By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, May 14: Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has revealed that Sarawak Museum Department has been maintaining and preserving 17 monuments and sites across Sarawak since Jan 2024.
According to Abdul Karim, the monuments and sites are the Sultan Tengah Mausoleum, Santubong; Limbang Regional Museum; Sarawak Museum Old Building; Natural History Museum, Kuching; Liu Shan Bang Flag Pole, Bau; Japanese Dam, Miri; Japanese Air Raid Shelter, Miri; Klirieng Klivang at Kampung Pandan, Sebauh, Bintulu; the four Jerunei at Kampung Tellian, Mukah (Jerunei Puteri, Jerunai Basungou, Jerunei Sungai Teloh, and Jerunei Aneak Uda); the Effigy of Crocodile Mound at Nanga Putai, Baleh, Kapit; the archaeological site at Nanga Putai, Baleh, Kapit; the archaeological site at Bongkisam; the archaeological site at Sungai Jaong; and the archaeological site at Gua Sireh, Serian.
“The department’s dedication to heritage preservation is evident in its stellar collection care. Public trust in preserving family heirlooms has led to notable donations, including six items from Datin Seri Fatimah Jamil, the wife of the late Sarawak Deputy Police Chief, Datuk Seri Alli Kawi.
“The donation has enriched the museum’s collection with a gong, brassware tray, betel nut tray, coconut grater, and old Chinese wooden tiffin.
“The department’s commitment to heritage preservation continues through public donations,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech on the seventh day of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
He told the august House that the Sarawak Museum adopts digitalisation as a sustainable approach through the Sarawak Museum Collection Management System (SMCMS) digital system to preserve and enhance collection accessibility while aligning with global museum standards.
He further noted that utilising the SMCMS, the Sarawak Museum has digitised 157,160 items, spanning archaeological, zoological, ethnological, audiovisual, and archival collections.
“To comply with the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance (SHO 2019), the department has conducted inspections of antique dealers in Sri Aman, Betong and Sibu in January and February 2024. To date, there are 25 antique dealers registered under the ordinance,” Abdul Karim added. — DayakDaily
