21/04/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | APR 21, 2026

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Local poet may win world writing prize, beats 7,806 other entries AN international panel of judges has shortlisted a Malaysian among 25 writers from 14 countries for the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Mohamed Nasser Mohamed’s Separuh Yang Hilang , translated from Malay to English by Pauline Fan, was selected from 7,806 entries across 54 Commonwealth countries. It is set in a flood-stricken village, where a father haunted by what was taken from him learns how memory, love and survival reshape a broken life. Nasser’s short story will represent the Asia region of the Commonwealth, and it will go up against six other shortlisted entries from Singapore, India and Bangladesh. Nasser is a consulting editor involved in over 150 publications since 2008. Active as a poet and blogger, his solo book Aku Kaki Sakat appeared in 2019, alongside his well-known poem Penyair Apakah Kita Ini? , also published in Indonesia. He hosts the weekly online talk series Cakap Apa Sahaja (CAS) since March 2021 with Nuha Pictures. His recent titles include 101 Propa Kucing Rumah , 101 Perkongsian Seminit, and 101 Detik, 1 Jiwa. Meanwhile, John Edward DeMicoli makes history as the first Maltese writer to be shortlisted. Three writers – Celeste Mohammed, Cosmata Lindie and Ola W. Halim – return to the shortlist while the remaining writers appear for the first time. The shortlisted stories span a wide range of subjects, from intimate family relationships and love stories to experiences of migration, natural disaster and the human cost of war. Told through a vivid and varied cast of protagonists, including musicians, athletes, migrant workers and even a stray dog, they move across continents and between rural and urban worlds. Across these settings, the stories explore themes of bereavement, forbidden love, displacement and memory while reflecting on identity, resilience and the enduring search for belonging. Global prize with wide access The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from any of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries. It is the most accessible and international of all writing competitions – in addition to English, entries can be submitted in Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil and Turkish. For 2026, two of the shortlisted stories were submitted in Bengali and Malay. The shortlisted writers, 11 men and 14 women, range in age from 25 to 68. The 2026 shortlisted stories will be published in Adda , the online magazine of the Commonwealth Foundation, which features new writing from around the Commonwealth.

Nabila plays Che Som in Gayong 2, currently playing in cinemas nationwide. – BERNAMAPIC

Nabila Huda eyes silat action roles in future films

Nabila, 41, said a proper understanding of silat is important to ensure each movement appears natural, noting silat has its own unique qualities compared with other martial arts she has learned. “I previously learned Muay Thai , but it’s different from silat because Muay Thai is more aggressive, while silat movements are more fluid,” she said, admitting she was impressed watching fellow actor Beto Kusyairy perform silat scenes in the film Gayong 2 . In the film, Nabila plays Che Som, although she is not heavily involved in fight scenes. Sharing her experience working on the movie currently showing in cinemas, the Best Actress of the 28th Malaysian Film Festival said the long filming period taught her how to maintain a positive emotional state on set. “When making a film, there’s a lot of waiting. We have to wait for set-ups, review

scenes and action choreography. I don’t have many lines, so I find ways to keep myself happy and of course, with food,” she said, adding that the situation also requires a great deal of patience. She said she spends her free time cooking for fellow actors and the production crew as a way to lift her spirits. “When it rains and everyone is hungry, I’ll cook for them,” she said. The mother of one said for her, cooking is not just a hobby but a necessity, especially when she is away from home for long periods. “I’m not homesick, but I miss home cooked meals. If I can’t cook, I can feel down,” she said, adding she often brings her own cooking ingredients and ensures her accommodation has kitchen facilities. According to Nabila, the routine helps reduce work-related stress and strengthens her bond with the production crew, who have grown accustomed to her cooking.

V ERSATILE actress Nabila Huda is ready to challenge herself with silat action roles if given the opportunity and is willing to immerse herself in the traditional martial art to ensure an authentic performance. Affectionately known as Abil, she said she would need time to train so every silat movement can be delivered confidently on camera. “I would need at least two to three months to train, because I don’t want to just ‘act’ silat … I want to understand its real techniques,” she told Bernama recently. o Gayong 2 actress says she wants her on-screen silat moves to feel ‘real’

The judges will go on to choose a winner for each of the five regions of Asia, Africa, Canada/Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific, where the regional winners will be announced on May 13 before being published online by the literary magazine Granta . The overall winner will be announced in late June.

Nasser is a consulting editor involved in over 150 publications since 2008.