Zainal Abidin Ahmad (writer)

Tan Sri Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad (; 16 September 1895 – 23 October 1973) or better known by the moniker '''Za'aba (alternatively spelled ''Za'ba''''', ), was a Malaysian writer and linguist. He modernised the Malay language with the publication of a series of grammar books entitled ''Pelita Bahasa'' in 1936 at the Sultan Idris Training College. The book contained guidelines in modernising the structure of classical Malay, transforming it into the language that is in use today: the most significant change was the switch from the conventional passive to the modern active form of syntax.

He also devised the Za'aba Spelling system for Malay, which was adopted as the official orthography of Malay in Malaya and successor state Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei until when it was replaced by the New Rumi Spelling in 1972. Provided by Wikipedia