Di sebalik pembentukan Malaysia, rekod lama jadi saksi sejarah

Perdana Menteri Malaysia pertama, Tunku Abdul Rahman, held a significant role in the formation of Malaysia in 1963, which united Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. To commemorate this event, Malaysia Day is celebrated every 16th of September since 2010. Zaidin Mohd Noor, the National Archives Director-General, emphasized that essential stages of Malaysia's formation included Tunku Abdul Rahman's proposal in 1961, followed by consultations, meetings, and research.

Significant records of this process can be found in the National Archives, including official government documents, meeting minutes, and research reports. Non-official sources like newspapers, articles, and photographs also contribute to these records. Examples of non-official materials include the 1962 Cobbold Commission Report, the Malaysia Unity Consultative Committee records, and materials related to the 20 Sabah and 18 Sarawak Articles.

Notable documents include the 1963 Proclamation of Malaysia, which formally records the formation of Malaysia, uniting Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. However, Singapore separated from Malaysia two years later. Zaidin stressed that these primary records are vital for ensuring the public, especially younger generations, understand Malaysia's history based on authoritative sources rather than social media interpretations.

In addition to government records, the National Archives also collects materials from individuals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private entities to gain a broader perspective on how events were perceived by the public. This effort resulted in over 5,000 items being collected, including records of Malaysia's Day celebrations at the district level.

The National Library (PNM) has further endeavored to collect Malay manuscripts, with over 5,000 original Malay manuscripts now preserved there, primarily acquired from individual collectors and donations. While approximately 70% of the collection relates to religion, the rest covers history, language, literature, national cohesion, constitutional law, traditional medicine, navigation, and astronomy.

Some lesser-known facts, such as the art of taming a rhinoceros and culinary knowledge related to dish selection, preparation, and chefs' etiquette, are also documented. In total, around 2,000 Malay manuscript titles have been digitized through MyRepository, providing full access to users on-site at PNM. The National Archives is also digitizing its collections, with over 11 million items available through this process to facilitate reference and reduce reliance on primary records.

For Zaidin, preserving these records is essential not only for understanding Malaysia's formation journey but also for guiding future generations about the nation's history.