KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) marked an important moment for Southeast Asian literature by hosting the 2026 International Seminar on Southeast Asian Literature (SAKAT 2026) from September 21 to 22.
Organised as part of the activities of the Southeast Asian Literature Council (MASTERA), the seminar brought together literary scholars, academics and practitioners from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore.
Held at the Tun Abang Salahuddin Islamic Centre (PITAS), UNIMAS, SAKAT 2026 carried the theme “Balancing Artificial Intelligence with Natural Intelligence in Literature.” More than 200 participants, including academics, literary practitioners and university students, attended the two-day seminar.
AI and the Human Element in Literature
The opening ceremony was officiated by Dato’ Dr Haji Jeniri Amir, a member of the Board of Governors of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), who also delivered the keynote address titled “The Southeast Asian Literary Landscape: Empirical Realities and Regional Voices.”
In his keynote, Jeniri highlighted the ability of artificial intelligence to imitate a poet’s writing style and produce compelling metaphors.
However, he stressed that advanced technology does not possess the personal experiences, history, emotions and inner reflections that shape a human writer’s work.
The discussion reflects a growing question within the literary world: how can AI be used as a tool while preserving the human experiences and cultural identities that give literature its meaning?
Other presentations at SAKAT 2026 also examined the use of AI in literature, including its potential benefits as a complementary tool as well as concerns surrounding authenticity, copyright, ethics and inaccurate information.
Literature as a Platform for Humanity
DBP Director-General and MASTERA Malaysia Chairman Datuk Dr Hazami Jahari also attended the seminar and delivered the opening remarks.
He described SAKAT not merely as an academic platform, but as a space where literature can help nurture human values at a time when such values are increasingly challenged.
Hazami also expressed pride that the international literary seminar had reached its 30th edition and was being held in Sarawak for the first time.
The event also brought together representatives from MASTERA member countries, further strengthening regional cooperation in Malay and Southeast Asian literature.
UNIMAS Strengthens Regional Literary Role
SAKAT 2026 further highlighted UNIMAS‘s role as a strategic partner of DBP in Borneo, particularly in the areas of language, literature and culture.
The university’s Faculty of Education, Language and Communication continues to support cooperation with DBP in efforts to strengthen regional literary networks and ensure that Southeast Asia’s literary heritage remains relevant and valued.
The 2026 seminar was held alongside the 30th MASTERA session and other literary programmes in Kuching, including the presentation of the 10th MASTERA Literary Awards.
