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Zainal Abidin Bin Ahmad
Alternate name(s):	Za'ba
Date of birth:	September 16, 1895(1895-09-16)
Place of birth:	Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Date of death:	October 23, 1973 (aged 78)
Movement:	Malayan Academic Movement
Major organizations:	Malay Language and Literary Congress
Religion:	Islam

Zainal Abidin Bin Ahmad (16 September 1895 - 23 October 1973), also known ad Za'ba was a Malaysian writer in the 1940s. From his achievements in literature, he was a kampung boy who succeeded to place himself among other famous individuals in Malaysian history.

[edit] Biography

Born in Kampung Bukit Kerdas, Batu Kikir, Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Za'ba received his early education at a Malay school in Linggi. He then continued his study at St. Paul's Institution, Seremban and was the first Malay to take and pass Senior Cambridge test in 1915.

Za'ba started his career by becoming a teacher at a school in Johor Bahru in 1916, and then changed to:

• 1918: Malay College Kuala Kangsar
• 1923: Education Department, Kuala Lumpur
• 1924: Sultan Idris Training College, Tanjung Malim
• 1939: Information Department, Singapore until 1942
• 1942: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London until 1951
• 1954: University of Malaya, Singapore until 1959.

Za'ba loved reading and had excellent talent to write. Most of his writings were published in local newspapers and magazines. He published a series of monographs in Malay Language, including Pelita Bahasa (Language of light) and Ilmu Mengarang Melayu (Malay Writing Skills). His other writings include Cerita-Cerita Shakespeare (Shakepesare stories in Malay) that was published by Percetakan Gudang Chap, Singapore.

In fact Za'ba wrote a lot essays in the form of social criticisms against the ills of the Malay society and against the British colonial rule. His hidden hands had a role in the formation of the Malaysian ruling party UMNO (United Malay National Organization).