State Library amendment allows establishment of memorial archives

KUCHING: The Sarawak State Library will be allowed to establish memorial archives under proposed amendments to the Sarawak State Library Ordinance 1999.

Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the memorial archives would serve as commemorative repositories for materials relating to significant persons, events, heritage, culture and history of Sarawak.

“The memorial archives will serve as commemorative repositories for materials relating to significant persons, events, heritage, culture and history of Sarawak,” he said in a press conference at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Sarawak’s Headquarters today.

Asfia speaks during the press conference at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Sarawak’s Headquarters today.

He said the amendment would also update the 1999 Ordinance to reflect the State Library’s organisational transformation and evolving governance and operational structure.

“The amendment will update the Ordinance to reflect the State Library’s organisational transformation and its evolving governance and operational structure,” he added.

Among the proposed changes are introducing the roles and powers of the minister responsible for the State Library and allowing the government to vest its properties in the State Library.

“The amendment will also strengthen the State Library’s internal governance structure, thereby enhancing accountability and risk management practices.” Asfia reiterated.

The amendment would also streamline the governance of the State Library by replacing the powers of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority with the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (MMKN) and the minister respectively.

The MMKN would also be allowed to amend the Schedule to the Ordinance.

Asfia said the amendments were intended to improve the State Library’s operational efficiency by simplifying processes and enhancing decision making.

The Sarawak State Library Ordinance 1999 came into force on October 1, 1999, and was last amended in 2019.

The Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be tabled for its first reading on October 12, with its second and third readings scheduled for October 13 during the final sitting of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly.