KUCHING, Nov 14: The National Archives of Malaysia (ANM) building in Sarawak which was fully completed on April 1 this year is the fifth national archives in the country.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), the five-storey building with a construction cost of RM27 million was officially handed over by Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) to ANM on July 13.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said, after 42 years, now the Sarawak has its own ANM building.
“This majestic building is a landmark symbol that proves the commitment of the federal government to always prioritise development in Sarawak. It is certainly in line with Sarawak’s aspirations to become a developed State by 2030,” he said.
He said this in a speech text read out by Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at the opening ceremony for the new Sarawak ANM building in Petra Jaya here today.
Abang Johari further said the digitisation of archives for the purpose of preservation and research will open up space for archival institutions to attract more researchers and users of archival materials from within and outside the country.
From here, the services offered not only include physical research but also online services to enable information to be accessed beyond borders, time and place.
“In an effort to consolidate a digital blueprint, Sarawak is focusing on improving an integrated ecosystem to foster an inclusive digital society, develop the digital economy and promote the growth of business and the smart technology sector.
“This initiative should also be welcomed by data and information reference service providers including archival institutions as the official information repository in Sarawak,” he added.
At the same ceremony, ANM director general Dato Jaafar Sidek Abdul Rahman disclosed that Sarawak ANM has stored a total of 246,026 archival materials to date.
Among interesting and earliest collections in storage are the records of the Sarawak Regional Broadcasting Department in 1923, the records of the Royal Malaysian Customs and Excise Department of Sarawak in 1924, the earliest Sarawak Gazette in 1939, the newspaper ‘The Vanguard 1970’, the Malaysia Formation 1963 document and a collection of ‘Rajang Area Security Command’ records (Rascom).
Also present were caretaker Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (Motac) Dato Sri Nancy Shukri; Sarawak Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Motac secretary-general Datuk Saraya Arbi; and Sarawak ANM director Ladoh Mejus. — DayakDaily
