Rokiah Mahmud
As countries that share similar cultural roots, the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam sees a wide potential for both nations to further collaborate in encouraging the sharing and upholding of the use of Malay language to a higher level.
This was said by Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Dato’ Raja Reza bin Raja Zaib Shah at a ceremony that saw the Malaysian High Commission contributing 133 reading materials comprising 31 Malaysian publication topics to the Language and Literature Bureau’s (DBP) library in the capital yesterday, in conjunction with World Poetry Day.
The Malaysian high commissioner said since last year, the Malaysian High Commission has carried out a series of discussions with various agencies in Brunei, including DBP and higher-learning institutions, to explore more cooperation towards the effort.
Dato’ Raja Reza said the contribution aimed to ease the public, especially researchers, in acquiring information; integrate ASEAN member countries’ collections at the DBP library; and expand library resources to the public in line with the role of the DBP as a source of information.
It also served as a symbol of togetherness between Malaysia and Brunei in further upholding and empowering the Malay language.
Meanwhile, Acting Permanent Secretary (Strategy and Policy Management) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah as the guest of honour, said the contributions, covering a variety of fields, not only were additions to new collections at the library but also implicated knowledge about Malaysia and the ideas of its writers, particularly in creative literary works that will be appreciated and become a source of knowledge.
Malaysia has many (literature) writers who have made a name for themselves at an international level, said Dr Siti Norkhalbi. The lines of Malaysian writers on literature are no stranger to the Sultanate, especially when they become strategic partners for the DBP.
Their presence often colour the landscape of literature activities and events in Brunei. With reciprocal bilateral relations, it opens opportunities for Bruneian writers and poets to participate in various programmes and activities in Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak.
She said such contributions would also lead to higher accessibility for locals to learn more about Malaysian literature and culture.
