KUALA LUMPUR: It took national laureate Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan (pic) more than a year to complete his novel Penyeberang Sempadan.
The dean of the writing faculty at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara) only found time to work on it late in the evenings and at night.
His effort paid off when the novel won the prestigious Sako Book Prize, a joint effort by Utusan Group and the National Institute of Translation. This is the third time the award has been given out since its inception in 1992.
It is named after the late writer and nationalist Ishak Muhammad who founded Utusan Melayu.
The winning novel set during the British occupation in the 1950's is about a man named Kuay who wants to avenge the death of his father at the hands of the police.
Full of anger and hatred, the main character joins the Malayan Communist Party, which takes him to countries like China, Russia, the United States and Jordan.
In his journey, Kuay undergoes a personal transformation from communism to democracy before finally realising that Islam is the true way of life.
“I wanted to tap into the spirit of Pak Sako.
“I wanted to show that even with so much fighting, we end up with nothing and those who didn't struggle as much end up with more,” said Dr Anwar after receiving his prize, which included RM30,000 in cash, at the National Library here on Tuesday.
Before presenting the award, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said novelists function as thought leaders of society.
“There is no meaning to achieving economic greatness if we are culturally deficient.”
