By D’Drift Team
LIMBANG, March 26: The new Limbang Museum is more than just a landmark for the town of Limbang.
It is believed to have borne special significance for Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as it was built on the site of the former government quarters where he was born in 1950.
At the time, his father, Tun Datuk Abang Openg Abang Shapie, was the district officer for both Limbang and Lawas.
The new museum has not yet been opened to the public for viewing, and for the time being, visitors can only admire it from the outside.
Old Fort Limbang converted to Limbang Regional Museum
The old two-storey Limbang Regional Museum, now known as the ‘Old Fort’, was built in 1897 as a ‘belian’ wood fort by the second White Rajah, Charles Brooke, making it the oldest structure in Limbang Town. It sits atop a hill overlooking the Limbang River.
It is also the first museum in Sarawak’s northern region that opens to the public. It was officially opened by the then Minister for Social Development, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, on Aug 27, 1994.
During the Brooke rule, the ground floor of the building served as a jail and storage space.
The building was then gazetted as an official monument in 1985. Before it was designated as a historical structure, the building served an administrative function, housing the division’s Resident and District office as well as other government departments.
After the initial building was destroyed by fire in Sept 1989, a new one was constructed in 1991 based on the original blueprints.
The two cannons placed in front of the current museum are also part of the historical footprint left behind by the Brooke government, in addition to the museum itself.
Before entering the museum, visitors are required to register at a service counter on the ground floor.
Madzlan Ismail, 42, a local who works at the Limbang Regional Museum, told us that he started working there in 2010, and that there are currently four people taking care of the building, one of whom has been with the museum for a long time, making him the longest serving employee there.
Limbang Regional Museum’s rustic atmosphere big contrast to bustling Limbang town
From the spacious veranda of the Limbang Regional Museum, which faces the main road, visitors can also admire the picturesque slow-moving Limbang River and the tranquil Malay villages dotted along the opposite river bank.
The museum is a short walk from Limbang town and is one of the tourist attractions in the border town, which is a popular weekend destination for visitors from neighbouring Brunei Darussalam.
The Limbang Regional Museum has some very impressive displays of historical artefacts, culture, and crafts of the Limbang Division. These include Chinese ceramic jars that were used as status symbols for Orang Ulu communities.
First D’Drift Team division-crossing journey
Today was the first time the D’Drift Team travelled across divisions, from Miri to Limbang and back.
We had intended to drive from Miri to Limbang, passing through Brunei along the way, but we decided to save time by taking a 30-minute flight from Miri to Limbang.
We booked the first flight, with a 7.40am boarding time, and were surprised to find the Miri Airport bustling with activity.
However, only five passengers boarded our plane, comprising the four members of the D’Drift team and a member of the public.
We landed at Limbang Airport at around 9.13am, having taken off approximately at 8.30am. Rain and cold temperatures accompanied our entire Limbang exploration.
Chua, the walking, talking Limbang encyclopaedia
Earlier, we were met by Chua, 71, a family friend of one of our team members, who picked us up and drove us around Limbang Town, pointing out all the important landmarks and providing us with so much background information that our heads felt ready to explode.
We were overwhelmed by the information, but still eager to learn more about Limbang town at the same time.
Chua also told us numerous tales about Limbang’s issues, its ghosts, its crocodiles, and more.
He even took us to the spot where a large crocodile was discovered wandering around a tire shop, as captured in a viral video.
He said that Limbang is infested with crocodiles and cautioned us against getting too close to any of the town’s rivers due to an incident in which a female teacher was killed after being dragged into the water by a crocodile.
Chua even drove us to the border, which is only a single step away from Brunei.
Overall, thanks to Chua, our time in Limbang town was enjoyable and educational, and we hope to return one day to do more exploring. — DayakDaily
