Zainal Abidin Ahmad (writer)

Zainal Abidin Ahmad (writer)

Zainal Abidin Bin Ahmad (16 September 1895 – 23 October 1973) or better known by the moniker Za'ba, was a Malaysian writer and language experts of Minangkabau origin. He modernized the Malay language with the publication of a series of grammar books entitled Pelita Bahasa in 1936 at Sultan Idris Training College. The book modernized the structure of the classical Malay language and became the basis for the Malay language that is in use today. The most important change was in syntax, from the classical passive form to the modern active form.