KPN Launches British Colonial Office Digital Collection For Public, Researcher Reference

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The National Unity Ministry (KPN), through the National Archives, today launched the British Colonial Office Digital Collection to promote, disseminate, and revitalise the latest digital collection that can be referenced and accessed by Malaysians.

Its minister, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the British Colonial Office Digtal Collection refers to a group of official records created by the Colonial Office, a government department that managed the administration of the British Empire's colonies from the 19th century to the mid-20th century.

“The collection relates to the administration and governance, international relations, demographic change and life in British colonies. This collection of records stored at The National Archives of the United Kingdom in London is highly significant because it also contains information about Malaysia that will be a primary reference for the country's historical research," he said.

He said this in the text of his speech, which was read by KPN secretary-general Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid, at the launch of the British Colonial Office Digital Collection here today.

He said that the digital collection obtained, relating to Tanah Melayu (Malaya), Singapore, Borneo, Brunei, the Straits Settlements, the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States, consists of correspondence, documents, manuscripts, maps, plans, photographs, agreements, reports, newspapers and magazines.

Aaron said the digital collection contains 8,507 files, with 1,131,112 images or pages from 1759 to 1967, and can be accessed at the National Archives using the Gale Primary Sources Platform, an international digital database. However, any copying of the materials is subject to the National Archives of Malaysia (Fees) Regulations 2015.

According to him, the use of the British Colonial Office Digital Collection can help high-impact research across various disciplines of history, social sciences, law and regional studies, as well as support the government's desire to address issues, disputes, and controversies related to historical facts at the national and international levels.

“I hope the achievements of this collection provided by the National Archives can attract and encourage researchers and scholars, from both within and outside the country, who will conduct studies and research based on authentic sources," he added.

-- BERNAMA