PARLIAMENT | The National Archive is not empowered to make public the records and documents compiled by the National Operations Council (Mageran) in 1969, said Tourism and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri.
This is as the ownership and details of those records are under the purview of the National Security Council (NSC) as well as the police.
"As such, the National Archives has no power to open the records to the public," Nancy told the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Batang Sadong MP was responding to Tan Kok Wai (Harapan-Cheras) on when Mageran's working papers, meeting minutes, investigation reports, and other records from 1969 would be made public.
Mageran was an emergency administrative body that governed the country following the May 13 riots in 1969.
The council had produced a report which narrated the background, incidents, aftermath, and future challenges of the riots.
According to the Mageran report, 196 people died, and 439 were injured although there have been disputes on whether the figures are accurate.
Tan said disclosing the additional documents was important to review the incident, which would allow for research to examine weaknesses in efforts to unite a multiracial society.
He also asked whether reports and documents that are more than 25 years old, such as on May 13, the Memali incident, as well as cabinet meetings, could be disclosed.
Nancy replied the passage of time was not a factor in determining whether documents can be declassified and made public by the National Archives.
Such documents are subjected to secret classification taking into account national security, sovereignty and sensitive issues, she added. - Mkini
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