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By Ashley Sim and Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 31: The Sarawak government aims to present research discoveries through arts performance at the State’s upcoming performing arts centre, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He believed that this approach would facilitate members of the public in understanding and grasping the content of historical facts and discoveries.
“Firstly, you can study from your artefacts and exhibition, but the next one is to translate the event into a presentation so the audience will understand.
“That is why the Sarawak government has allocated more than RM200 million to establish a centre of performing arts (by renovating) the old Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) building,” he said when officiating at the Malaysian national-level International Museum Day 2023 celebration at Borneo Cultures Museum here today.
He further said that the upcoming centre would have state-of-the-art facilities.
“We have sent a team (study trip) to Royal Albert Hall in London because our performing arts centre must have a good sound system and a modern stage for us to present performances.
“This is the way for us to translate and bring alive our exhibits in Sarawak,” he added.
At the same time, Abang Johari said Sarawak is rich in cultural heritage, including discovering the human settlements in Niah Caves.
He also mentioned the contribution of researchers such as Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin to Sarawak’s history records, such as Russel’s paper titled ‘On the law which has regulated the introduction of new species’ exhibited at the Natural History Museum London, United Kingdom. The paper is now often referred to as the Sarawak Law paper.
Amongst those present were Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Malaysian National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang; Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; International Council of Museums (ICOM) vice president Chang Inkyung; Ministry of National Unity’s secretary-general Dato’ Indera Noridah Abdul Rahim; Malaysian Museum Department director Datuk Kamarul Baharin A. Kasim; and Sarawak Museum Department director Nancy Jolhi. — DayakDaily
