KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports (MTACYS) recently organised working visits to London in the United Kingdom and Amsterdam in the Netherlands from Jan14 to18.
Led by its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the delegation consisted of the ministry’s permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee, its other senior management officials, Sarawak Museum Department and relevant agencies.
According to Karim, the objective of the working visits was to study the planning and management of museums and historical monuments in the two countries, both well-known for the establishment of such initiatives.
“The working visit also serves as good benchmarks in our preparation for the proposed amendments to the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance, 1993.
“The proposed amendments are necessary to enhance the legal provisions for the preservation of antiques, monuments and sites of cultural, archaeological, architectural, artistic, religious or traditional interest or value for the benefit of the state,” he said.
Karim said the visit was also to gain exposure and learn from their experience.
“This is crucial to better prepare the ministry and its agencies in operating the Sarawak Museum Campus building which will be completed this year and expected to be fully operational by 2021,” he added.
The minister said apart from the establishment of the new Sarawak Museum Campus, the Sarawak state government was also actively developing Santubong Archaeological Park, the Maritime Museum and Darul Hana Museum.
Among the places they visited in the Netherlands were the Tropen Museum, Rijksmuseum and Mauritshuis Museum and also the country’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as well as its Cultural Heritage Agency.
The delegation’s visits to the United Kingdom included Historical England, English Heritage Trust, Horniman Museum and other related museums and historical monuments.
During the visit they also had opportunity to attend a briefing conducted by Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson and Brooke Trust Heritage director Jason Brooke.
