Celebrating Malaysian voices: a multicultural perspective

Abstract

Malaysia's multicultural landscape presents an indispensable platform for her writers to air the multitudinous voices of the country. Her voices range from the distinct more individualistic voice of Muhammad Haji Salleh, the more communal centred KS Maniam to the more pluralistic tone of Lloyd Fernando. As each voice sings its variant tune, the self begins to learn the importance of its idiosyncrasy. When these variant voices are brought together, they present the concert of a young country learning tolerance and appreciation for the other-ness within its borders. This paper presents the diverse representation of being Malaysian from three of her prominent writers in English - Muhammad Haji Salleh, KS Maniam and Lloyd Fernando, and charts their efforts towards celebrating the Malaysian voice.