THE Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) will shoulder the responsibilities of being the state’s custodian of public archives and records. Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip (GPS-Jepak) tabled the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill, 2019 yesterday.
“Specifically, the main objective of this Bill is to empower the SMA to take over the powers and the roles and functions previously exercised and carried out by the State Information and Technology Resources Council under the Sarawak State Library Ordinance 1999 (Cap. 29),” he said.
Talib explained that the previous ordinance provided for the establishment of the Sarawak State Library and was last amended in 2009.
“This was to enhance its role as the custodian of public archives and public records in the state and in dealing with matters relating to public records management.”
He also explained that he Local Authorities Ordinance, 1996 [Cap. 20] also gave power to a local authority to establish, manage and maintain public libraries, and to make by-laws to regulate and govern such libraries.
“To date, all the local authorities (or local councils) in Sarawak have established their own public libraries to provide library services to the people living within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
“This amendment is to enable Pustaka Negeri Sarawak to conduct, promote and facilitate research and training on archives and records management, library services or related services (Clause 3 of the Bill),” he said.
Talib added that with the Bill, several sections in the Principal Ordinance were amended by substituting the word ‘Council’ with the word ‘Authority’.
“Such amendments are consequential to the cessation of the Council and the establishment of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority in order to vest the roles and functions of the Council as provided under the Principal Ordinance to the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (Clauses 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11),” he said.
The Jepak assemblyman revealed that costs would be incurred in terms of increasing research and training activities, particularly in providing awareness and training in library, records and archives management to libraries in Sarawak, departments and agencies and staff of Sarawak State Public Service.
“There is also a need to increase and upskill professional and non-professional workers in the fields of library, records and archives in order to provide knowledgeable workers who in turn will provide quality service to enrich the local community,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii (GPS-Repok), who participated in the debates, said that the state’s public records had to be organised in a more efficient manner.
“This is because records, documents and archives will, one day, be records of history which will be referrred to by our future generations.
“Therefore, I support the amendments to be made in Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which will allow the Sarawak State Library to conduct, promote and facilitate research and training on archives and records management, library services or other related services, and among others,” he added.
