Kuala lumpur: A project manager at a publishing house in Malaysia expressed hopes on Saturday to introduce Taiwanese literature to a wider Malay readership, following the release of the first Malay-language translation of a work by Taiwanese author Wu Ming-yi. The translated novel, "The Stolen Bicycle," was made possible through the efforts of Abdullah Hussaini at IBDE, who aims to enhance literary exchanges between Taiwan and Malaysia.

According to Focus Taiwan, Abdullah highlighted the significance of the publication, noting that IBDE has historically translated works from languages such as Arabic, French, German, and English into Malay. However, bringing a full-length Taiwanese novel to Malay readers marks a new endeavor for the publishing firm. The book, featured at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair from May 29 to June 7, originally published in Chinese in 2015, narrates a man's quest to find his missing father and a lost bicycle, interweaving tales of memory and reality across various countries including China, Myanmar, Japan, and Taiwan. It delves into Taiwan's wartime experiences and the historical wounds of its communities.

Abdullah recounted his initial encounter with Wu's works about a decade ago, with a renewed interest sparked three years ago by friends in the Malaysian Chinese literary circle. Attending Wu's talk at the George Town Literary Festival in Penang further cemented his admiration, especially for "The Stolen Bicycle," which he felt personally connected to, and which resonated with Malaysian social experiences. He acknowledged the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia for facilitating contact with Wu and expressed hopes for continued collaboration to promote more Taiwanese literature in Malaysia.

Lee Hao Jie, a translator of Chinese works into Malay, including "Journey to the West," noted that the primary challenge in introducing Taiwanese literature to the Malay market lies not in language translation but in adapting cultural references. Many Chinese works are rich with historical contexts, place names, and cultural nuances, and the key challenge is preserving the original's essence while making it accessible to Malay readers. Translators act as bridges, connecting languages and cultures, Lee stated.