Kuala Lumpur:Efforts to promote the Malay language and literature must transcend special occasions and programs, ensuring the preservation and transmission of the nation's literary heritage to future generations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, National Laureate Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan emphasized the need for strategic collaboration among higher education institutions, the media, and other stakeholders in these efforts. He stated that the commitment to uphold the Malay language should not be confined to special events, only to be forgotten shortly thereafter. This was expressed during the closing ceremony and prize presentation for competitions held in conjunction with the National Reading Decade 2026.

Anwar, who also serves as the chairman of the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Board of Governors, advocated for the digitization and publication of transliterated classical Malay manuscripts. This initiative aims to make the country's literary heritage more accessible and provide valuable reference materials for scholars worldwide.

Meanwhile, DBP director-general Datuk Dr Hazami Jahari noted that competitions such as the Jawi-to-Rumi Transliteration of Classical Malay Manuscripts for the media and the Sulalatus Salatin Manuscript Reading Competition for higher education institutions are part of efforts to turn the aspirations of the National Reading Decade into engaging public programs. These initiatives aim to expand access to Malay literary and intellectual heritage and promote reading habits and language proficiency among university students.

Raja Nur Shazatul Aisyah Raja Idris, a doctoral student at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, emerged as the champion of the Sulalatus Salatin Manuscript Reading Competition. She expressed surprise at her win, having prepared for only two to three days. The competition serves as a platform to encourage young people to explore classical Malay amidst the rise of mixed-language expressions.

In the Jawi-to-Rumi Transliteration competition, Mohd Noor Atan from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Subscription Division emerged victorious, citing an early interest in Jawi script from newspapers his late father subscribed to. He advocated for regular competitions to foster reading and appreciation of Jawi script and classical Malay vocabulary.

Winners of both competitions received RM1,500 in cash, certificates, and books from DBP.