Asas '50

The Writers' Movement '50 (Angkatan Sasterawan 1950), better known as Asas '50, is the first and oldest literary association in post-war in Singapore. It was founded on 6 August 1950, with a stated philosophy of "Art for Society" (Seni untuk Masyarakat).

Asas '50 was formed in the interest of developing Malaysian literature. Asas '50 currently works to promote and propagate literature through seminars, workshops, forums, dialogues, courses etc.

One important event in the early history of Asas '50 was the debate on the purpose of literature. The debate was between two groups, the Utusan Melayu group, headed by Asraf and the Majalah Hiburan group headed by Hamzah Hussien. The crux of the debate was whether to follow "Art for Society" (Seni untuk Masyarakat) or "Art for Art's Sake" (Seni untuk Seni). According to researcher Athi Sivan (1997), Hamzah propagated the Gautierian called to distance Asas '50 from the left wing ideologies prevalent at that time in Singapore, especially in Utusan Melayu. The debate resulted in Hamzah leaving Asas '50 to form a new literary organisation. After this debate, Asas '50 became less active after 1955, when several of its main members (Keris Mas, Usman Awang, etc.) left to reside back in Malaya, while several loyal members remained in Singapore and continue to spearhead the association to this day.

The philosophy held by Asas '50 was described by Keris Mas as follows:

In the field of literature, the proponents of ASAS 50 adopted a new breathe of style, employing a mode of language that is fresh, departing from the preceding genre of writers, propounding the themes of societal awareness, politics and culture with the aim of revitalising the spirit of freedom, the spirit of independence of a people (bangsa) of its own unique sense of honour and identity, upholding justice and combating oppression... We criticised societal backwardness and those whom we regard as the instruments responsible for the birth of such backwardness. We criticised colonialism and its instruments, that is, the elite class, those whose consciousness have been frozen by the influence of feudalism and myths, and superstition that has been enmeshed with religion.

Asas '50 emphasized the use of literature as a means of achieving political change. It is led by Mohamed Pitchay Gani (President), Mohamed Latiff Mohamed (Deputy President), Yazid Hussein (Vice-President), Abdul Samad Ali (Secretary), Hoirull Amri Tahiran (Secretary 2), Muhammad Herwanto Johari (Head of Youth and Head of Programmes), Namira Mazlan (Head of IT) and Irwan Jamal (Head of Publications).