Getting to Know Historian N.A. Halim from Lenggong, Perak
The name N.A. Halim is well-known among local history enthusiasts, especially those who have a passion for the local history of Perak Darul Ridzuan. His real name was Abdul Halim Nasir, better known as N.A. Halim, a researcher and cultural figure in the field of Malay architectural heritage.
Abdul Halim Nasir was not only known as a cultural figure, but he was also a historian and archaeologist who made significant contributions to research in all three fields. The late N.A. Halim was born in Kampung Masjid Lama, located in Lenggong, Perak, in 1938. He received his primary education at the Lenggong Malay School before migrating to Kuala Lumpur in the 1950s. During his lifetime, the late N.A. Halim served at the National Museum for 23 years until his retirement in 1988, before being appointed as a Visiting Scholar at ATMA, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1989. While at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the late N.A. Halim was awarded an Honorary Master of Arts degree on the 18th Convocation day, dated August 12, 1990. Additionally, he received the Excellent Service Award from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in 1978.
His name is still well-remembered to this day because he produced more than 20 books that detail the beauty of Malay architecture, traditional houses, mosques in the Nusantara, Malay forts, and the epigraphy of the Malay world. He was also tasked with researching and producing several books such as 'Masjid di Alam Melayu-Nusantara' (Mosques in the Malay-Nusantara World), 'Istana dan Raja-raja Melayu di Nusantara' (Palaces and Malay Kings in the Nusantara), 'Warisan Seni Bina Melayu' (Malay Architectural Heritage), and 'Estetika Dalam Seni Bina Melayu' (Aesthetics in Malay Architecture) together with Professor Datuk Dr. Wan Hashim Wan Teh. Furthermore, he frequently wrote for local newspapers, journals, and magazines, and often presented papers at national and international cultural seminars.
N.A. Halim at the tomb of the late Sultan Muzaffar Shah I (The First Sultan of Perak)
Abdul Halim Nasir was also a columnist for the newspaper Utusan Malaysia, writing extensively on aspects of palace architecture, mosques, tombs, and traditional political relations in Tanah Melayu and the Nusantara. Among his published works are 'Sejarah Perak I' (1974), 'Tempat-tempat Sejarah di Perak' (1981), 'Tempat-Tempat Sejarah di Kelantan' (1982), 'Masjid-Masjid di Semenanjung Malaysia' (1984), and 'Kota-kota Melayu' (1990).
On October 25, 1999, Abdul Halim Nasir passed away at Kajang Hospital, Selangor. The remains of the late N.A. Halim were laid to rest on the same day he passed away. Sources and References:
- Utusan Online (Archive) October 27, 1999
