Kuala Lampur, Aug. 20 -- According to William Shakespeare, "what is past is prologue". This serves as a poignant reminder that history lays the foundation for what lies ahead.

Just as students around the world study Shakespeare and Chaucer to understand the evolution of English thought, culture, and language, so too should Malaysians turn to the literary and linguistic treasures of Old and Classical Malay.

Now in an age where we are zooming forward with technology, globalisation, and modern language trends rapidly reshaping the way Malaysians communicate, there is an urgent need to look in retrospect, reflect on the roots of our national language, and reconnect to our past.

Revisiting the inscriptions of Old Malay and the rich manuscri...