History must inspire, not remain a ‘silent witness’, says National Archives chief as Malaysia marks 69 years of independence

The National Archives of Malaysia (ANM) has emphasized that history should not merely be a silent witness to the nation's past, but rather serve as a source of inspiration and lessons for Malaysians. ANM Director-General Zaidin Mohd Noor stated that the archives' primary responsibility is to enlighten and improve society, beyond just serving the government's interests.

He highlighted that ANM collects records from various sources, including private organisations, NGOs, individuals, and through oral history interviews, to provide a fuller picture of historical events. Zaidin used the example of the Proclamation of Independence at Stadium Merdeka, stressing the importance of understanding the stadium's construction, architecture, and the people involved in its creation.

He also mentioned that ANM holds about 30,000 archival files related to the Malayan Union, which was later replaced by the Federation of Malaya. Zaidin acknowledged that there are still gaps in the historical record and that continued efforts are needed to fill these gaps, especially to provide society with a comprehensive understanding of specific historical events.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.