Wednesday, August 13, 2008

WEDNESDAY-13 AUGUST 2008- HAND OVER PUBLIC RECORDS OVER 20 YEARS OLD, PUBLIC TOLD


Hand over public records over 20 years old, public told


KOTA KINABALU:

The public has been advised to surrender any public records more than 20 years old as well as non-public records with archival value to the Sabah State Archive. Its Director, Datu Tigabelas Datu Zainal Abidin, said under Section 28 pf the Sabah State Records and Archive Enactment 2007, any person who fails to surrender public records is liable to a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or a jail term of up to one year, or both. “The new enactment also states punishment against people who destroy or dispose of public records which are more than 20 years old or non-current public records with archival value,” said Tigabelas. Under Section 24, the offender is liable to a fine not exceeding RM1O,000 or a maximum jail term of two years or both, he said at a press conference at Wisma Pertanian here yesterday on the “Jesselton Remembered” exhibition which will be held in conjunction with National Day 2008. According to Tigabelas, the Sabah State Archive will fully enforce the enactment, which was passed by the State Legislative Assembly last year and gazetted in January this year. He added that eight new sections in the enactment will be fully enforced, including ‘Functions of the Director of Sabah State Archives’, ‘Prohibition Against Destruction of Public Records’, ‘Public Records to be Surrendered on Demand’ and ‘Access to Public Archives’. “The enactment also states that the Archive will make available to the public any public record which is more than 20 years old for reference, research or other purpose,” said Tigabelas. He added that the Archive will create a Public Record Registry to record any exhibition for the public to ensure it is in accordance with the facts. “Any officiating or launching ceremony of a new building also needs to be registered with the Sabah State Archive with the officiating plaque bearing a logo of the Archive,” he said.

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