MALAYSIA AND THE AUTHOR: FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF MULTICULTURALISM

Multiculturalism, or the plurality of ethnicity and culture, a colonial legacy, is still a contested issue in present day postcolonial Malaysia. The lack of ethnic interaction in plural Malaya has had repercussions on various spheres of society. This paper considers the impact of Malaysia s management of diversity on the country s literary scene. The paper addresses how multiculturalism presents a challenge for Malaysian writers in English both in their choice of language and in their representation of society. The conclusion drawn from the discussion highlights that through their authorial-defined social reality, Malaysian writers in English take distinct yet constructive efforts at representing the personal, communal and national needs of the people.