Malaysia’s proposed Museums Bill aims to regulate museum activities, align with UNESCO standards, and strengthen heritage preservation under the MADANI government
PUTRAJAYA: The introduction of the Malaysia Museums Bill is seen as a key measure to curb any museum-related activities that are inconsistent with government policies or may affect public order and national harmony.
The Ministry of National Unity (KPN), in a statement today, said the enactment of the act would enable Malaysia to fully adopt best practices in museum activities, in line with the UNESCO 2015 Recommendation, the National Policy on Good Regulatory Practice (NPGRP) and international standards set by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
According to KPN, efforts towards the formulation of the Malaysian Museums Act were initiated in 2008 under the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage.
The initiative was subsequently continued in stages by several ministries, including the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture in 2009; the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in 2013; and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in 2018.
“The initiative has now been revived through KPN under the leadership of Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, as a reflection of the MADANI Government’s commitment to strengthening heritage preservation, national identity, and the formation of a nation state founded on history and civilisation,” the statement said.
Last Saturday, Aaron was reported as saying that the proposed Malaysia Museum Bill had been tabled and agreed in principle at the Cabinet meeting on April 29.
He said the bill would strengthen the national museum ecosystem as the first Federal law specifically enacted to regulate the establishment, registration and management of museum activities in the country.
The act would apply in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, covering the establishment of the Malaysia Museum Council, governance of federal and private museums, as well as the creation of the Museum Register and Collection Register.
