Datuk Baharuddin Zainal or better known by his pen name Baha Zain, has been named as the recipient of the 12th National Laureate Award which gives him the title of National Laureate.

He will be conferred the award by His Majesty the Yang diPertuan Agong in an official ceremony on a date that is yet to be confirmed.

Baha Zain will receive among others RM60,000.

This award was previously received by poet, Ahmad Kamal Abdullah or Kemala in 2011.

According to tradition, the award will be given to national Laureate figure who wrote in Malay language and give contribution to the development of literature in the country through their creative works, ideas and high-quality literary creation.