Arkib Negara Malaysia National Archives of Malaysia

Overview

The National Archives of Malaysia (Malay: Arkib Negara Malaysia; ANM) is the official national archives of Malaysia, established in 1957 and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. As a central record repository, the ANM collects, preserves, and makes available public records and historical materials of national significance, serving as a reference agency for government departments, researchers, historians, and the general public.

History and Founding

The ANM was formally established on 1 December 1957, shortly after Malaya's independence, initially as the Public Records Office. Systematic record-keeping in the region dates to British colonial administration of the late 19th century, generating records of administration, commerce, and urban development. The institution was renamed the National Archives under the National Archives Act of 1963, which gave it legal status as a government department. A permanent building in Petaling Jaya was occupied in 1972, and the current headquarters on Jalan Duta (now Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim) in Kuala Lumpur was opened in 2004. The National Archives Act 2003 (Act 629) updated the legislative basis and provided for regional branches. Regional offices in East Malaysia were established from the 1980s onward.

Collections and Holdings

The ANM's collections include government documents, personal papers, photographs, maps, audiovisual materials, and microfilm records. The Kuala Lumpur headquarters holds the most extensive collections, including colonial-era government reports, gazettes, bulletins, blue books, and conference proceedings from the British period. The archives also hold a notable collection of Malay periodicals from the colonial era and personal records of public servants spanning the colonial and post-colonial periods. Records extend from the pre-independence era through to contemporary Malaysia.

Notable Materials for Media and Journalism Research

Among the media-relevant holdings are colonial-period Malay periodicals such as Majalah Guru, and papers and correspondence of the Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (JMBRAS). The archives hold extensive press and government information files from the Federation of Malaya and post-1963 Malaysia.

Access and Usage

Researchers may use the reading room at the ANM's Kuala Lumpur headquarters with appropriate identification. Photocopying services are available, and digital images can be ordered by email. Photography within the reading room is not permitted. Regional branches serve researchers in other parts of Malaysia.