KUALA LUMPUR: 'Lelaki Kiriman Tuhan' and 'Bangkit – Pujuklah Hati 4' were the big winners at Anugerah Pilihan Pembaca Popular-BH 2018 when the two books were chosen best fiction and non-fiction, respectively.
It was a case of women power as their authors, Umie Nadzimah and Bonda Nor, walked away with RM3,000, a plaque and certificate of appreciation each.
Second and third places in the fiction category went to Aiman Banna (Suamiku Dajjal) and Hadi Fayyadh (Semusim di Mahsyar), respectively.
In the non-fiction category, Adnin Roslan (Surat Cinta Untuk Orang Yang Putus Cinta) and Faiz Ibrahim (27 Hari untuk Move On), won second and third place, respectively.
Second-placed winners in both categories each took home RM1,500 and a certificate, while the third-placed winners walked away with RM1,000 and a certificate each.
The awards were presented by New Straits Times Press chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Hamid at the awards show today.
Also present were Berita Harian executive editor Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman; Popular Holdings Ltd chairman Desmond Wee; its CEO Chou Cheng Ngok; and, Popular Book Co (M) Sdn Bhd executive director Lim Lee Ngoh.
In his speech earlier, Jalil said the awards had the potential to bring greater acknowledgement to an author in the literary world, not just in Malaysia, but internationally.
“Many of the books in both categories were good reads, and not just the content, but the way the stories had been woven and the premise,” he said.
Jalil said there may be some writers who felt their books were insignificant, but in truth their works play an important part in sowing a love of reading in Malaysian society.
“My hope is that local authors can inspire new writers to get involved in the literary world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wee said Popular had always and will always believe that the capability and talent of Malaysian writers were on par with the rest of the world, especially in terms of creativity and variety.
“This award is meant to celebrate writers. These are the people who are the epitome of the phrase ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’.
“Through the support of publishers and readers, we are confident that national literature will continue to come to the fore in the years to come,” he said.