Saleha binti Abdul Rashid (born 24 July 1937), better known by her pen name Salmi Manja, is a Malaysian novelist, poet, and journalist. She was among the first Malaysian professional women writers and best known for her 1960 novel Hari Mana Bulan Mana (What Day What Month).[1] Femininity, women's issues, and Islam are recurring themes in her work.
Salmi Manja | |
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Born | Saleha binti Abdul Rashid (1937-07-24) 24 July 1937 (age 85) Singapore |
Pen name | Salmi Manja Melati Desa Rashidah Salleh |
Occupation | novelist, poet, journalist |
Language | Malay |
Notable works | Hari Mana Bulan Mana Sayang Ustazah Sayang |
Salmi went to Darul Maarif Arab-language school and Tong Chai English School in Singapore. In 1956, Salmi attended a writing course offered by the Malay writer Harun Aminurrashid and became a member of the ASAS 50 group along with Usman Awang.
Before her career as a journalist and writer, Salmi worked as a religious teacher in her former school Darul Maarif during which time she contributed works of poetry to a number of local magazines. Salmi later became a journalist for Semenanjung and Berita Harian.[2]
In April 1958, Salmi married the noted novelist and poet A. Samad Said and moved from Singapore to join him in Kuala Lumpur.[3] Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she published five other novels and two anthologies of short stories and poems. She continued her career as a journalist, working with Cahaya Lembaga and the Selangor Islamic Women's Association.[1]
Malaysian writers | |
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Male writers |
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Female writers |
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General | |
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National libraries |