National library to display ancient Malay manuscript

KUALA LUMPUR: A 383-year-old Malay manuscript, with the title Kejadian Langit dan Bumi, is among the attractions at the National Library of Malaysia.

Its director-general Maizan Ismail said this was among more than 5,000 copies of Malay manuscripts on display at the National Centre for Malay Manuscripts (PKMM), located on level 11 of the National Library.

“We are making efforts to analyse the contents of these manuscripts to produce books that are easy for the people to read. We will translate them from Jawi to Roman characters.”

Maizan added that the manuscripts were about the origin of the Malays, as well as on science, politics, religions and medicine which were procured and gathered from countries such as South Africa, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

Among other initiatives they are taking to attract visitors is to organise a discourse, which is held four times a year, to analyse specific topics based on the contents of the Malay manuscripts. — Bernama