By Sarawak Daily 
KUCHING – Sarawak will soon be home to a state-of-the-art archive facility designed to preserve the state’s most valuable historical documents, including copies of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and colonial-era records predating the formation of Malaysia.
Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, revealed that the project was initiated two years ago as a strategic initiative to ensure that significant historical materials are stored under optimal, controlled conditions.
“This archive building will serve as a central repository for historical documents, agreements, and artefacts crucial to our heritage,” said the Premier after visiting the construction site in Petra Jaya on Wednesday.
Equipped with modern humidity and temperature control systems, the facility is being built to the standards of contemporary archive buildings. The Premier also shared that Sarawak is working closely with the London Museum to secure legal certified copies of documents currently held abroad.
“If the originals are unavailable, we will preserve legal copies verified by the British authorities,” he added.
Among the materials expected to be housed in the facility are documents related to Alfred Russel Wallace and his assistant Ali, whose work contributed to Darwin’s theory of evolution, as well as Sarawak legal texts and unique specimens such as the “Simunjan Butterfly.”
Though the building was initially envisioned as a fully green facility, modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in specifications. However, it still incorporates environmentally conscious features like rainwater harvesting and ambient temperature reduction systems.
In a related development, the Premier announced that the Chief Minister’s office has relocated to the Sateria Pertiwi Complex, which now also hosts the state cabinet secretariat and cabinet meetings.
The same event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between Knowledge Research Group (KRG) and Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), along with a collaboration between Pustaka and UCTS Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd (UCSSB).
Additionally, the symbolic handover of 12 Librarian in Every Home training kits marked the pre-launch of 50 Digital Community Centres (DCCs), aimed at expanding access to digital education and literacy across Sarawak.
Among the attendees were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and several high-ranking government and agency officials.