By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, May 27: A century-old headhunter ‘parang’ (machete) is among five artefacts donated to the Sarawak Museum Department (JMS), alongside two Lun Bawang sunhats, and two unglazed ceramic vases from Santubong.
According to Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the ‘parang’ was received from Mangu Bueng who claimed that the artefact had been with the Bueng family for almost a century. It originally belonged to a group of headhunters who confronted Bueng and his wife in the early 1900s.
“In the ensuing fight, Bueng fought bravely and took one of their ‘parang’. He brought it back to Kampung Tebekang Bidayuh, where it became a treasured family heirloom,” said Abdul Karim during his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
Meanwhile, the two Lun Bawang sunhats belonged to Bill and Pam Lavery and were donated by their son, John Lavery. The donor stated that the authentic sunhats were obtained during the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
The other two donated artefacts: unglazed ceramic vases, were contributed by Mohd Rizal Bujang, who claimed that the pottery was discovered in the 1970s by his late father, Haji Bujang Abdullah, alongside Ibni Zen and Othman Zen while they were fishing off the coast of Santubong.
“We hope their generosity inspires others to contribute their historical collections to the Sarawak Museum, ensuring future generations can appreciate our rich heritage,” he added.
As of February 12, 2025, Abdul Karim shared that JMS had successfully gazetted 14 historical sites, monuments, and underwater heritage locations under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 (SHO 2019).
The gazetted sites, buildings, monuments, and underwater heritage are:
- Rumah Panjang Melanau Kampung Sok, Matu
- Rumah Sri Tanjung, Tanjung Lobang, Miri
- Sacred Heart Church, Sungai Bawan, Kanowit
- Makam Dato Permaisuri, Miri
- Pusara Ali Wallace, Kampung Jaie, Sadong Jaya
- Kubur Shariff Skrang, Kampung Igan, Matu
- Tapak Masjid Bandaraya Kuching
- Tapak Pertempuran Beting Maro
- Lombong Arang Batu Brooke, Gunung Ngeli, Simunjan
- Batu Ritong in Pa’Lungan, Bario
- Tapak Pertempuran Kampung Jangkar, Lundu
- Tuang Schist Semeba, Kuching
- Folded Schist Demak, Kuching
- Japanese Landing Craft, Brighton Beach, Miri
Abdul Karim also revealed that as of April 2025, the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) had recorded more than 1.3 million visitors since its opening in 2022. Between January and April 2025 alone, it welcomed 73,463 visitors. –DayakDaily
