Kuala lumpur: The Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) is set to publish five comics centered on Malay heritage and culture by April next year, aiming to educate the public about traditions that are at risk of being forgotten.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MAIPk's chief executive officer, Syamsul Hazeman Md Salleh, emphasized the choice of comics for their creative appeal and capacity to engage diverse societal segments, particularly the youth. This initiative marks MAIPk's first strategic collaboration with Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to produce content highlighting folklore-related topics.

Syamsul Hazeman pointed out that each comic narrative is not solely based on oral stories but is backed by research from UPSI and UiTM experts to ensure factual accuracy. The titles of the upcoming comics are "Sultan Iskandar Bermain Ke Laut," "Chempaka Sari," "Peristiwa Dato' Hilang di Padang," "Indahnya Mahligai Cinta Perak," and "Pertunangan Sultan Iskandar Dzulkarnain dengan Puteri Raja Budak Rasul."

MAIPk plans to liaise with the Perak state education department to facilitate the distribution of these comics to schools across the state. Depending on the reception, further publications may be considered for broader distribution, including to relevant departments and agencies.

Syamsul Hazeman also revealed MAIPk's plans to introduce a podcast focused on Malay and Islamic heritage and culture. This platform aims to deepen public understanding of the intertwined nature of these heritages.