This is the fifth National Archives building, following the construction of archives for Kedah-Perlis, Sabah-Labuan, Pahang and Perak.

The new building in the Salak land district will ensure records are kept in accordance with international standards.

Construction on the five-storey building began in 2017 and was completed on April 1 this year at a cost of RM24 million.

The building was launched by Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Also in attendance was tourism, arts and culture minister Nancy Shukri, the ministry’s secretary-general, Saraya Arbi, and National Archives director-general Jaafar Sidek Abdul Rahman.

Among the interesting and oldest records kept here are those belonging to the Sarawak Broadcast Department, the earliest copy of the Sarawak Gazette (1939) and a copy of the now defunct daily newspaper The Vanguard (1970).

“Documents pertaining to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) records are also archived here,” said the National Archives in a statement.

“All records from all federal government offices in Sarawak that have a historical value can be stored here for the benefit of future generations.”

The National Archives said it welcomed donations of historical records and documents from the private sector and individual collectors.