THE Sarawak Museum Department continues to enhance its capacity and capability in upholding the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance (SHO 2019), maintaining and preserving a total of 25 monuments and sites in Sarawak since January 2024.
Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted the department successful preservation of eight monuments and sites from June to October this year, including the Japanese Landing Craft at Brighton Beach in Miri, Makam Dato Godam in Pusa, Saratok, and Lumbong Rentap in Pakan, Sarikei.
He added that the department’s reputation as the guardian of Sarawak and Borneo heritage has encouraged the donation and repatriation of objects and antiquities from around the world.
“A set of 27 miniature cannons was donated to the Sarawak Museum by a Dutch collector, Peter Hamer, who began collecting these cannons in 1976 while serving as an engineer for Sarawak Shell Berhad in Miri.
“These cannons have unique and intricate designs, symbolising the artistry of Bornean miniature cannons since time immemorial.
“The donation enhances the department’s reputation as a globally engaged centre of history and heritage,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech today.
Abdul Karim also lauded the collective initiative among the Sarawak Museum, scholars, and the community, particularly the Kenyah Badeng Association (KEBANA), in repatriating the Kenyah-Badeng Sun Hat after it had been held at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford for over 100 years.
Additionally, the department successfully digitised 2,379 analogue cassette collections dating from 1957 to 2011.
These cassettes contain important recordings such as oral traditions and the content of seminars, symposiums, and workshops.
“This will ensure that the knowledge within these recordings can be utilised for further advancements in museology and heritage preservation,” said Abdul Karim.
He also noted the museum’s role in providing educational resources through active research, such as the study of the Battle of Beting Maro in Pusa, Betong, and the study of the Jawi Manuscript Collection.
The department will also be publishing three books by the end of this year, namely The Sarawak Museum Journal Annual Issue, Vol. 108, The Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue: Papan Turai Gawai Batu, and The Chronicles of Stamps: A Philatelic Travel Through the Sarawak Museum Collection.
