KUALA LUMPUR: The National Library, through the National Unity Ministry, has launched training and study programmes to analyse 5,252 Malay manuscripts in its keep to date (up to 2023).
National Unity Deputy Minister Senator Saraswathy Kandasami announced this during question time in Dewan Negara today. She said it would be for the benefit of the public and to broaden the manuscripts' reach, especially among academics and researchers.
She added that the National Library constantly organises and informs the public through training programmes, seminars and workshops regarding the management of Malay manuscripts, particularly in regard to documentation, preservation and conservation.
Six programmes have been carried out so far.
Various academics have worked on 17 research titles in different areas of Malay manuscript studies between 1992 and last year.
The publication project, which carries two manuscripts titled 'Identification and Clarification of Malay Manuscript Decorative Arts Based on Approach Codicology' by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and 'Malay Gastronomy' by Associate Professor Dr Salmah Jan Noor Muhammad, is scheduled for completion this year.
During question time, Saraswathy was responding to Datuk Seri Professor Emeritus Dr Awang bin Sariyan, where she explained the steps already taken for the training programmes and studies.
She said this is to guarantee that over 5,000 manuscripts obtained by the National Library's Malay Manuscript Centre will be subjected to extensive analysis before being scheduled for publication.
