28 August 2024

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), through its Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and the Hamzah Sendut Library, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM Library), has been granted exclusive rights by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (UoL) via a Memorandum of Agreement (Loan of Light Letters) signed in September 2018 to have access to the digital images of the Light Letters for researchers, scholars, and the public, offering descriptive metadata, transcriptions, and transliterations that can be accessed online.

This loan of digital images of the Light Letters is the first of its kind to be provided to an institution outside of SOAS, University of London.

The Malay Archipelago Correspondence Collection 1768-1794 is the largest collection of Malay manuscripts in the world, containing 1,200 letters stored in 11 volumes, including writings and notes from the old Malay Sultanates, royal family members, Malay dignitaries, and prominent figures from the Malay Archipelago, business associates, wives of Malay nobles, Francis Light, and several English traders written over a period of 26 years, from 1768 to 1794.

The letters are classified into those sent to Light, those sent to Scott (Light’s business associate), notes, records, drafts and copies sent by Light, letters from kings and dignitaries, and other documents such as bills, receipts, petitions, and contracts.

The collection includes letters from Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Selangor, Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Borneo, Acheh, Asahan, Batu Bahara, Siak, Palembang, Pontianak, and others.

Through the Digitization and Documentation of the Light Letters project, SOAS has granted access to the Light Letters under its rights for cataloging and searching the transcriptions and transliterations produced.

The digitized Francis Light letters have resulted in 2,400 images that need to be properly stored.

Under the agreement, Universiti Sains Malaysia has the right to store these images as long as the agreement is upheld by both parties and will be renewed annually.

The Universiti Sains Malaysia Library is responsible for preserving and maintaining the Digital Collection of the Light Letters in accordance with this agreement by ensuring that: the digital images of the collection are accessible through a dedicated portal; cataloging of the digital Light Letters is carried out by the USM Library; transliterations and transcriptions are produced by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR); and searching of transcriptions and descriptive metadata is accessible through an open-source software system managed by the USM Library: https://libdigital.usm.my

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed stated that, the exclusive rights granted to the USM Library as the custodian of the Light Letters digital collection will provide significant opportunities for researchers in the field of Humanities to conduct new studies on the history of the nation.

He also emphasized that the Light Letters hold great potential for research across various fields and will aid in studies, particularly in the history of the Nusantara region.

He added that the collection contains approximately 1,200 letters (2,400 images) across 11 volumes. It is likely the largest (Malay Manuscript) collection in the world, which can be utilized by researchers in the region.

“The access to digital images of the Light Letters greatly benefits the academic world, particularly in enhancing the availability and quality of historical sources for researchers and scholars, supporting efforts to preserve and understand valuable historical heritage,” he affirmed.

The handing over of the collection symbolises the returning of the letters to the original owners, or in a way going back to its roots.

The letters were part of the nation’s annals especially regarding the states of Kedah and Penang.

The letters recorded multiple communications between Francis Light and the Kedah royal family, namely the forefathers of the previous Sultan of Kedah.

The information concerned relate to trade transactions, culture and the historical landscape of the region.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOS: The accompanying photos show the handing over ceremony of the Letters of the Malay Archipelago collection 1768-1794 to the Sultan of Kedah, Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah at the Istana Anak Bukit in Kedah Darul Aman.

Text: MPRC & Hamzah Sendut Library/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa & Shamil Shazwan Abu Bakar