“Kembara Warisan Manuskrip Melayu” or “The Heritage Exploration of Malay Manuscripts”, organized by Islamic University Melaka Book Club (UNIMEL), is an interesting initiative to expose students to the Malay intellectual heritage. The program was held on January 23, 2025, at the National Library and the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), involving nine active members of the Book Club and lecturers.
The main objective of this program is to provide students with comprehensive exposure to the world of manuscripts, with a focus specifically on bookkeeping activities in the context of Islamic Civilization and Malay World Civilization. In addition, the programme aims to establish good relations between the UNIMEL Book Club and various library and research institutions, as well as provide opportunities for knowledge sharing among students.
In the context of history and intellectual heritage, this program is very significant because it reveals the fact that there are about 5000 Malay manuscripts that have not been fully studied. This is seen as an important opportunity to understand the teachings of Malay Islam as well as the development of Islamic civilization in the past. Through initiatives like this, the younger generation can be exposed to rich and complex intellectual treasures, thus stimulating interest in Malay documentary heritage research.
Lastly, the “Kembara Warisan Manuscript Melayu” is not just an ordinary academic programme, but it is also an important bridge between the intellectual heritage of the past and the young generation of today. Through this noble endeavour, UNIMEL students not only could explore the treasures of Malay manuscripts, but also contribute to the preservation and expansion of scholarly documentation that is rich in Islamic history and thought in the Malay world, thus ensuring that this intellectual heritage continues to live and be relevant in the context of contemporary society.
