2 April 2026 | Brunei Darussalam
The Tun Abdul Razak Library (PTAR), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), continues to advance its leadership in knowledge empowerment through the successful convening of the Borneo/Nusantara Malay Manuscript Digitisation Collaboration Meeting in partnership with the Brunei History Centre and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) at penBORNEO.
- Malaysia and Brunei collaborate to digitise Malay manuscripts.
- The effort strengthens regional expertise and knowledge sharing.
- It ensures global access and preservation for future generations.
The meeting commenced with a keynote presentation by Awang Mohammad Faisal bin Haji Mat Salleh, Acting Deputy Principal of the Brunei History Centre. His presentation highlighted the richness of Brunei’s manuscript collections, encompassing historical, cultural, religious, and administrative records of the Brunei Sultanate—each carrying significant scholarly and heritage value.
This strategic engagement marks a new chapter in preserving the intellectual legacy of the Malay world through an integrated and collaborative approach. Key focus areas include:
- Digitisation of manuscripts in accordance with archival and library standards
- Development of structured, open-access digital repositories
- Transliteration from Jawi to Romanised Malay and modernisation of Jawi scripts
- Knowledge and expertise transfer between institutions
- Strengthening Malaysia–Brunei academic networks
- Establishment of a regional-standard manuscript management model
Led by UiTM Chief Librarian, Ts. Haji Azizi bin Haji Jantan, the UiTM delegation also showcased the university’s robust digital ecosystem, including:
- UiTM Institutional Repository, housing over 100,000 digital materials
- Open Access Discovery platform
- Jawi Literary Repository
- Research Data Repository and various heritage collections
A site visit to the Brunei History Centre further enhanced participants’ understanding of the invaluable manuscript heritage of the Brunei Sultanate, particularly in its historical, cultural, and religious dimensions.
This initiative represents more than a collaboration—it is a strategic movement to elevate Nusantara heritage onto the global stage while ensuring its accessibility for future generations.
Aligned with UiTM’s aspiration as a leading university driving Bumiputera professional excellence, PTAR remains a key catalyst in fostering a culture of knowledge and advancing the digitisation of national heritage.
