On the second day of the International Islamic Manuscript Conference 2025, a presentation titled “Islamic Writing Traditions of Brunei Darussalam: On Stone, Metal and Paper” was delivered by the Head of the Southeast Asia Section, The British Library, London,
Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr. Annabel Teh Gallop, at the Auditorium Hall of Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB), here. Present as the guest of honor at the session was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Nazmi bin Haji Awang Mohamad.
In her presentation, Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr. Annabel Teh Gallop explained that Negara Brunei Darussalam (NBD) is one of the most fascinating states in the Malay world. NBD, she added, possesses one of the richest and earliest collections of Islamic monuments in Southeast Asia. According to her, the earliest evidence of Islamic writing in NBD can be found on tombstones, where NBD’s tombstones are examples of the oldest Malay inscriptions in Arabic script throughout Southeast Asia, making them a unique and valuable source for early studies of the Malay language in Jawi script.
Furthermore, she clarified, the oldest paper manuscript from NBD is one sent by the Sultan of Brunei to the Spanish government in Manila. By the late 19th century, there also appeared copper items inscribed with Jawi writing, which served as official measures (gantang) issued by the NBD government.
After the presentation, participants had the opportunity to join a question-and-answer session with Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr. Annabel Teh Gallop.
Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr. Annabel Teh Gallop was born in Winchester on 5 August 1961 and raised in NBD. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Mathematics from the University of Bristol (1982), followed by a Master’s degree with high honors in Indonesian and Malay Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (1985).
She currently serves as Head Curator of the Southeast Asia Section at the British Library, London, and is a leading expert in Malay manuscripts, Islamic seals, and the material culture of the Islamic world in Southeast Asia.
Since 1986, she has served at the British Library and is responsible for maintaining the internationally renowned Southeast Asian collections.
The International Islamic Manuscript Conference 2025, themed “Islamic Manuscripts: A Bridge Between the Past and the Future,” is held from 21 to 24 June 2025, organized by BKISHHB in collaboration with Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), and Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB).
It is also held in conjunction with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition 2025 (Brunei MYCE 2025).
Among its aims, the conference seeks to introduce and raise awareness of the importance of Islamic manuscripts as a bridge connecting the intellectual and cultural heritage of the past with the future of the Muslim community.
