Section 38

Classified records which are in the custody of the National

Archives shall not be available for public reference except as provided under this section.

The Director General may permit a person to make reference to classified records if that person has obtained special authority in writing in that behalf from the administrative head of the office responsible for those classified records.

The Director General shall make available, subject to such conditions, restrictions or procedure as may be prescribed, reasonable facilities to enable members of the public to refer to classified records.

The proper officer may make available to the member of the public, subject to such conditions, restrictions or procedure as may be prescribed, any classified records for reference, research or other purposes.

Any requirement imposed by any other written law that classified records of any description which are in the custody or under the control of the National Archives shall be made available for reference shall be satisfied by the making available for reference of microfilm recordings, photographic copies of the classified records or any other forms of storage of the classified records.

No person shall make copies of or take extracts from any classified records except with the prior written permission of the administrative head of the office responsible for the classified records and in accordance with this Act.

Any person who contravenes subsection (6) commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.

Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (2),

, (4), (5) and (6), access to classified records shall be as prescribed.

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