Rama Kannabiran
P. Krishnan (Puthumaithasan)
K T M Iqbal
M. Balakrishnan (Ma Ilangkannan)
Muhammad Ariff Ahmad
J.M. Sali
Suratman Markasan
Hedwig Anuar
Suchen Christine Lim
Yeng Pway Ngon
Wong Yoon Wah
Wong Meng Voon
Tham Yew Chin (You Jin)
Pan Cheng Lui
Neo Choon Hong
Lim Hung Chang
Li Lienfung
Fang Xiu
Cheong Weng Yat (Zhang Hui)
Djamal Tukimin
Abdul Ghani Hamid
Chew Kok Chang
Ho Minfong
Goh Poh Seng
Edwin Thumboo
Kirpal Singh
Lim Thean Soo
Goh Mey Teck
Ismail Haji Omar
Masuri Salikun (Masuri S. N.)
Meira Chand
Lee Tzu Pheng
Catherine Lim
Arthur Yap
TributeSG
Goh Mey Teck
An award-winning Malay language writer working under the pen name Peter Augustine Goh whose works span various literary genres.
Goh Mey Teck (Iskandar Goh) is an award-winning Malay language writer working under the pen name Peter Augustine Goh. His works span various literary genres, such as short stories, novels, poetry, radio and television scripts, and essays, most of which have been published in newspapers, magazines and broadcast media in Singapore and Malaysia. The writer has received several awards for his Malay language works, including the Golden Point Award in 1995, 1999 and 2003, the Singapore National Book Award in 1990, 1994 and 1996, and the Singapore Literature Prize in 2012 and 2016. Goh’s most well-received work to date is the Malay drama, Cinta Marlina, a television series that garnered high ratings on the Malaysian programme, Sandiwara and the collection of short stories entitled Air Mata Di Arafah (Tears in Arafah) which has won the Singapore Literature Prize 2016 for Malay fiction category.
Born in 1953 in Malacca, Malaysia, Goh Mey Teck (Iskandar Goh) received his early education in several schools in various Malaysian towns before arriving in Singapore in 1978 to obtain his GCE 'A' level certificate as a private candidate.
As early as 1975, Goh wrote short stories and poems under the pen name Peter Augustine Goh. However, he chose to become a full-time police officer, using most of his free time to write. A man who enjoys writing in various genres, Goh has written short stories, poems, novels, drama scripts and essays. He has also contributed to Singaporean and Malaysian newspapers and magazines, writing film reviews and articles relating to community and social issues.
In the late ’80s, one of Goh’s television dramas, Cinta Marlina, received the second highest audience rating for the week on the Malaysian television programme, Sandiwara. Other radio and television dramas he scripted include Ombak Cinta Pantai Kasih (The Waves of Love, The Beach of Love), Bulan Tak Bermadu (Moon Without Honey) and Gelombang Kasih (Love Wave). All three dramas won the Majlis Bahasa Melayu Singapore (Malay Language Council of Singapore) Literature Prize in 1993, 1995 and 1997 respectively.
Goh has published over 40 Malay language books, some of which have been translated into English. The works are a combination of children and adult novels, short story and poetry collections, as well as anthologies and literary essays. He received several awards in Singapore for his literature, including the Golden Point Award organised by Singapore Press Holdings and the National Arts Council in 1995, 1999 and 2003, and the Singapore National Book Award organised by the National Book Development Council of Singapore in 1990, 1994 and 1996.
Most recently, the writer won the Merit Prize at the Singapore Literature Prize 2012 for his short stories collection, Kerana Setitik Madu (A Drop of Honey); and in 2016 also for short stories, Air Mata Di Arafah (Tears In Arafah).
Now a retired police officer, Goh continues to fuel his passion for writing by conducting writing workshops at primary and secondary schools. At the same time, he contributes regularly to newspaper Berita Harian, writing literary articles to guide aspiring Malay writers. He has also been invited to judge local short story writing competitions.
In 2007, Goh was a leading member of the Secretariat for the short story writing competition organised in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Berita Harian and Berita Minggu.
Timeline
15 Dec 1953
Born in Malacca, Malaysia.
1961 to 1963
Attended Sultan Ibrahim Primary School, Kelantan.
1964 to 1966
Attended Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School, Kelantan.
1967 to 1970
Attended St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh.
1975
Started writing.
1977
Published novel Kehilangan di Bukit Naga (Lost at Dragon Hill).
Published novel Pondok Kecil di Tepi Kubur (A Small Hut at the Cemetery).
1978
Obtained GCE ‘A’ Level Certificate as a private candidate, Singapore.
Published young adult novel Terlepas Dari Lorong Seruling Bambu (Escape from Lorong Seruling Bambu).
1981
Published novel Kotak Merah Jambu Air (The Pink Box).
Published novel Kucing Mata Merah (The Red-Eyed Cat).
Published adult novel Kembara Belum Berakhir (The Journey is not Over).
1982
Contributed to short story anthology Getar-getar Senja (Tremors of the Dusk).
1983
Received the Merit award for The Annual National Short Story Writing Competition.
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for Musim Penyedaran II (Season of Repentance II).
1984
Received the Merit award for The Annual National Short Story Writing Competition.
1986
Published short story collection Musim Penyedaran (Season of Awakening).
Received the Merit award for The Annual National Short Story Writing Competition.
1987
Published adult novel Karang di Tengah Segara (Corals in the Centre of the Sea).
Contributed to short story anthology Temasik.
1988
Published novel Jalan Ke Puncak (The Road to the Peak).
1989
Published short story collection Titian Perjalanan (The Bridge of Journey).
Received the Merit award for The Annual National Short Story Writing Competition.
1990
Received the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) Commendation award for Titian Perjalanan (The Bridge of Journey).
1991
Contributed to short story anthology Cerpen-cerpen Nusantara Mutakhir (Short Stories of Modern Malay Archipelago).
1992
Contributed to short story anthology Dari Pulau ke Pulau (From Island to Island).
1993
Published novel Tongkat Kayu Bercabang Tiga (The Three-Legged Walking Stick).
Contributed to short story anthology The Fiction of Singapore.
Contributed to poetry anthology Di Dunia Permata (The World of Gem).
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for television drama Ombak Cinta, Pantai Kasih (The Waves of Love, The Beach of Love).
Received the Saadon Ismail Award (Merit) for short story Runtuh (Collapse).
1994
Received the NBDCS Commendation award for Tongkat Kayu Bercabang Tiga (The Three-legged Walking Stick).
1995
Published adult novel Menerjah Musim (Battling the Season).
Contributed to short story anthology Pertemuan Kedua (The Second Meeting).
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for television drama Bulan Tak Bermadu (Moon Without Honey).
Won third prize in the Fiction Writing Category at the Golden Point Awards, organised by the National Arts Council, Singapore, for short story Teruskan Ceritamu, Pak Dalang.
1996
Received the NBDCS Commendation award for Menerjah Musim (Battling the Season).
1997
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for radio drama Gelombang Kasih (The Waves of Love).
1999
Published novel Tertangkapnya Raja Tupai (The Arrest of Squirrel King) in Kuala Lumpur.
Published short story collection Teruskan Ceritamu, Pak Dalang (Carry On with your Story, Mr. Puppeteer).
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for novel Menerjah Musim.
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for short story Sepotong Mimpi, Sebuah Daerah dan Seekor Burung (A Dream, A Place and a Bird).
Won second prize in the Fiction Writing Competition of the Golden Point Awards, organised by National Arts Council, Singapore, for short story Rahsia Sebuah Kasih Sayang (The Secret of Love).
Won second prize at the Poetry Song Writing Competition organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and Radio Television Malaysia, for a song/poem collaboration entitled Anak Alam Yang Lain (Another Child of the World).
2000
Contributed to poetry anthology Rhythms.
2003
Published adult novel Seberkas Cahaya di Jendela Senja (A Ray of Light at the Window of Dusk).
Published short story collection Rahsia Sebuah Kasih Sayang (The Secret of Love).
Contributed to short story anthology Anugerah Persuratan 2003 (Literary Awards 2003: Group Work and Jury Review).
Contributed to Project X: An Anthology of Poetry, Short Stories and Juvenile Novels.
Contributed to short story anthology Anak Bumi (Children of the Earth).
Contributed to Mind Imagery: An Anthology of Essays.
Contributed to Son of the Earth: An Anthology of Short Stories.
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for short story Tembok (The Wall).
Won first prize in the Poetry Category of the Golden Point Award, organised by the National Arts Council, Singapore, for a collection of eight poems Ikrar (Vow).
2004
Contributed to Gelombang Kasih or The Waves of Love: An Anthology of Radio Drama Scripts.
Contributed to poetry anthology Potret Diri Seorang Penyair (A Portrait of a Poet).
2005 Published novel Tuah Wira (Fortune of Wira).
Published novel Kamar Misteri Rumah Using (The Mystery Room of an Old House).
Published Warna Sebuah Penghijrahan (Colour of Migration).
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for short story Air Mata Kasih Seorang Haji (Tears of Love of a Pilgrim).
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for short story collection Rahsia Sebuah Kasih Sayang (The Secret of Love).
Received the Merit award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for radio drama Kasih Masih Berrbunga (Love is still Blooming).
2006
Published short story collection Hati Yang Terusik (The Disturbed Heart).
2007
Published poetry collection Cetusan Kalbu Seorang Penyair (The Impulses from the Heart of the Poet).
Received the Literary Award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for radio drama Sebelum Jalan Kembali (Before the Homecoming).
Received the Literary Award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for poem Balada Merdeka (The Ballad of Freedom).
2008
Received the Merit Award at Young People Novel Writing Competition organised by Darul Andalus and ASAS’50, for novel Lembaga Tidak Berwajah (The Faceless Figure).
2009
Published novel Lembaga Tidak Berwajah (The Faceless Figure).
Contributed to short story anthology Tumasik.
Contributed to poetry anthology Fifty on 50.
Received the Literary Award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for poem Menyarung Makna Mesra (The Encasing of the Meaning of Closeness).
Received the Literary Award in the book category at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for Cetusan Kalbu Seorang Penyair.
2010
Published short story collection Kerana Setitik Madu (A Drop of Honey).
2011
Published novel Hilang di Bukit Halus (Lost at Bukit Halus).
Received the Literary Award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for short story Cermin Ajaib (The Magic Mirror).
2012
Won the Commendation prize at the Singapore Literature Prize for Kerana Setitik Madu.
2016
Published novel Cahaya Kasih (The Light of Love).
Published poetry collection Genta Cinta (The Bells of Love).
Received the Merit Award at Young People Novel Writing Competition organised by Darul Andalus and ASAS’50, for novel Cahaya Kasih (The Light of Love).
Published short story collection Air Mata di Arafah (Tears in Arafah).
Received the Literary Award at The Biennial Malay Literary Awards for short story Pagar (The Gate), and collection of poetry Genta Cinta (The Bells of Love).
Received the Singapore Literary Prize for Malay fiction – a collection of short stories Air Mata Di Arafah (Tears in Arafah).
Image Gallery
TributeSG celebrates the arts community’s most senior members, and those who have made a lifetime of contribution to the arts. These artists, administrators, educators, patrons, and champions include many Singapore arts pioneers who laid the foundations of the vibrant arts and cultural scene we enjoy today. The many profiles in TributeSG let us into the minds and worlds of these pioneers, and help us understand our shared arts heritage. When we revisit their works and rediscover their journeys, we learn where we came from and how we came to be. Collectively, their stories tell the tale of the making of a nation’s artistic identity.
In putting together this collection, the TributeSG team consulted an external advisory panel, consisting of Arun Mahiznan, Choo Thiam Siew, J. P. Nathan, K. K. Seet, Kwok Kian Chow, and Iskandar Ismail. Those selected to be profiled in TributeSG met one of the following criteria: they were at least 60 years of age as of 12 Oct 2016, or deceased, or had received national recognition in the form of the Cultural Medallion. This journey of arts archival officially came to a close on 12 Oct 2016, after four years of extensive research, interviews and collation of information graciously provided by the TributeSG pioneers, their families and peers. TributeSG also benefited from enthusiastic help from like-minded friends and organisations who supported Esplanade’s cause—to remember, honour and celebrate Singapore’s arts pioneers.
