Poet Samad Said to boycott gov't functions, will only 'entertain' opposition!

Protesting the government's crackdown on peaceful protesters in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, distinguished poet and novelist A Samad Said said he will from now on not attend government functions.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini at a restaurant in Bangsar yesterday, Samad said, "I don't know how my friends in government will react, but I will not accept any invitation from the government. For the moment, I will not entertain them."

“If the opposition wins, then I will entertain,” quipped.the 76-year-old national laureate has written some 70 books and is a common figure at government functions.

One of his books, a novel entitled Di Hadapan Pulau is also part of the Malay language literature module for secondary schools.