Kuala Lumpur - THE National Library`s efforts to retrieve invaluable Malay manuscripts are being hampered by high fees some foreign countries, institutions and individuals are imposing for them.
The library`s Malaysiana Services director, Siti Mariani S.M. Omar, who oversees the library`s Malay manuscript centre, said some of the manuscripts cost more than RM100,000 each.
The library has been engaged with manuscript acquisition since 1984.
"Normally, after evaluating the documents, we would proceed with price negotiations. Recently, we bought an old 19th century Quran from Australia that cost RM1,070," Siti Mariam said, adding that those who possessed such items usually would not give them up for free.
She said they had acquired many manuscripts from Sri Lanka, Aceh, Thailand and remote locations in Kelantan and Terengganu.
One of the manuscripts was even acquired at Sotheby`s - the world`s second oldest international auction house in London.
"It was one of the first few manuscripts containing Malay syair (poems). We bought it in 1984. We received a catalogue and told a representative there to bid for us," she said. However, she refused to disclose the cost.
Siti Mariani said there were manuscripts found in foreign countries that were not allowed to be brought home. Therefore, a microfilm copy had to be made.
"These people love our heritage, so they didn`t want to part with the original. Some also claim the manuscripts to be theirs," she said.
"We would send people abroad every year to trace the manuscripts and document them for safe return.
"I have been to religious missions in Paris in 1990 and documented 18th century works like Hikayat Pelanduk Jenaka and Cerita Panji.
"These documents are usually traced through social networks with local researchers liaising with academicians and historians abroad who have deep knowledge of Malay matters," she said.
Recognising its contribution to national heritage, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry (now Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry) is making an effort to bring the manuscripts back.
Siti Mariam said the ministry provided an yearly allocation to bring back the manuscripts but more funds were needed as the research and acquisition costs are high.
Currently, researchers from the library and academicians from Universiti Malaya are in Pulau Butson, Indonesia, to document some Malay manuscripts there.
The library is next looking at doing research and acquiring some items in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Source: www.nst.com.my (3 Juni 2008)
