‘Model for the Malay race'
By CT Hj Mahmod

The attending guest of honour at the opening ceremony, Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Hj Awg Md Zain bin Hj Serudin.

Brunei Darussalam is one of the oldest Malay civilisation kingdoms in the region. Till today it has still firmly maintained its Malay Monarchy, and this has became the model, image and identity for the Malay race.

In order to maintain the essence of the Malay Monarchy's role towards the civilisation of the Malay race, there is a need to introduce new strategies that are more effective in strengthening this role.

Scholars, whether local or foreign, have not yet fully exposed Brunei's glorifying efforts in defending and the uplifting of the civilised Malay race's status.

Despite several attempts initiated in revealing the secrets of Brunei's success in defending the whole of the Malay race civilisation, until now, the history behind this, is still vague and is further from the truth.

In realising this fact, Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Hj Awg Mohd. Zain, Minister of Religious Affairs reiterated the importance that Brunei's historical events should be recorded, written, analysed and narrated by today's local historians through the eyes of Bruneians that complements with our socio-cultural and values.

"For if such opportunity is not taken up, thus our history will be written by the next generation who will only based our history on hearsay, or foreigners based on their assumption or their own values.

"This will erupt a sense of fear if other people with their very own ulterior motive wrote our history."

He urged all historians to act in honesty towards their source or factors, and should be able to prove the truth and effects of history through their source.

The Religious Affairs Minister said this at the official opening of the 'Brunei History' seminar, jointly organised by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) and the Brunei Historical Association (PESEBAR), last Friday night at the Islamic Centre.

According to the Minister, the two-day seminar, commencing October 4 till 5, was "timely for Brunei's historians to join forces and energy in writing Brunei history in order to produce the reality of Brunei's history based on Brunei centric".

He further highlighted the worrying trend that the young generation lacked in identifying their nation's history.

By identifying Brunei's history, this will generate a sense of patriotism in defending and preserving the Muslim Malay Monarchy's existence.

"This sense of patriotism should be cultivated among the younger generation through history," he added.

He also called for the need to rewrite and narrate Brunei's history, so that the vision, mission and Brunei's values constituted in the 'Muslim Malay Monarchy', to be further preserved and maintained as a manifestation of the Malay race identity.

Focusing on the theme 'Following the National History', Dato Paduka Hj Abd Ghani bin PDPD DP Hj Abd Rahim, Managing Director of Yayasan said, "The seminar's objective is to provide assistance on research and the development conducted by high educational institutions on the importance in the advancement of scientific, technology and society."

The seminar will also allow the search for a more truthful history, with more critique and clarity on Brunei's history.

A total of 17 working papers were presented during the seminar by 10 local speakers, 1 from China, 3 from Malaysia and 3 from Indonesia. Two of the working papers were presented by Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Dr. Hj Mohd Yusof, titled 'A Glance at Brunei History'; and Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Dr. Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin