Bandar Seri Begawan - The Language and Literature Bureau`s efforts to promote interests in Jawi scriptures by organising a seminar was greatly appreciated as old manuscripts were often forgotten and ignored, said a senior officer at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Speaking at the the Jawi Scriptures in the Era of Globalisation seminar, Hj Ahmad Hj Abd Rahman, the ministry`s Deputy Permanent Secretary said, old manuscripts were only important for those who were looking for "recognition" or as an assignment.
"Hopefully the seminar will raise interest in this local cultural treasure," he said adding that lack of interest puts the nation at loss because much of the cultural value system, sociopolitics, economy and history of the Malay race can still be unearthed through old manuscripts.
However, the deputy permanent secretary pointed out that research on such material was not as easy as getting information from reports and statistic. It required high degree of determination, persistence and patience, he added.
He suggested that more efforts should be made to get the public to hand in or sell manuscripts which were in their possession.
Hj Ahmad also called upon local undergraduates to take up research works on old manuscripts since local researchers are more aware and knowledgeable of their own culture and traditions.
He cited as examples a couple of manuscripts already published in Malay, namely the Hukum Kanun and Hikayat Dang Suasa. While Hikayat Dang Amas, Hikayat Dang Rokam and Hikayat Si Mercu Gunung, he said were among those, still waiting to be published.
The deputy permanent secretary also cautioned relevant authorities to be wary of fraud and counterfeit manuscripts by irresponsible parties.
"Such individuals or groups seek to make a profit by using sophisticated technology," he said.
He pointed out that "by setting up of special section or committee, it will be less likely for the bureau to be tricked into buying faked manuscripts, and at the same time sparing them from wasting money on unauthentic materials."
He also suggested that the section or committee would also be responsible for seeking out and collecting manuscripts still held by individuals in the country.
"Whatever manuscripts we do have at the moment should be preserved so that they may last longer, as they can be something for future generations," he added.
"We don`t have much, but it`s better than nothing".
Its theme: "Jawi Scriptures as a Mirror to the Malay Identity", is particularly relevant in Brunei as a large number of old manuscripts contain a lot of information about the Malay culture and its literature.
Organised by the Research and Documentation Department of the Language and Literature Bureau, the seminar is a step towards highlighting knowledge related to such manuscripts that are made up of syair, hikayat, agreement letters, stone tablets and other artifacts written in Jawi that very clearly display the aesthetic value of the Malay race.
The seminar was also hoped would remind all Bruneians of the glory of the Jawi scriptures, especially with regard to the collection and documentation of old manuscripts in efforts to revive the prestige of the Malay language.
The seminar was not the first by the Language and Literature Bureau. Some years ago the bureau had held a seminar on researching Malay manuscripts with a theme "The Significance of Old Manuscripts in Acquiring Knowledge". The seminar brought together some20 working papers by experts from within and outside the country.
Source: www.brudirect.com (3 September 2007)
