Kuala Lumpur: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Yayasan Karyawan, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, to set a clear direction and enhance new strategies for promoting Malay literary masterpieces, the Malay world, and global literary classics. The Prime Minister emphasized that these masterpieces should be made available in all types of schools, public universities, and relevant entities or faculties.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister suggested that this initiative could be adapted and revitalized through artificial intelligence (AI) technology in collaboration with all stakeholders. Additionally, he proposed the reintroduction of the Language Prize program at all school levels in partnership with corporate companies. Anwar shared these insights in a Facebook post after receiving a courtesy call from a delegation of the Yayasan Karyawan Board of Trustees, led by its chairman, Datuk A. Aziz Deraman.

The meeting with the delegation included discussions on the foundation’s direction in preserving reference materials, leading promotional efforts, and broadening ownership of literary masterpieces. Anwar reflected on his past efforts with fellow enthusiasts of literary masterpieces in establishing Yayasan Karyawan in 1996. The foundation was set up to study and publish Malay literary masterpieces, the Malay World’s masterpieces, and global literary masterpieces in the Malay language.

The selected Malay literary masterpieces include traditional Malay literary works as well as those from the broader Malay world, written in related languages. The Prime Minister added that Yayasan Karyawan also works on translating global literary masterpieces into Malay, conducting research, and translating selected civilizational classics from beyond the Malay world.