# Abdullah Hussain

Datuk Abdullah Hussain PJN, DSDK (25 March 1920 – 31 December 2014) was a Malaysian novelist and writer. He received the Malaysian National Laureate in 1996 which made him the 8th recipient of the award.

## Early years

Abdullah was born on 25 March 1920 in Sungai Limau Dalam, Yan, Kedah. Between the years 1926 and 1931 he received his early education at the Sekolah Melayu Sungai Limau and continued his studies at Sekolah St. Michael Alor Setar from 1932 until 1933 and also at the Anglo Chinese School, Alor Setar until 1935.

## Career

Abdullah started his career as an assistant cashier in the mining industry in Pahang in 1939. In the same year, he moved to Penang to start work for the newspaper Sahabat. During this time, he released two writings titled Binti Penghulu and Harta Dan Jodoh Menanti di England which was featured in Sahabat. During the years 1940 to 1941, Abdullah worked as an assistant writer for the newspaper Saudara and released two novels, Kasih Isteri and Dia...Kekasihku.

## Death

Abdullah died on 31 December 2014 at his residence in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, at the age of 94. He was buried in Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur.

## Publications

| Title | Published year | Publisher |
| Dia...Kekasihku | 1941 | The Annies Printing Works |
| Kasih Isteri | 1941 | The Annies Printing Works |
| Mutiara (Translator) | 1947 | Oxford University Press |
| Lorong Midaq (Translator) | 1947 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Amin Pemuda Desa | 1947 | Penerbitan Angkatan Baru |
| Orang Tua Dengan Laut (Translator) | 1952 | Oxford University Press |
| Berenang Di Lautan Madu | 1957 | Geliga Ltd |
| Kalau Tidak Kerana Tuan | 1957 | Geliga Ltd |
| Bumi Bertuah (Translator) | 1962 | Pustaka Antara |
| Angin Timor Angin Barat (Translator) | 1964 | Pustaka Antara |
| Kuda Merah (Translator) | 1964 | Oxford University Press |
| Terjebak | 1965 | Penerbitan Pustaka Antara |
| Janganlah Jangan | 1965 | Penerbitan Pena Sdn Bhd |
| Peristiwa | 1965 | Angkatan Antara |
| Rantau Selamat | 1966 | Pustaka Nasional |
| Kuala Lumpur Kita Punya | 1967 | Syarikat Karyawan |
| Aku Tidak Minta | 1967 | Pustaka Nasional Singapura |
| Konserto Terakhir | 1971 | Marwilis Publisher & Distributors |
| Interlok | 1971 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Intan | 1973 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Hadiah | 1973 | Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia |
| Isabella (Translator) | 1974 | Marwilis Publishers & Distributors |
| Pendeta Za'ba Dalam Kenangan | 1974 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Kumpulan Cerpen Jejak Langkah | 1975 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Noni | 1976 | Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd |
| Modern Malaysian Stories | 1977 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Cerita Seorang Seniman | 1979 | Percetakan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Penulisan Cerpen: Kaedah dan Pengalaman | 1980 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Buih Di Atas Air | 1980 | Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd |
| Kota Ke Kota | 1981 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Sebuah Pekan Bernama Semporna | 1982 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Masuk ke Dalam Cahaya | 1983 | Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka |
| Sebuah Perjalanan | 1985 | Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka |
| Itulah Ceritaku | 1985 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Cahaya Langit | 1987 | Penerbit Penamas Sdn. Bhd. |
| Peristiwa Kemerdekaan di Aceh | 1990 | Balai Pustaka |
| Imam | 1995 | Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd |
| Dari Kota Cahaya | 1997 | Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka |
| Canai Budi: Kumpulan Peribahasa | 1997 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Siri Karya Trilogi: Aku Tidak Minta | 1998 | Fajar Bakti Sdn Bhd |
| Talian Kasih (Editor) | 1999 | Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka |
| Pertemuan Abadi: Koleksi Terpilih Abdullah Hussain | 2000 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Perjalanan Mencari Bahasa | 2001 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Calar Mimpi (Organizer) | 2002 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Perjalanan Mencari Hikmah | 2003 | Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Perjalanan Mencari Diri | 2004 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Siri Lestari Sastera: Sastera dan Kemanusiaan | 2005 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Pahlawan Tak Bernama | 2005 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Dan Malam, Apabila Ia Berlalu | 2006 | Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka |
| Harun Aminurrashid Pembangkit Semangat Kebangsaan | 2006 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Kamus Istimewa Peribahasa Melayu | 2007 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Proses Kreatif: Satu Pengalaman Rohani | 2010 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Cinta Sekerdip Embun: Antologi Cerpen Pemenang Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 1996-2005 | 2010 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Antologi Cerpen Berunsur Islam: Cinta Masitah | 2011 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |
| Kisah Hidup Seniman Agung P. Ramlee | 2016 | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka |

## Awards

* 1981 S.E.A. Write Award
* 1992/1994 Hadiah Novel Nasional from Syarikat Utusan Melayu and Public Bank Berhad
* 1994/1995 Hadiah Sastera Malaysia for the novel Imam
* 1995 Pingat Jasa Hukom Ngon Adat Lembaga Adat Kebudayaan Aceh (LAKA) and Hadiah Sako
* 1996 The Sasterawan Negara, Darjah Dato' Setia Diraja Kedah (DSDK) and Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN)