SIBU: The Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum will be better managed if the Sarawak Museum authorities take over, says Chinese community leader Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau.
Lau believes that under the new management, the museum, which was established in 2010, will be repaired and properly maintained.
“We hope that the management of the Sarawak Museum will take over. The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development under minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is also thinking about whether this place will remain under the management of the Sibu Auditorium or the Sarawak Museum,” he told the media after visiting the museum in Jalan Wong Nai Siong here with Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting on Tuesday (July 26).
Lau said several discussions had been held to ensure that the museum be better managed and well maintained.
“This building belongs to SMC and it has an agreement with a contractor to manage it. We need to do repairs and maintenance.”
He also shared the good news that the museum was now operating as usual after being closed for two years due to the pandemic.
“It reopened in April this year but only on appointment basis for group visits. We feel this is unsatisfactory because we want people to be able to come here during normal opening hours.”
Lau said since the museum was managed by Sibu Auditorium and due to lack of staff, it had not been opened as scheduled for the past few months.
“If it is opened, we can have regular arrangements by the staff. If we don’t, the operation inside will face problems,” he explained.
The museum’s operating hours are from 9am to 4pm, Mondays to Fridays. On Saturdays and Sundays, it is by appointment.
This museum displays the rich cultural heritage of various ethnic groups in Sarawak, namely Orang Ulu, Iban, Malay, Melanau and Chinese.
