National Archives wants public to use documents as reference on history

ALOR GAJAH: National Archives director-general Azemi Abdul Aziz wants the public, especially university students to use its documents or materials as the primary source of reference in verifying certain events.

“We want the people to understand history via the original source or original documents or materials stored at the National Archives rather than secondary sources such as books or other publications.

“This is in line with the government’s desire to raise the people’s level of of knowledge and make them possess first class mentality towards developed nation status,” he said after an intellectual discourse titled ‘ Melaka Heritage City of Malaysia’ and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) between Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka ( KUIM) and the National Archives here, yesterday.

The MoU aims to foster cooperation between KUIM, the Melaka Institute f Civilisation (Tuah) and the National Archives, in research and publication of materials on history and heritage.

The MoU was signed by KUIM vice- chancellor, Prof Dr Mohd Taib Dora while the National Archives was represented by Azemi.

Azemi said the National Archives has over 15 million original documents or materials for reference to avoid misconception or misinformation.

“We can see the spread of lot of facts that are not original in the social media, thus causing misunderstanding or confusion among the public.

“Malaysians should know that the spread of information based on verified documents and materials will make them a civilised society,” he added.

National Archives had signed MoUs with Universiti Utara Malaysia ( UUM) and Universiti Malaya ( UM) for access to historical documents or materials for research and learning.

It has 10 million documents or materials in its Online Finding Aid ( OFA) application which is under development. — Bernama