Negeri Sembilan To Strengthen Cooperation In History, Heritage Research

SEREMBAN, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan government wants to strengthen cooperation with experts and scholars in historical and heritage research to ensure the state’s heritage continues to be documented, studied and made accessible to the public through approaches including the publication of scholarly works and digital technology.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim said the state government could not work alone in this effort, but needed expert views, research, data, critical thinking and the courage of scholars to offer knowledge-based perspectives.

“I want to see Negeri Sembilan develop not only as a state rich in cultural heritage, but also as a state with a strong knowledge ecosystem and a respected intellectual tradition,” he said at the ‘Seminar Antarabangsa Pemikiran Za'ba dan Hamka’ (International Seminar on the Thought of Za’ba and Hamka) here today.

The text of his speech was read by state Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Action Committee chairman Datuk Razali Abu Samah.

He said the development of a state should not be measured solely by infrastructure development, industrial areas and investment, but should also focus on human capital development.

Ismail said in an era of artificial intelligence (AI), social media and an abundance of information, the younger generation not only needed technological skills but also needed to deepen their knowledge of history, culture, language, religion and values.

“Za’ba taught us about the strength of language, education and nation-building. Hamka, meanwhile, taught us about knowledge, religion, morality and the meaning of life. Both reminded us that human progress must go hand in hand with the development of the soul and mind,” he said.

The seminar, themed ‘Wacana Pemikiran, Warisan dan Relevansi Sejagat’ (Discourse on Thought, Heritage, and Universal Relevance), organised by the Negeri Sembilan Museum Board and the Department of Museums Malaysia, brought together 300 participants comprising scholars and university lecturers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.

The seminar focused on the thoughts and intellectual heritage of two prominent figures, Za’ba (Zainal Abidin Ahmad) and Hamka (Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah), both of whom made significant contributions to language, education, religion, literature and the development of society’s identity.

-- BERNAMA