preservation of malay manuscripts as a national...

PRESERVATION OF MALAY MANUSCRIPTS AS A NATIONALDOCUMENTARY HERITAGE : ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR REGIONAL COOPERATIONBy

Y. Bhg Datin Siti Mariani S.M. Omar *

ABSTRACTMalay manuscripts which are inherited from generations past, represent an important part of the culturalwealth of the Malay people, embodying their thinking and culture, and are recognized as well as accepted asthe documentary heritage of the nation. Manuscripts residing in the homes of individuals are sometimesinaccessible for tracing and documentation and present a challenge in building a comprehensive database.There is also an urgent need to conduct a study and transliterate Malay manuscripts as it is written in oldMalay language. Information and communication technology enables manuscript to be accessed globally.Institutions are therefore urged to collaborate in implementing digitization projects at regional level. Coop-eration is also welcomed in. areas of preservation of non-paper based manuscripts. It is envisaged thatregional cooperation will endorse the significance of Malay manuscripts and affirm its place as an impor-tant source of research and information in the dawn of a new era.

INTRODUCTION TO MALAY MANUSCRIPT

'ocumentary heritage represents a large proportion of theworld's cultural heritage. It is subject to deterioration anddamage due to its fragile condition. It is crucial that preservationbe implemented before it reaches its final stage of destruction.Malay manuscript has been recognised as an importantdocumentary heritage of the nation to be preserved foraccessibility and for reference for future generations.

Malay manuscript is defined as a handwritten document in theMalay language which surfaced in the beginning of the fourteenthcentury and ended in early twentieth century with the coming ofthe west and the introduction of printing machines. During theearly period manuscript was written on palm leaves from the lontarpalm and the nipah palm, bamboo, vellum and tree bark. Manu-script writing tradition using palm leaves as writing materialbecame less popular with the introduction of paper during theIslamic period. With the coming of the English in the region in theseventeenth century, paper from Europe, mainly from England,Italy and Holland became more easily available. Apart fromEuropean paper, oriental paper from Arabia, India and Chinasurfaced in the market. The Arabic script being the language ofIslam, found itself being used as the main vehicle to express theMalay language in the written form. Hence, the term Jawi wasborn and adopted as the script used in the Malay world inexpressing their literary skill. The earliest evidence of Malaywritten in the Arabic script closely identical to our present Jawicomes from a Terengganu inscription dating between 1303 and1387.

For writing material the Malays used pen or kalam derived stemof plants of which the most commonly used were kalam resamand kalam kabong. Kalam resam was made from the stem of fernresam (gleichenia linearis) and the kalam kabong was made of ablack hard bristle from various palmae plants namely enau orkabong (arenga pinnata) and gomuti palm (borassus gomuti).As for the ink, it was locally manufactured from the ingenuity ofthe Malays. It was largely made from oily or torch lamp black orburnt charcoal mixed with gum and honey. Another source of inkwas from a local fruit called maja kani. Coloured ink wasextracted from certain plants such as water hyacinth for purpleink, the fruit rind of mangosteen for brown ink and safflower forred. The luxuriant colours from the fauna enhanced the beauty ofilluminated manuscript.

Since the early days when the Malays first learned how to writeand particularly during the period when Islam penetrated into theMalay world, thousands of Malay manuscripts were producedcovering a wide range of subjects spanning from literature,history, religious Islamic teachings, medicine, to court customsand beliefs reflecting the rich cultural heritage and highintellectual attainment of the Malays. The data locked up in themoffer an abundance of knowledge for a proper understanding ofthe cultural history of the Malay world. The manuscripts wereconsidered as a prized collection to the European collectors. Itwas given as gifts by the Malay rulers to the colonials as asymbol of friendship. Malay scribes were paid to copy valuableworks of literature for their keep. Many of the early manuscripts,some of which are of considerable importance and interest, weretransported to the country of origin of the colonials andeventually found themselves housed and preserved inrepositories outside the Malay world.

Director, The Centre for Malay Manuscripts, National Library of Malaysia.

Hak Cipta Terpelihara © 2001 – Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia


ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTER FOR MALAYMANUSCRIPTS

Recognising the need to preserve the intellectual and culturalheritage of the Malays, The Center for Malay Manuscripts was fnormally set up as a division in the National Library of Malaysiain 1985. Specific functions, as below, are laid out to ensure itsrole and effectiveness:

i. To trace and acquire Malay manuscriptsirrespective of forms from within andoutside the country

ii. To document Malay manuscripts, maintain aunion catalogue and publish bibliographies

iii. To provide facilities for the storage,preservation and reproduction of Malaymanuscripts

iv. To provide facilities for research

v. To disseminate knowledge available in Malaymanuscripts through publications, researchand exhibition activities.

TRACING AND DOCUMENTATION

Since its implementation, the tracing and acquisition of Malaymanuscripts have been actively implemented. Malay manuscriptsare acquired consciously as part of National Library's collectiondevelopment policy. The Center started with a nucleus collectionfrom the National Museum. Since its inception, it has grown fromstrength to strength. With sufficient funds for acquisition anddedicated staff it now has 2940 copies of Malay manuscripts inits collection, the biggest collection of Malay manuscripts housedunder one institution. However, Malay manuscripts residing inthe homes of individuals are sometimes inaccessible for tracing.The royal and religious families who owns a considerablecollection of Malay manuscripts regard them as a familyheirloom passed down from generations and tend to be protectiveof them and hence are reluctant to allow viewing by others. Thispresent a challenge to The Center in building a comprehensivedatabase on Malay manuscripts in the country. Campaigns tochange the mindset of the private collectors and the generalpublic are being implemented by The Center with regard to theimportance of manuscripts as a documentary heritage that shouldbe preserved and made accessible not only nationally but alsoglobally. Publication of a booklet on the importance ofmanuscripts entitled Malay Manuscript: intellectual heritage ofthe Malays and production of a CD-ROM entitled MalayManuscript: a splendid heritage are some of the steps carried outthis year in achieving this goal. They are distributed widely torelated institutions such as schools, mosques, royal offices,individuals throughout the nation. Aggressive campaigns in the

form of continuous publicity in the media and continuousexhibitions throughout the year will send message to the publicof its importance.

Tracing of Malay manuscripts is not only restricted within thecountry, but also covers to countries known to have collection ofthe materials collected through the process of history, which wereacquired as gifts or bequests. The coming of the Europeans to theEast, some of whom develop an interest in Malay manuscripts,had a positive effect to the survival of the Malay manuscripts bybeing taken back by them to be preserved in Europeanrepositories. Tracing activity had successfully been done in TheNetherlands (1985), West Germany (1988), France (1990),Library of Congress, U.S.A. (1990), Singapore (1991) and SouthAfrica (1998). Next destination is Australia which will becovered this year.

The result of this activity is the documentation of the manuscriptcollection and publication of a catalogue of each country.Microfilm copies of the manuscripts documented are then madeavailable at The Center for the convenient of researchers withoutthe necessity to travel to the country owning the manuscripts toexamine them. However, tracing activity in neighbouringcountries of Southeast Asia has not been reached. Undoubtedlyinstitutions in these countries maintain a collection of Malaymanuscripts, due to similar culture and the existence of Malaycommunity in the region. No matter how small the collection is,tracing and documenting them is a task that needs attention. It ishoped that institutions with Malay manuscript collection will opentheir doors and inform The Center of its existence and givepermission to document them. Regional cooperation and supportamongst the countries in the importance of building acomprehensive information on Malay manuscripts in the region,and eventually in the world, is lauded. Documentation of eachmanuscript will dig significant titles which may have been piledtogether with other manuscripts, usually mistaken for Arabicmanuscript.

PRESERVATION

It is possible that the manuscripts in private collections aredisintegrating at an alarming rate, some reaching its final stage ofsurvival, even though they are seldom being read or referred.Manuscript collection in institutions which neglect preservationalso experience impending damage. Deterioration factors aremany. It may be due to the acid embrittlement of the paper,unsuitable storage, attacks from pests or even sheer negligence ofhuman and mishandling. Paper deterioration results from acombination of many factors. Different environment hasdifferent effects of deterioration of the paper changing its colourto yellow, crumble between covers, or even disintegrate turning itto bits and pieces. The ink used also deserves to be mentioned aspart of the culprit. The tropical climate experience by countries ofSoutheast Asia region further aggravates the deteriorationprocess.



However, paper acidity, ink, pests and the natural environmentare only some of the factors which cause disintegration anddamages to the manuscripts. Human negligence and ignorance ofpreservation procedures and standards are also to blame. It iswell known that manuscripts stored in damp and hot and badlyventilated storage areas are prone to pests, bacteria and fungigrowth. Unfortunately, this is the normal condition of storage formanuscripts in private collections. Preserving Malay manuscriptsin the hands of families pose a problem. They are usually stackedin cupboards or left lying in dark corners unattended, mistakenlyregarded as an old reading material of no significant importanceupon the death of their owners years before. Left in such a state itbecomes a prey to household pests of which are favourites of cockroaches and silverfish. The current owners who are ignorant to itsvalue should be approached and persuaded to part with theirprecious heritage, either as bequest or surrendering ownershipthrough purchase by interested institutions, for purpose of properpreservation, documentation and future access. It may be a hugesacrifice on the part of the new owners but one that will beappreciated by posterity.

Awareness of the impending total destruction of the manuscript isnot sufficient. If the problem of preservation persists and notaddressed immediately, we may lose the documentary heritage ofthe nation through indifference in attitude towards these fragilebut valuable material. We need to develop effective means topreserve the manuscripts and to prevent further deterioration.Libraries which have been bestowed the responsibility to collectthis precious material should include conservation andpreservation aspect in their collection management policy. Thisinvolves conservation expertise and cultivation of a love towardsthese old, dirty and fragile looking documents. Proper storageconditions which are conducive to prolong the lives of themanuscripts are prerequisites of conservation. The best storagesituation is creating an area with optimum temperature of 20o-25o

C (60o-70o F) and humidity at 55-65 %, if possible, with 24 hoursair-conditioning. The recently acquired manuscripts are fumigatedprior to storing them with the rest of the collection as a preventivemeasure of spreading destructive agents. After controlling thetemperature and humidity level, it is vital that the manuscript isplaced in an acid-free box as an assurance of delaying or evenstopping the deterioration process. Manuscripts which show signsof disintegration should immediately be repaired andstrengthened.

Proper handling is another factor which can prolong their life span.Researchers should be made aware of the correct method ofhandling manuscript, if the use of original copy is necessary.Microfilming the collection is another way in preserving theinformation. It is advisable that each manuscript acquired by anyinstitution be reproduced in a microfilm copy, one to be kept asmaster copy and another one for reference use. By doing so, theoriginal manuscript can be prevented from repeated reference asit will hasten damage through constant handling. At the same time,it is also preferable to produce paper print from the microfilm tomeet the demands of researchers.

The Center is fortunate that the National Library of Malaysia haswithin its organization a Preservation and ReprographyDivision which is equipped with the necessary machinery for pres-ervation work and staff who are trained and skilled in conserva-tion of paper-based manuscripts. The preservation work that isbeing practiced in-house are according to international standardsof preservation. This is acknowledged by book pathologyspecialists from the Institute of Pathology of Books, in Rome,Italy. Five resource persons, including the Director, Professor CarloFederici conducted a conservation workshop at the NationalLibrary last year. Every manuscript acquired will be treated andrepaired to ensure its longevity, apart from producing it inmicrofilm copy for reference. The Center for Malay Manuscriptsregard preservation as an important function that should be givenpriority with the ultimate aim of making the materials availablefor use and ensuring this documentary heritage is here to stay. Butthis task of preservation can only be accomplished successfullythrough the combination of vision, commitment, conscience anda sense of responsibility towards preserving the nationalintellectual heritage by the institutions concerned and implementedwith full dedication by the staff who have been assigned to becustodian of this material.

As mentioned earlier, manuscripts in the pre-Islamic period werewritten on palm-leaves, treebarks, parchments and vellums. Theypose a unique problem of preservation. The palm-leaves are easilydecayed and damaged. Writing on material apart from paper isnot a common tradition practiced by the Malays in Malaysia.However, The Center has acquired a few examples to be added tothe collection of Malay manuscripts, more for its intrinsic valuerather than historical contents. Lack of expertise in treating thesematerials has led to their neglect. Writing on palm-leaves thrivedin countries like Indonesia and Thailand and as such expertise inthe proper preservation of these materials developed. Regionalcooperation in the form of transfer of technology through trainingand attachment programmes between these countries will assistin upgrading knowledge and skill of our conservationists.Sharing of knowledge and expertise will ensure that all thedocumentary heritage of our nation in whatever material used forwriting will be spared from disappearing through damage.

Recent efforts made by various government institutions inThailand, Laos and Myanmar at preserving manuscripts inBuddhist temples in rural or provincial areas indicates theimportance and urgency of preservation. The method adopted isfield preservation which means in situ preservation usingappropriate technology and basic methods of preventivepreservation. The documents are not removed from the originalsite. Thailand has aggressively carried out preservation of itstraditional manuscripts. Chiang Mai University initiated a projectcalled The Project for the Preservation of Northern ThaiManuscripts with the support of the Government of the FederalRepublic of Germany. Its aims are to restore and preserve thetraditional manuscripts, promote awareness of the value of themanuscripts and to establish a model for preservation andconservation activities by setting up institutions and networkamong scholars, monks and the public.

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A similar programme is adopted by Laos also funded bythe German Government, preserving manuscripts in Buddhistmonasteries and other libraries throughout Laos which started in1992 and scheduled to end in 2002.

The onus of field preservation in Myanmar lies wish NationalCommission for the Preservation of Traditional Manuscripts whichAnother mega project carried out in the region is TheInternational Dunhuang Project which was established in 1993to promote the study and preservation of manuscripts and printeddocuments from Dunhuang and other Central Asian sites throughinternational cooperation. Its secretariat is The British Library inthe Oriental and India Office Collections. Among its objectivesare to develop new techniques for the preservation of originaldocuments, promote common standards of preservation anddocumentation, stimulate research and increase access and shareinformation on (he Dunhuang project through the development ofan international database.

Field preservation undertaken by Thailand. Laos and Myanmarand the Dunhuang Project have proven its success in saving andrestoring traditional manuscripts. The exchange of informationand expertise among the leading conservationists in thesecountries will make it possible to work towards a collectivememory of Southeast Asia that would lead to a betterunderstanding of the region and its culture. Other countries in theregion should also learn from the experiences of these threecountries and appeal for international cooperation of thepossibility of undertaking a similar project in areas pertinent totheir nation's heritage through smart partnership. It would befruitful that international cooperation of such kinds exchangeinformation at regular intervals with libraries and researchinstitutions about preservation projects undertaken.

MEMORY OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME

In respect of the preservation of manuscripts, the Memory of theWorld Programme launched by Unesco in 1992 is formed aimedat focusing world attention on the need to safeguard endangeredand unique library and archives collection, to make it availablefor future generations and to improve its accessibility globally. Italso aims to stimulate a responsible approach to the sources fromwhich our historical consciousness grows and to contribute to thegeneral availability of information about our history and culture.The Programme also seeks to develop products based on thisdocumentary heritage and make them available for widedistribution, while ensuring that the originals are maintained inthe best possible conditions of conservation and security. Itestablishes and maintains a World Register identifyingdocumentary heritage of international, regional and nationalstandard. The Register, a comprehensive list of documents,manuscripts, oral traditions, library and archive holdingsworldwide, will be a significant document in itself, as well as aninspiration to nations and regions to identify, list and preservetheir documentary heritage.

document in the World Register in June. 2001.Manuscripts are:

These

i. Hikayat Hang Tuah, a national literaryclassic and traditional Malay epic, in thecollection of The Center for Malay

Manuscripts, submitted by the NationalLibrary of Malaysia.

ii, Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), a literaryclassic on history and traditions of theMalays, submitted by the Language andLiterary Bureau (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka)

iii Correspondence of the Sultan of Kedah(1882-1943). submitted by the NationalArchives of Malaysia.

Countries in the Southeast Asia region have a rich culturalheritage and indigenous materials depicting their history andculture, also literary works embodying their intellectual thinkingwhich is unique to our region. Submission to the World Registerof these materials will enhance its status and significance to bepreserved and enable it to be accessed globally. PhilippinePaleographs submitted by the National Museum of Philippinesis the other documentary heritage from Southeast Asia countrylisted in the World Register, apart from Malaysia. Individual coun-tries are encouraged to set up their own documentary heritage reg-ister. The national register identifies the documentary heritage ofthe nation. It will increase awareness of the importance of thenational documentary heritage and the need for a coordinated andintegrated policy to ensure that the endangered documentaryheritage is preserved. Group of Southeast Asia countries ofsimilar culture may compile a regional register to listdocumentary heritage which is integral to their collective memory.Only through concerted efforts by all countries will thedocumentary heritage be retained in a condition which will enableit be accessed by as many people in the world and passed on tofuture generations.

DIGITIZATION

With rapid development of information communication andtechnology, manuscripts can now be preserved electronicallythrough digitization for future keep, simultaneously making itaccessible globally. Many libraries are venturing into digitizationproject which is new and costly. Rapid changes in computertechnology offers a multitude of application devices fordigitization. It is crucial to study and select the appropriatetechnology suitable for the needs of manuscript as the manuscriptsare fragile and may endanger its physical condition. The mostimportant thing is to define the formal rules which would be worldwide acceptable. Furthermore, this format must fit with thenecessary standards for dissemination of data via Internet.



Regional cooperation is viable in this area of digitization. It isrecommended that:

i. Institutions with Malay manuscript holdingsidentify manuscripts to be digitized based onthe strength of their collections

ii, Information on manuscripts digitized to beshared so as to avoid duplication of effort

iii. Member countries participating in thiscooperative project be allowed to downloaddigitized manuscript without charge.

The National Library of Malaysia has embarked on a digitizationproject beginning last year. Two important titles of Malaymanuscripts, Hukum Kanun Melaka and Adah Raja-raja, havebeen digitized and are accessible via the Internet. The Center hasidentified 250 titles for digitization project which is now wellunderway.

Digitization is only a solution for providing ease and speed ofaccess to documentary heritage. However, owing to uncertaintiesabout their long term survival, digitization will not generally beused as the sole preservation method. Also, there exist theunwillingness of researchers from the old school of thought toaccept digital facsimile as a surrogate copy.

TRANSLITERATION

Each manuscript is unique and has its own enchantment. It is asilent witness to the intellectual thinking and cultural practice ofthe past generations. In it lies myriad of knowledge to beresearched, studied and appreciated. However, Malay manuscriptis written in an ancient grammar of the Malay language,unfamiliar to the present generations. Punctuation marks aredistinctively absent making it an arduous task for the youngerpeople reading and comprehending its contents. Universitiesoffering Malay studies focussing on Malay traditional literatureacknowledge that there is a decrease in number of graduatesinterested in undertaking study in this field. Scholars in thisdiscipline may be a dying breed in the near future if this issue isnot addressed seriously by academicians and other concernedbodies. It will create a vacuum in the research of Malaymanuscript studies.

The Center for Malay Manuscripts introduced a Guest ScholarProgramme or Mualim Tamu in 1994 in an effort to fill this vacuumand to stimulate research. The selected scholar is required toconduct a study and transliterate a copy of Malay manuscript fromthe collection of the Center, whereby the title and area of researchis agreed upon by both parties. The result of the research which isto be undertaken for a one year period is published by TheCenter. The Programme has produced four publications from thework of three scholars in the field of Malay manuscript study, asbelow:

i. Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang China :perpspektif sejarah, by Abdul RahmanAl-Ahmadi. 1994.

ii. Undang-undang Minangkabau. by UmarJunus. 1997.

iii. Syair Madhi: citra Melayu Nusantara, byAbdul Rahman Kaeb. 1997.

iv. Petua Membina Rumah Melayu: dari sudutetnis antropogi. by Abdul Rahman Al-Ahmadi. 2001.

This year The Center has engaged another scholar to research onMalay traditional medicine. Malay manuscript on traditionalmedicine known as Kitab Tib ranks high as one of the mostpopular group of collection written. Amazing facts andinformation are buried in it on remedies of various diseases, thecure of which is derived from flora and fauna extracted fromsurrounding environment mixed with certain identified spiceknown to have medicinal value. It is hoped that the study and itseventual publication will provide interest to those practicingmodem medicine as well as the general public to stimulateinterest in traditional medicine.

This year The Center has engaged another scholar to research onMalay traditional medicine. Malay manuscript on traditionalmedicine known as Kitab Tib ranks high as one of the mostpopular group of collection written. Amazing facts andinformation are buried in it on remedies of various diseases, thecure of which is derived from flora and fauna extracted fromsurrounding environment mixed with certain identified spiceknown to have medicinal value. It is hoped that the study and itseventual publication will provide interest to those practicingmodern medicine as well as the general public to stimulateinterest in traditional medicine.

Transliteration work on manuscript per se is another form ofpreservation, but not a popular way. It involves hard work andsheer dedication. The qualities required to undertake this work isfamiliarity with Jawi script and knowledge in philology and Malaymanuscript study. However, new generation in this field is hard tocome by due to lack of interest in traditional and cultural studies,as compared to computer technology. Added to this situation, isthe negative attitude of publishers towards publishing literaryworks of this kind as it does not provide high commercial value.Therefore, it is urged that publishers, be they commercial,foundations, associations or government institutions, sacrifice ahigh profit margin in publishing reading materials in this field forthe sake of assisting the nation preserving documentary heritageand to promote interest in the study and appreciation of theintellectual heritage of past generations.



CONCLUSION

The preservation of Malay manuscripts is a responsibility andcommitment not only by custodians of manuscripts but also byowners of Malay manuscripts who do not wish to part with them.Continuous attention and action in preserving them will ensureits longevity and assurance of its permanent existence. Thegreatest challenge for custodians of Malay manuscripts isensuring that this fragile and invaluable material remain relevant.It is envisaged that regional cooperation and collaboration willendorse its significance and affirm its place as an importantprimary source of research and information in the dawn of thenew era.



REFERENCES

1. Asma Ahmat. Malay Manuscripts: tradition and documentation. M.A. Thesis. University College London, 1986.

2. Ding Choo Ming. "Malay Manuscripts: materials and problems of conservation". In International Workshop onIndonesian Studies. Leiden, 14-18 December 1992.

3. Psohlavec, Stanislav. Digitization of Old Manuscripts: a technical viewpoint.Http://digit.nkp.cz/stp.htm

4. The International Dunhuang Project.Http://idp.bl.uk/IDP/idp1.html

5,. Abhakorn, Rujaya. Towards a Collective Memory of Mainland Southeast Asia Field Preservation of TraditionalManuscripts in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. 62nd IFLA General Conference, 25-31 August 1996.Http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-abhr.htm

6. Memory of the World Programme.Http://www.unesco.org/webworld



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