MALAYSIA'S NATIONAL LIBRARY UNCOVERS ATTEMPTS TO SELL FAKE MANUSCRIPTS AND HOLY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The Price Evaluation Committee of the
National Library has uncovered three attempts to sell fake manuscripts and holy
books.

Malay Manuscript Centre deputy director Faizal Hilmie Yusof said this was
done by inserting several fake pages in the manuscripts bought.

He said they also printed and wrote manuscripts or holy books with popular
topics.

The committee comprising six staff, lecturers and independent rsearchers in
philology, medicine, religion and history was formed in 1985 after the national
library took over the collection of manuscripts from Pusat Islam.

"The committee's role is to evaluate, give view and provide a price
guideline for the purchase of manuscripts.

"Our experts can tell the fake manuscripts from the original ones based on
the ink, paper and jawi writing.


"These skills have prevented us from being cheated," he told reporters at
the Regional Experts Meeting To Examine The Requirements For The Promotion of
The Role of Centres For The Collection, Registration and Restoration of
Manuscripts In Asian Member States here Tuesday.

Faizal said fakes could be identified as the ink produced smudges while the
original ink could last last up to 200 years. The last fake case was in 2006.

The committee plans to use machines with the latest technology or chemicals
to identify the fakes.

He said the national library found a 130 year-old transcript, the Taj
Al-Salatin (Crown of Kings) in Kuala Terengganu last year.

Written by Johor-born Bukhari Al-Jauhari, the transcript contained advice or
guideline to the rulers on administration.

The national library which is also the Malay Manuscript Centre in Malaysia
has 4,300 manuscripts. Most of its collection is linked to Islam.

-- BERNAMA