PRODUCE MORE BOOKS ON HISTORY OF ISLAM, MUSLIM COMMUNITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- More books on the history of Islam and
Muslim communites in South East Asia should be produced to create awareness
among future generations, said the prime minister's wife, Rosmah
Mansor.

Although similar books had been authored and published many times in
multi-languages, she said they should also be produced locally to improve the
people's knowledge in local heritage and counter the distorted image of Muslims,
so pervasive in the Western media.

"The Malaysian book industry must thus, emphasise efforts to write and
publish findings on the local heritage and cultural origins," she said when
launching three books written by a Pakistani writer at the Islamic Museum here
Saturday.

The books, 'Straits Muslims: Diasporas of the Northern Passage of
the Straits of Malacca', 'Life of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W (May Peace Be Upon
Him)' and 'Philosophy of the Quran' were written by the late Hafiz Ghulam
Sarwar.

Rosmah said Sarwar's books on the history of Islam were valuable
contributions to the local cultural and Islamic heritage.

Born in 1873 at Lahore, Pakistan, Sarwar spent his early years in Penang
before working in the Malayan Civil Service between 1900 and 1928.

The author of several books on Islam and inter-faith discourses died in 1954

-- BERNAMA