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The Writers' Movement '50 (Angkatan Sasterawan 1950), better known as Asas '50, is the first and oldest literary association in post-war Malaya and the Malay region. Founded in 6th of August 1950, Asas '50 represented the voice of the Malay community and used literature as the ideal thrust towards the independence of Malaya in 1957. The association's philosophy of "Art for Society" (Seni untuk Masyarakat) formed the main shaping force in the development of Modern Malay literature. The literary body was pioneered by Muhammad Ariff Ahmad (MAS), Kamaluddin Muhammad (Keris Mas), Abdul Wahab Muhammad (Awam-il Sarkam), Abdul Jalil Haji Nor (Merayu Rawan), Munir Ali (Rosmera), Kumasi Haji Dainuri (Teruna Jaya), Abdul Majid Husain (Hamzah), Masuri Salikun (Masuri S.N), Abu Yamin Kasun, Ahmad Ramli Abdul Karim (Ramlimah), Muhammad Daud, Abu Yazid Abidin (Wijaya Mala) and Muhammad Yusof Yaacob (Jim). Asas '50 was dedicated in the development of literature. It held the belief that literature is an integral part of the society. Asas '50 currently works to promote and propagate literature through seminars, workshops, forums, dialogues, courses etc. One of the landmark events in the early history of ASAS 50 was the debate on the purpose of literature. The debate was between two groups, the ''Utusan Melayu'' group, headed by Asraf and the ''Majalah Hiburan'' group headed by Hamzah Hussien. The crux of the debate was whether to follow "Art for Society" (Seni untuk Masyarakat) or "Art for Art's Sake" (Seni untuk Seni). According to a researcher, Athi Sivan (1997), Hamzah propagated the Gautierian call for purity of art to distance Asas 50 from the left wing ideologies prevalent at that time in Singapore, especially in ''Utusan Melayu''. This ensued the debate and it lasted more than a year before slowly fading away with Hamzah leaving Asas 50 to form a new literary organisation.〔Athi Sivan (1997) Hamzah Hussien: Sekitar Pemikiran Seni untuk Seni〕 After this debate, ASAS 50 became less active after 1955, when several of its main members (Keris Mas, Usman Awang, etc.) left to reside back in Malaya, while several loyal members remained in Singapore and continued to spearhead the association to this day. The philosophy held by Asas '50 was described by Keris Mas as follows:
.... We criticised societal backwardness and those whom we regard as the instruments responsible for the birth of such backwardness. We criticised colonialism and its instruments, that is, the elite class, those whose consciousness have been frozen by the influence of feudalism and myths, and superstition that has been enmeshed with religion."〔Keris Mas, ''30 Tahun Sekitar Sastera'', (Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1979), p. 131. Quoted and translated in (Ibid )〕 Asas '50 plays a role in the development of literature and language in the region.〔(The Development of the Malay Language: Contemporary Challenges )〕 They are led by Mohamed Pitchay Gani (President), Mohamed Latiff Mohamed (Deputy President), Yazid Hussein (Vice-President), Abdul Samad Ali (Secretary), Hoirull Amri Tahiran (Secretary 2), Muhammad Herwanto Johari (Head of Youth and Head of Programmes), Namira Mazlan (Head of IT) and Irwan Jamal (Head of Publications). ==Seni Untuk Masyarakat== With the motto ''Seni Untuk Masyarakat'' (Arts for the People), it was inspired by the Indonesian writers movement, ''Angkatan 45'', and has been described as a watershed moment for the development of Malay literature in the region.〔(Malay – Our National Language )〕 Seen as an angry young men movement,〔(Modern Malay Literature in Singapore )〕 it promoted several aims: * To free Malay society from those elements of its culture which was obstructing or negating the pursuit of modernity and progress; * To advance the intellectual awareness of the rakyat (Malay masses) towards the ideals of social justice, prosperity, peace and harmony; * To foster Malay nationalism; and * To refine and promote the Malay language as the lingua franca of Malaya.〔(Films as Social History – P. Ramlee's "Seniman Bujang Lapok" and Malays in Singapore (1950s–1960s) ) (''MSWord file'')〕 An attempt initiated by Asas '50 to absorb the splinter literary groups such as Grup Gelorasa and Pass into Asas '50 was carried out in 1974. A new slogan "Literature for the Community" was coined to provide a mutual understanding and mission amongst the new members of Asas '50. The slogan was generic and did not have any ideological leanings of any the other previous associations. Thus, the slogan is accepted by all the new members of Asas '50. However, the battleground has changed for Asas '50 as it was no longer fighting for the independence and physical extrication of the community. This time, Asas '50 stated aim is to free the community from psychological and intellectual oppression left behind during the reign of the colonial masters and the Japanese Occupation. 'Independence' was superficial as the community still glorified the masters to the point of diminishing and trivialising their very own identity. Asas '50's mission is still schooled in the concept of "Literature for the Community" even though it has since changed its slogan. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Asas '50」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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