Anthology of Short Stories from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore

Book excerpt: The Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore anthology, a collection of twelve short stories by writers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, indicates that literature connects nations, transcending geopolitical boundaries. For this anthology, writers and compositions that typically represented each nation were selected. Malaysia is represented by Azmah Nordin, S.M Zakir, Sri Diah, and Zakaria Ali; Indonesia is represented by Djenar Maesa Ayu, Oka Rusmini, Seno Gumira Ajidarma, and Sulfixa Ariska; and Singapore is represented by Rama Kannabiran, Suchen Christine Lim, Suratman Markasan, and Wong Meng Voon. Their writings are unique, featuring not only local aspirations but also imparting universal values, Literature aligns quintessential truths, chronicles the inner voice, and emphasises aspirations. In the context of regional ties, literature has great capacity to bind relationships through a mutual understanding of culture and shared values.