By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 13: The new Sarawak State Archives building beside the Sarawak State Library in Petra Jaya is targeted for completion in November 2026, with the 25,476-square-metre facility designed to provide a secure, climate-controlled repository for the State’s important records and historical materials.
Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the facility would strengthen Sarawak’s capacity to preserve its documentary heritage, supported by digitalisation and improved public access to archival collections.
“The building would feature a 10,000-square-metre Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), designed to enhance storage security and reduce document retrieval time to about two to three minutes.
“The facility is also expected to house digitisation and media conversion services, restoration laboratories, research and training spaces, public reading areas, exhibition galleries and a visitor centre,” he said while winding up the debate on the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was passed in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) Sitting today.
Sagah said many initiatives raised during the debate were already being implemented by the Sarawak State Library, or Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, demonstrating that the proposed amendments were supported by existing systems, infrastructure and programmes.
Addressing concerns over transparency, accountability and checks and balances in the exercise of ministerial powers, he said Clause 7 of the Bill stipulated that any ministerial direction must not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Ordinance.
“The Board would be required to take all steps necessary or expedient to give effect to such directions, ensuring they remained within the legal framework and were not exercised arbitrarily,” he explained.
Sagah also highlighted the Sarawak government’s Correspondence and Case Tracking Unified System (CACTUS), an electronic platform that manages official records from creation and registration to distribution, tracking and retrieval.
“The system maintained transaction records and audit trails for official correspondence and actions taken by officers, strengthening transparency, traceability and accountability while reducing reliance on paper records,” he said.
Sarawak had also invested in digital records management capabilities to ensure government information remained authentic, reliable, accessible and secure throughout its lifecycle. The initiative, initially developed by Pustaka, was subsequently adopted by the Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit.
On archival services, Sagah said Pustaka had established the web-based Archival Records Management System (ARMS), which allows users to search, locate, reserve, retrieve and request access to archival materials held by the State Record Repository.
“The platform enables researchers and members of the public to search archival holdings online and arrange access through established procedures,” he elaborated.
He said this addressed concerns about the discoverability of historical records, including calls during the debate to improve access to Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) Hansard records.
However, public access must remain subject to applicable laws, classification requirements, preservation considerations and approved procedures.
Sagah said Pustaka was also encouraging public participation in preserving Sarawak’s collective memory through programmes such as Archiving Knowledge and Records for Accessibility and Browsing (AKRAB), the Enrolment of Membership Programme (EMPUN) and Friend of Archive (FOA).
These initiatives introduce students, educators, community groups and members of the public to archival resources and preservation activities.
Pustaka also accepts private collections relating to Sarawak from individuals, families and collectors worldwide, subject to appraisal, legal documentation and its collection policies.
Sagah stressed that historical preservation should be guided by transparent and objective criteria rather than political preferences. Collections should reflect different perspectives and include government records, private collections, family photographs and community records of historical significance.
On digital preservation, he said Pustaka, in collaboration with Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), had developed the Legal Deposit Management System (LDMS) to facilitate the receipt, recording, management and preservation of digital publications produced in Sarawak.
“Digitisation is essential not only to protect materials from deterioration, loss and disasters, but also to improve cataloguing, retrieval and lawful access through appropriate backup and disaster recovery measures,” he said.
Sagah pointed out that regular reporting on records management, digitisation progress, public accessibility and archival preservation would be important to demonstrate tangible outcomes and ensure the amendments achieved their intended objectives.
He thanked assembly members for Padungan, Pending, Batu Kitang, Tebedu, Lingga, Daro, Repok, Tellian, Balingian, Tamin, Tanjong Batu and Telang Usan for supporting the Bill and contributing views on transparency, historical preservation, public access, digitalisation and accountability.
Sagah said Pustaka’s role extended beyond preserving records to improving accessibility and strengthening public participation in safeguarding Sarawak’s documentary heritage for present and future generations. — DayakDaily
