Kepri-SAAS Pahang Explore Collaboration on Malay Cultural Heritage Development
Tanjungpinang (ANTARA) - The Riau Islands Provincial Government (Pemprov Kepri) and Universiti Al Quran Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Syah Pahang (SAAS Pahang), Malaysia, are exploring cooperation to develop Malay cultural heritage on Penyengat Island, Tanjungpinang.
Governor of Kepri Ansar Ahmad stated that Penyengat Island holds an important position as the centre of Malay literary development.
“Penyengat Island is the birthplace of major Malay literary works, including Gurindam Dua Belas written by Raja Ali Haji,” said Governor Ansar while hosting the SAAS Pahang delegation at the District Building in Tanjungpinang City on Saturday.
Ansar also outlined Pemprov Kepri’s plans to build an Indonesian Language Monument on Penyengat Island as a symbol of the history of the birth of the Indonesian national language from that island.
According to him, cross-border collaboration in culture and education is a strategic step in preserving and developing the Malay heritage so that it remains alive and relevant amid the times.
He also hopes for sustainable cooperation between Pemprov Kepri and Universiti Al Quran SAAS Pahang in preserving manuscripts, strengthening Malay culture, and improving the quality of human resources in the two related countries in the future.
“We welcome the plans and ideas for cooperation conveyed by SAAS Pahang,” said Ansar.
He conveyed this after visiting the historic island directly.
According to him, the visit to Penyengat provides valuable experience in deepening understanding of the manuscripts left by the Riau-Lingga Kingdom, which are still well preserved to this day.
He stated that the literary richness and intellectual heritage on Penyengat Island is a very important cultural asset, not only for Indonesia but also for the wider Malay world.
“We are very impressed with the manuscripts on Penyengat Island. This is an extraordinary treasure that must continue to be preserved and developed,” he said.
He also expressed readiness to collaborate with the Inderasakti Cultural Foundation in efforts to develop and study manuscripts and documents from the Riau-Lingga Kingdom legacy.
In addition, the cooperation is expected to include the development of Jawi script or what is known in Kepri as Arab Melayu, which has long been a binder of Malay cultural identity in Indonesia and Malaysia.