Search 13

SEARCH 13

2 May 2005 (late night)

The 13th search is to scrutinise an article in the local newspaper, The Star, 6 March 2005, section on Focus, page 24. It is entitled "Malay history a click away" by Audrey Edwards. It is 10.58 pm.

The article subtitle indicated that the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, UKM has a web portal and offers an interactive CD. I have not visited the portal nor seen the CD.

The Malay World Studies portal is at www.malaycivilization.com and was set up in 1999. The portal has 13 databases with 400,000 entries and includes images and books. Readers can freely download information as the text is free. There is no charge for using the portal as the Institute feels charging would attract less readers. The future of this portal seems bright as there is allocation for it under the 9th Malaysia Plan since Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim saw its role and importance to the public.

Featured on the web portal is Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) which covers stories, myths, customs, values, life histories of the Malaccan Sultans, digitised Jawi literary works, more than 22,000 entries of Malay proverbs and 14,000 Baba poetry in the Malay World Database called Padat. The Baba poetry were collected from books and newspapers published between 1889-1940s. Padat has more than 45,000 entries based on journals, books, thesis and other sources (unspecified).

The CD is in English and Malay and features W.G Shellabear's edition of the annals.

Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin

He is the Director of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, UKM. He remarked on the archaeological finding of the lost city in Johore. Interestingly, Prof. Shamsul qouted "any manuscript is a form of knowledge" in addition to oral, artifacts, photos or images and technology. He added "knowledge may not necessarily be written", i.e., remains tacit. He is contemplating on working with the Balai Seni Lukis Kebangsaan (National Art Gallery) to produce a "virtual Malay world" using 3D scenarios to make history appealing and to motivate the public to have interest by having them to visualise history. Also see Search 11 re Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin.

Associate Professor Dr Ding Choo Ming

He is also with the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, UKM. He is responsible for the rationale behind the portal. He is responsible for managing and expanding the portal along with Associate Professor Dr Supyan Hussin and two assistants. He pays attention to enriching the public, sustaining their interests and attracting new visitors to the portal. He deals with copyright issues face-to-face.

It is 11.58 pm. I will stop here for tonight.

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Acknowledgement

The Star, 6 March 2005, section on Focus, article on page 24: "Malay history a click away" by Audrey Edwards.

Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, UKM

(Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu or ATMA)

Has a web portal and offers an interactive CD

The Malay World Studies portal is at www.malaycivilization.com (set up in 1999)

The Malay World Database is called Padat

Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin

Director, Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, UKM.

Spoke about the lost city in Johore.

Views on knowledge:

Knowledge manifests as manuscripts, oral, artifacts, photos/images and technology.

Knowledge may not necessarily be written, i.e., remains tacit.

Associate Professor Dr Ding Choo Ming

Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, UKM.

He is responsible for managing and expanding the portal along with Associate Professor Dr Supyan Hussin and two assistants.

He deals with copyright issues face-to-face. Visit him at the Institute for this aspect.

Associate Professor Dr Supyan Hussin

Nil of note.

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