan Fatimah Wan Salleh, 82, three children, 14 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
Malaysia’s fourth national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said said the late Shahnon was in tune with the people’s voice through his works.
He said he used to have lengthy discussions on literature with Shahnon.
“Among his literary works that affected me were Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan and Srengenge. These novels carry a symbolic message of a common person’s struggles and ambitions,” he said.
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor said the nation had lost an inspiring literary figure.
“He is not only a literary icon but also a significant figure who fought for the people.”
Yusof added that Shahnon, who was a professor emeritus at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, was concerned about people’s rights.
Shahnon received several awards, including the Pejuang Sastera (Champion of Literature) award by then prime minister Tun Hussein Onn in 1976, Anugerah Sastera Negara (National Literary Award) in 1982, and Asean Literary Prize in 1990.
Shahnon later ventured into politics, representing Pas in the 1999 general election, where he won the Sik parliamentary seat.