Pengajian Kesusasteraan Melayu Baru (New Malay Literature Studies)

Abstract

This article explores the development of modern Malay literature as a field of study in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). It started with a few courses covering more or less most aspects of the literature such as prose genre, authors, literary theory and criticism, comparative and creative writing offered to the undergraduate students. The courses at that time could be considered as a minor part of the Malay studies program. The major parts of the program were Malay language and classical Malay literature. Modern Malay literature grew into a distinctive and full fledged field of study as more academic staff joined the then department and new courses were introduced, especially after the establishment of the Malay Letters Department. When the Department was replaced with the School of Malay Language, Literature and Culture in 2001, the field of study become a new program. If the development of the modern Malay literature of the last 35 years is viewed within the framework of the premise that it could promote Malay identity and generate Malay civilization at the global level as put forward by its founder, Syed Muhammad Naguib al-Atas, it can be said that the achievement is minimal. This field of study needs to reposition its policies and direction.

ABSTRAK

Makalah ini meninjau perkembangan pengajian kesusasteraan Melayu baru di Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan (FSSK), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Pengajian ini bermula dengan penawaran beberapa kursus kesusasteraan baru yang meliputi hampir semua aspek tentangnya seperti genre prosa, tokoh, teori dan kritikan, serta sastera bandingan dan penulisan kreatif kepada pelajar peringkat sarjanamuda. Kursus kesusasteraan baru pada masa itu boleh dianggap bersifat minor dalam program pengajian Melayu. Program pengajian Melayu lebih memberi tumpuan kepada bidang bahasa dan kesusasteraan lama. Pengajian kesusasteraan baru hanya menjadi lebih ketara dan penting dengan penambahan kakitangan akademik dan pengenalan kursus- kursus baru, terutama apabila Jabatan Persuratan Melayu ditubuhkan. Apabila Jabatan itu digantikan dengan Pusat Pengajian Bahasa, Kesusasteraan dan Kebudayaan Melayu pada tahun 2001, bidang kesusasteraan menjadi satu program pengajian baru. Sekiranya semua perkembangan selama 35 tahun itu dilihat dalam kerangka dasar untuk meletakkan identiti dan peradaban Melayu di persada dunia sebagaimana yang dikemukakan oleh pengasasnya, Syed Muhammad Naguib al-Atas, maka perkembangan yang berlaku itu tidaklah sehebat yang diimpikan. Bidang pengajian ini perlu memposisikan semula dasar dan arahnya.