Datuk Abdul Samad Muhammad Said (A. Samad Said)

Abdul Samad Muhammad Said or his pen name A. Samad Said, Hilmy Isa, Isa Dahmuri, Jamil Kelana, Manja, Mesra or Shamsir was born on 9 April 1935 in Kampung Belimbing Dalam, Durian Tunggal, Melaka. At the age of six months, he was brought by his family to Singapore and received his education in Kota Raja Malay School where he passed his Standard IV (1940 - 1946) before continuing his studies in evening classes at the Victoria Institution. He continued studying on his own and passed the Senior Cambridge Certificate examinations in 1956.

   After graduation, Abdul Samad began his career as a clerk at the Singapore General Hospital. Later he moved to Kuala Lumpur to work with the Fikiran Rakyat newspaper under the leadership of Ahmad Boestamam. After six months in Kuala Lumpur, he returned to Singapore and worked with the Utusan Zaman newspaper led by Usman Awang. When Syarikat Utusan Melayu moved to Kuala Lumpur, Abdul Samad also moved. He was persuaded by Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail to join the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. and became the Writer of Berita Harian. In 1978, he requested to be relieved from being a writer and served as a special assistant with specific tasks such as writing editorials and feature articles. Then in 1981, he led the Warta Teberau publication.

   However, he had always kept an interest in literature and creative writing ever since his school days . Until now he never tires of contributing to the national and international literature in the forms of novels, poetry, drama, short stories and essays. His first work, the novel Salina elevated Malay literature to international standards and drew a line between old and new writers and between Abdul Samad and ASAS 50 writers. Other significant works produced by him are Bulan Tak Bermadu Di Fatehpur Sikri, Sungai Mengalir Lesu, Di Hadapan Pulau, Langit Petang, Daerah Zeni, Hujan Pagi, Lantai T. Pinkie, Wira Bukit, Benih Harapan and numerous others. There are also theatre or drama adaptation to his novels, such as Salina, Sungai Mengalir Lesu, Lantai T. Pinkie and Di Hadapan Pulau.