Negeri sembilan: The Negeri Sembilan government is aiming to bolster its collaboration with experts and scholars in the fields of historical and heritage research. This initiative seeks to ensure the state's rich heritage is well-documented, studied, and made accessible to the public through various means, including the publication of scholarly works and the utilization of digital technology.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim emphasized the necessity for expert insights, research, critical thinking, and scholarly courage to offer knowledge-based perspectives, as the state government alone cannot achieve these goals. During his speech at the 'Seminar Antarabangsa Pemikiran Za'ba dan Hamka' (International Seminar on the Thought of Za'ba and Hamka), Ismail highlighted his vision for Negeri Sembilan to develop into a state not only rich in cultural heritage but also with a robust knowledge ecosystem and a respected intellectual tradition.
The text of Ismail's speech, read by state Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Action Committee chairman Datuk Razali Abu Samah, underscored that a state's development should be measured not only by physical infrastructure, industrial areas, and investment but should also emphasize the growth of human capital. In a time dominated by artificial intelligence, social media, and vast information availability, Ismail noted the importance for the younger generation to acquire not just technological skills but also a deeper understanding of history, culture, language, religion, and values.
He cited the teachings of Za'ba and Hamka, highlighting the former's focus on the power of language, education, and nation-building, and the latter's emphasis on knowledge, religion, morality, and the meaning of life. Both figures, he pointed out, serve as reminders that human progress must be accompanied by the development of the soul and mind.
The seminar, themed 'Wacana Pemikiran, Warisan dan Relevansi Sejagat' (Discourse on Thought, Heritage, and Universal Relevance), was organized by the Negeri Sembilan Museum Board and the Department of Museums Malaysia. It gathered 300 participants, including scholars and university lecturers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei, focusing on the intellectual heritage of Za'ba (Zainal Abidin Ahmad) and Hamka (Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah), both of whom made significant contributions to language, education, religion, literature, and the development of society's identity.