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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, July 20: Rumah Sri Aman, a former government rest house as well as a historical heritage building in Simanggang town, will open its doors as a museum this October.
In revealing this, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this is in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Sri Aman Declaration 1973.
He said the declaration is a peace treaty signed between the Sarawak government represented by then Chief Minister Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Ya’kub and the late Bong Kee Chok, then the director and commissar of the North Kalimantan People’s Army (Paraku) and Sarawak Communist Organisation.
“Not many countries could sign a peace treaty with a communist party, in the world. In Peninsular Malaysia it did not succeed, but somehow Sarawak could do it. And this is how the town name of Simanggang was changed to Bandar Sri Aman after the declaration before renaming back (to Simanggang) in October 2019,” Abdul Karim told reporters during a press conference after the final dress rehearsal for the 60th Anniversary Sarawak Independence Day Celebration parade at Hotel Merdeka Palace here today.
He disclosed that the historical heritage building is now being upgraded, and all the artefacts from the signing of the declaration in 1973 and other matters relating to communism in Sarawak would be put on display.
“This museum would also be mainly for the youth of Sarawak born after 1973. Many don’t know why the town is called Sri Aman. It will be reflected, and when they go to that museum, they will be able to know the history of the place,” he said.
Abdul Karim’s deputy Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu was also present. — DayakDaily
