KUCHING, March 4: A stunning, spectacular projection mapping show that showcased the history of Sarawak marked the official opening of Borneo Cultures Museum (BMC) which will finally open its doors to the public on March 9.
However, entry into the biggest museum ever in Malaysia is limited to 500 persons at any one time.
Therefore, visitors are encouraged to pre-book their visit at this link.
With a total size of about 31,000 square metres, the five-storey building consists of permanent exhibitions, a children’s gallery, temporary exhibitions, a function room, VIP room, auditorium, restaurant, canteen, and a souvenir shop.
There is also an Arts and Crafts Gallery which includes special activity labs and a dance studio.
In the permanent exhibitions, state-of-the-art technology is used to showcase over a thousand artefacts that represent Sarawak’s amazing culture and history.
BMC offers immersive and interactive experiences for visitors using audio-visual technology and augmented reality which enhances the artefacts display and supports the storyline of the exhibition apart from a massive projecting display almost as big as the building outside.
The iconic landmark was officiated by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud held at the site in Jalan P Ramlee earlier tonight.
Also in attendance were Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib; Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg; Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Nancy Shukri; and State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The brand-new iconic museum building and Annex Building was built under the 11th Malaysia Plan as part of the Sarawak Museum Campus Project.
The development of the BCM commenced in 2014 and the RM323 million project cost was fully funded by the State government.
BCM incorporates the elements of Green Building design for its interior, making it the first museum in Malaysia to be certified as a green building under the Green Building Index (GBI).
Each level of the building has unique storylines where the theme for Level 3 is ‘In Harmony With Nature’ which explores the relationship between humans and nature.
The theme for Level 4 is ‘Time Changes’ which tells the history of Sarawak and Borneo from prehistoric times to the 1970s while for Level 5, the theme is ‘Objects Of Desire’ which showcases the most cherished objects by Sarawak’s ethnic groups.
Level 2 has a separate exhibition where the theme is ‘Love Our Rivers’ which is specifically designed to fulfil a vital social responsibility by empowering children’s imagination, creativity, and environmental stewardship. — DayakDaily
