KUCHING: A heritage piece, a sun hat, belonging to the Badeng people will be returned to the state through the Sarawak Museum Department.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it is part of a set of six objects documented in the Sarawak Museum Acquisition Register.
According to him, in 1905 Rajah Charles Brooke established a mini Sarawak Museum in Cirencester and the “Sun Hat” was one of the objects exhibited in the museum.
“After the museum was closed in 1917, this object was donated by the Brooke Family to an institution in the United Kingdom namely the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University and will then be returned to Sarawak,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after the Sarawak Heritage Council Meeting No. 2/2022 at the Mulu Meeting Room, in the Baitulmakmur II Building, near here, yesterday.
In a related matter, he added that some parties want to donate heritage objects to the Sarawak Museum Department such as
J. B. Lim from Penang donated two Parang Ilang Mandau blades; Datuk Richard Curtis handed over his pen in the form of a sketch which is part of ‘Sarawak Proper’ and is believed to have been sketched around the 1890s measuring 111 x 99.5cm.
“Dr David McLanahan also wishes to hand over the Bidayuh Kaum Chain, the Orang Ulu Pawang Chain and accessories with an element of spring,” he said.
In this regard, Abdul Karim said the return of the state’s artefacts and objects to the Sarawak Museum Department shows awareness among the community about the importance of the preservation and conservation of the state’s heritage treasures.
“For me, the desire to donate may have arisen because of what the Sarawak Government has implemented with the museum, especially the Borneo Cultural Museum.
“We have exhibited objects and artefacts professionally and anyone who keeps treasures related to this state may be moved to donate so that they can be displayed for the public to see.
“I also hope that anyone who keeps Sarawak’s important items can donate to the state museum and we appreciate such an effort,” he explained.
In related developments, he informed the governor on December 5, Her Majesty the King Queen Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandaria
has agreed to present his Royal Ring which is one of his wedding gifts to the Government of Sarawak to be displayed at the Borneo Cultural Museum.
Earlier, in addition to discussing the issue, Abdul Karim revealed yesterday’s meeting involved the gazetting of historic buildings, monuments and sites in the state.
“Among those proposed to be gazetted in 2023 include Batu Lintang 2nd World War Internment Camp (1941), Sungai Bawan Sacred Heart Church (1900), Kuching City Mosque (1847), ‘Japanese Landing Craft’ (1941), Batu- Narit stones in Bario and Ba’kelalan and others,” he stressed.
