On getting history right

“GETTING Malaysian history right”(Making Sens, Jan 25) refers. The Proclamation of Independence Memorial (in Malacca) under the National Archives has investigated the matter.

The investigation found that the issue raised by the writer, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, was made in reference to an exhibition held on May 23, 2010 in conjunction with a programme to commemorate Tun Tan Cheng Lock.

The programme was officiated by Senator Puan Heng Seai Kie, the then deputy minister of information, communication and culture II.

It was not a permanent exhibition andwas held at the upper level of the memorial as part of a programme.

The exhibition would have been moved to make way for other exhibitions. It is likely that the exhibition on Tun Tan Cheng Lock had been replaced with another exhibition when the writer came for a visit.

The exhibition materials related to Tun were returned to the family after the programme ended.

Other materials related to Tun with the National Archives such as documents will be preserved in its repository. Artifacts will be displayed at the Memorial Negarawan (Statesmen Memorial).

On the first question posed by the writer, there are several museums in Malacca City that have a similar role as the Proclamation of Independence Memorial such as Melaka Gallery, Muzium Pendidikan Melaka (Melaka Education Museum), Muzium Pemerintahan Demokrasi (Democratic Governance Museum) and Muzium Sejarah dan Etnografi (History and Ethnography Museum).

On the second question, the matter is not within the jurisdiction of the National Archives and involves policy under the Education Ministry.

Public Relations Officer National Archives Proclamation of Independence Memorial Malacca

(Note: The original letter in Bahasa Malaysia was translated into English.)