KUCHING: The discovery of a rare 179-page classical Jawi manuscript, believed to have been written by Sultan Tengah himself, marks a major breakthrough in Sarawak’s historical and heritage research efforts.
Unearthed through research conducted by the Sarawak Museum Department (SMD) and researchers from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak, the manuscript was successfully transliterated in 2022 and is currently undergoing detailed content analysis.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing the Sarawak Heritage Council Meeting at Hilton Hotel today (June 11), Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, described the discovery as a significant milestone for Sarawak’s heritage sector.
“This manuscript is an important primary source for reconstructing the historiography and biography of Sultan Tengah, while offering valuable insights into his philosophy, thoughts and legitimacy as ruler,” he said.
Titled Pengembaraan Sri Sultan dan Sultan Tengah ke Sebuah Gunung, the manuscript chronicles the experiences and challenges faced by Sultan Tengah and people around him during his era.
Researchers believe the manuscript, written in 16th-century classical Jawi using the old Brunei royal court language, possesses immense philological and historical value for future academic studies.
Abdul Karim said the discovery could attract local and international researchers while strengthening Sarawak’s position as a centre for manuscript and historical studies in the region.
He added that SMD plans to gazette the manuscript under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 and pursue nomination under UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme.
