Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of National Unity proposes that a National Database of Malaysian Artifact Collections be created through a centralised digital system that integrates input from all museums at the federal, state, institutional, and private levels. Its Minister, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, said the proposal is not only technical but strategic as it will organise a secure preservation of the nation’s heritage, in effect to draw a big picture which is the nation’s historical identity rooted in the artifacts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, there are currently 232 museums nationwide, comprising 22 federal museums under the Malaysian Museum Department, 63 agency or institutional museums, 103 state and regional (territorial) museums, and 44 private museums. However, records of artifact collections are currently managed and stored separately according to their respective agencies and states.

Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang emphasized that the ministry is ready to lead this initiative together with the Department of Museums Malaysia, supported by a network of strategic partners. These partners range from state museums and local governments to institutions of higher learning and private industry players. He stated that with strong synergy, the initiative will not only preserve Malaysia’s heritage but also build bridges of unity, cultivate understanding, and strengthen the roots of a pluralistic and harmonious nation.