KUCHING: Museums as catalysts of innovation relating to other cultural and creative industries (CCIs) will lead to the production of cultural and creative goods and services.
Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said recent innovation and close interaction with other CCIs will see concerted efforts by the Sarawak Museum Department (SMD).
He pointed out that the department will look at new directions and strategies to get recognition and instructive lessons from the past.
“In addition, it can also offer a great opportunity to enhance the roles of the department to support such endeavours.
“I believe that this can be achieved with integrated planning based on collaboration between institutions of higher learning, the industry and other stakeholders,” he said during the official opening of the Borneo Cultures Museum last night.
In relation to this, he disclosed that SMD has inked memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with international and local universities.
Among the universities are University of Florida, University New South Wales, Griffith University Australia, EFEO France, Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC) Singapore, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
“These research collaborations are in line with the aspirations of the state government and my ministry to document and preserve the tangible and intangible cultural materials in Sarawak through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),” he said.
Along the line, Karim also said that in order to safeguard the historical and cultural heritage of Sarawak, SMD is responsible for implementing the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance, 2019 (SHO 2019).
“The SHO 2019 will enable Sarawak to have a better and more comprehensive law to protect, preserve, conserve, and manage its heritage assets more efficiently.
“Conservation and management of heritage are spelt out and made clear in this Ordinance.
“The department will be able to make proper considerations on how to deal with heritage conservation matters within the framework of the new Ordinance,” he said.
For the record, SHO 2019 widens the scope of heritage to include underwater heritage, intangible cultural heritage, and establishment of the ‘Sarawak Heritage Council’ to assist the government on matters of policy relating to heritage.
Following this, he stated that a fund known as ‘Sarawak Heritage Trust Fund’ is set up for the purpose of preservation and conservation works of the State’s heritage under the said Ordinance.
