The Sarawak Museum is known for its extensive collection of comprehensive archaeological, natural history, and ethnographic collections of Borneo.
Thus, one can learn everything from the State’s heritage, culture and history just by stepping into the building.
Contributing to the milestone for the preservation of Sarawak’s heritage, culture and history are perhaps due to three major factors; the establishment of the new museum building, the introduction of Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 and the digitalisation efforts for the conservation of heritage and culture in Sarawak.
The Sarawak Museum
Under the encouragement of naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace, Sarawak Museum was officially opened under the rule of the second White Rajah, Charles Brooke on 4th August 1891.
Since 1878, Wallace would ask his officers to collect specimens throughout the state, keeping in mind for building a museum in the future.
As the collection grew, a proper Sarawak Museum was finally open to public in 1891, housing the most comprehensive archaeological, natural history, and ethnographic collections on Borneo.
Sarawak Museum was built to permanently house and display local indigenous arts and crafts, and collections of local animals.
Apart from the existence of museum itself, itself is a way for Sarawak to keep record for the purpose of documenting history, heritage and culture.
- The Sarawak Museum Journal – first published in 1911, it is one of the world’s oldest publications in the region.
- The Sarawak Gazette – first published by the Brooke government in 1870, it recorded a variety of news in Sarawak related to economics, agriculture, anthropology, and archaeology.
Starting 23rd October 2017, the museum is temporarily for an RM308-million refurbishment works with the purpose of enhancing the museum’s standing as a global world-class institution.
Now known as the Borneo Cultures Museum, it is expected to be open for public this year (2021) during the time of writing.
Features of the Borneo Cultures Museum:
Chronology of Sarawak Museum:
- 1888 – Sarawak Museum founded
- 1891 – Sarawak Museum open to public
- 1911 – A new wing of museum building extended
- 1941 to 1945 – Directed under a Japanese officer during the Japanese Occupation
- 2017 – Sarawak Museum closed for refurbishment
- 2021 – New Sarawak Museum or Borneo Cultures Museum expected to be open for public
Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019
Perhaps one of the momentous moments for the preservation of culture, history and heritage in Sarawak is when the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 was introduced.
The Sarawak Heritage Ordinance was introduced in October 2019 to replace the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993.
Timeline of Sarawak Ordinance for preservation of cultural heritage:
Items gazetted under the Antiquities Ordinance:
Approved on June 2007 to be gazetted as Sarawak cultural heritage under Sarawak Culture Heritage Ordinance 1993
Proposed in 2008 to be gazetted as Sarawak cultural heritage under Sarawak Culture Heritage Ordinance 1993
Why was the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 introduced?
To allow for comprehensive protection and preservation of Sarawak’s heritage.
Components of the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019:
- Administration
- Duties and responsibilities of the director
- Underwater heritage
- Enforcement
Under the Bill:
- A body known as ‘Sarawak Heritage Council’ is established to advise the government on matters of policy, strategy or plan of action to be taken relating to administration and management of heritage in Sarawak.
- The ‘Sarawak Heritage Trust Fund’ is established to assist owners to do preservation works on heritage buildings or historical monuments or sites belonging to them through financial assistance.
- The Sarawak Museum Department is able to exercise its roles and responsibilities in safeguarding the state’s heritage assets efficiently.
- The underwater heritage was necessary to address the recent findings submerged in water bodies
- Enable the museum director and enforcement officers, including police and Customs officers, to enforce the new ordinance. Thus, it allows the officers with the necessary provisions to enable them to carry out investigation, search, seizure and arrest of person(s) alleged to have committed any offence under the new Ordinance.
- Provide provisions to safeguard and protect the traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions of communities in Sarawak, as well as give proper recognition to its owner or holder.
- The Bill would also restructure the process of declaring, registering and publishing of gazettes relating to buildings, heritage sites or historical sites which had heritage significance, and revise and enhance the penalties to be imposed for the commission of various offences.
Digitalization efforts of local heritage, culture and history
Digitalization of cultural heritage is a crucial tool in today’s efforts towards the conservation and promotion of cultural resources.
This is because the wide adoption of new digital technologies, documenting and storing cultural heritage assets has become more affordable and reliable.
Since the emergence of digital technologies, museums all over the world are adapting technologies for the purpose of conservation of the cultural heritage and also making their collection more accessible for a larger audience in a more interesting way.
For instance, museums around the world are utilising technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D technology to make their collection appear more attractive, interesting and relevant to their audience.
As part of State’s vision to develop its digital economy, Sarawak has managed to find ways to preserve its historical artefacts, sites, monuments and heritage via technology.
The efforts to preserve the heritage, history and culture in Sarawak through digitalization can be observed in several methods.
For instance, during an interview with RAKAN Sarawak, the Director of Sarawak Museum Department, Tazudin Mohtar expressed his hope to introduce livestreaming session between the museum and schools throughout the State.
With the help of technology, he said that this is one of the ways the museum department can help in educating the youths beyond the museum ground about local history particularly on the collection of natural history is by conducting livestreaming session to showcase Sarawak artifacts.
Earlier this year, the Sarawak Museum Department has also launched the Sarawak Museum App.
The app which aims to boost the tourism industry in Sarawak through its digital platform, is part of the department’s initiatives to promote all of the museums in Sarawak through digital platforms.
Aside from that, Sarawak through Pustaka Negeri Sarawak is actively embarking on expanding its digital collection for rare and significant materials on Sarawak.
This is to preserve the documents in a more infinite way and make them available for research resources as well as accessible to a wider audience.
