KUALA LUMPUR: The National Unity Ministry is in the final stages of drafting a law to regulate museum activities nationwide and it is expected to be tabled by November, says Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (pic).
The law aims to create a clear legal framework for effective and sustainable museum management.
Aaron said the ministry envisions museums as transformative spaces that foster creativity, critical thinking and an appreciation for shared humanity, embodying inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability and diversity.
“We will work closely with the Museums Department to develop and implement strategies that align with these principles, enhancing accessibility, promoting inclusive narratives, implementing sustainable practices, and encouraging community participation in museum activities and decision-making processes,” he told Bernama during his opening speech at the Malaysia International Museum Day Seminar 2025 here yesterday.
Meanwhile, at a press conference, Museums Department director-general Datuk Kamarul Baharin A. Kasim said the proposed law includes the establishment of a Museum Council, which would serve as an advisory and supervisory body for the creation and operation of museum institutions nationwide.
He said that while the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645) addresses matters concerning heritage sites, monuments, and both tangible and intangible heritage, it does not comprehensively regulate overall museum policy.
“This law is being drafted in accordance with international standards and aims to introduce a rating system and regulate new, particularly private, museums that might present narratives conflicting with national policy.”
The International Museum Day Seminar 2025, themed “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” was held in conjunction with International Museum Day.
The event drew around 300 participants.
