Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Literary Circle (SLC) hopes to nurture more local writers and encourage them to share Sabah’s untold stories with a wider audience through initiatives such as its 2026 flash fiction writing competition.
SLC founder and Borneo History Research Centre (BHRC) senior researcher Datuk Dr Johan Ariffin Samad said the initiative aimed to develop new writing talent while helping aspiring authors develop, publish and promote their work.
“We are short of authors, but people want to know more stories from Sabah, which are still lacking on the national scene,” he said in an interview after the competition at the Sabah State Library Headquarters, here, on Saturday.
The competition required participants to write a 500-word story inspired by a historical event in Sabah, the Jesselton Revolt, using the word “memory” as a writing prompt.
Johan said the exercise helped participants organise their thoughts, express ideas concisely, develop their writing skills and build confidence.
“Normally, starting to write is always difficult because many thoughts run here and there. But once you focus on writing, say, 500 words, you can actually focus more easily on longer pieces in the future,” he said.
He added that Sabah had a rich history, including wartime experiences that had yet to receive widespread recognition, and stressed the importance of documenting and sharing these accounts.
He cited the Jesselton Revolt, also known as the Double Tenth Incident, as one example of Sabah’s historical experiences that deserved greater attention, noting that many civilians suffered during the Second World War.
“Some stories need to be told to the wider world,” he said, adding that SLC hoped to develop writers capable of bringing these accounts to a broader readership.
Johan said SLC planned to publish the submissions online with assistance from the Sabah State Library, with the long-term aim of compiling the stories into a book for public sale.
“It’s not only the winners’ writing that we’re going to share; it’s all the writings put together,” he said.
The competition also encouraged participants to explore different ways of interpreting history by connecting historical events and settings with contemporary experiences and personal memories.
Among the participants were Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) students Ivy Jerralyn Joy, 22, Renny Felendra Jamaris, 22, and Gianna Glorina, 23.
Participants were given 90 minutes to complete their stories without using mobile phones, the internet or artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
Renny said she initially struggled to develop an idea after the theme was announced but eventually drew inspiration from her own memories.
“At first, my ideas were very blocked, but then I sat down and tried to imagine something that reminded me of memories. Then it came eventually,” she said.
She said the exercise challenged her to find the right words and express her ideas without relying on online resources.
Meanwhile, Ivy said she adopted a contemporary perspective to avoid inaccurately portraying historical events with which she was unfamiliar.
“I just took the modern perspective because that is where I could really write about,” she said, adding that younger Sabahans should understand their historical roots and learn from past events.
Gianna, who hails from Kudat, said she also chose a contemporary perspective because it was more familiar and relatable to her.
“The environment here is quite open and inclusive, and the writing atmosphere sparks creativity,” she said.
Another participant, Bryan, 32, said the competition provided an opportunity to express his creativity without relying on technology.
He said the 90-minute session challenged him to draw on his own memories and experiences when developing his story.
“I don’t expect to win anything. I’m just glad I get to write a story,” he said.
In a statement, Johan said SLC’s broader efforts included writing workshops, author-sharing sessions and assistance for local writers seeking to publish their work.
He said the initiative was a collaboration between BHRC and the Sabah State Library aimed at increasing literary engagement, encouraging reading and writing, and fostering greater public interest in Sabah’s history and culture.
The competition was judged by consultant dermatologist Dr Melinda Tong, creative writer Dr Madeleine Piper, Sabahan writer Rachel Fung, and Bristol-based librarian and author Anna M. Wang.
Sabah State Library representative Rinawaty Ag. Ali and event coordinator Vynn Suren were also present.
The competition results are expected to be announced on October 31, with the winners to be contacted regarding the award ceremony.
