National unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang said the establishment of the National Centre for Malay Manuscripts (PKMM) is a crucial step in documenting, preserving and elevating the nation’s written heritage to ensure it remains relevant as a source of knowledge and reference for future generations.

“Malay manuscripts form the foundation of the country’s national identity and civilisation, and should be preserved as invaluable intellectual heritage,” he said in a statement.

Aaron said the importance of Malay manuscripts should not be underestimated, as their contents span various fields, including traditional medicine, law, literature, administration, agriculture and gastronomy.

Key Malay manuscripts referenced include Hikayat Hang Tuah, Malay Annals (Sulalatus Salatin), Hukum Kanun Melaka, Taj al-Salatin, as well as various manuscripts related to Malay medicine and customs.

In a related development, PNM, through PKMM, launched the book Malay Gastronomy Knowledge in Ipoh yesterday.

The publication results from research conducted from April 2024 to October 2025 through a strategic collaboration between PNM and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

The book by Salmah Jan Noor Muhammad, a senior lecturer at UPM’s Malay language department, is based on primary sources from Malay manuscripts in PNM’s collection, providing the public with deeper insight into traditional Malay food through authentic and authoritative sources.

According to the statement, Malay gastronomy is not merely the art of cooking, but reflects a knowledge system encompassing traditional recipes, preparation techniques, the use of local ingredients, kitchen tools, and cultural values passed down through generations.

The ministry is also intensifying efforts to cultivate a reading culture through the “Let’s Read 10 Minutes Every Day” campaign, in line with the aspiration of making Malaysia a reading nation by 2030.