KUCHING: The Sarawak government has been urged to preserve historical sites and monuments, and to put more of Sarawak’s history in books.
Edward Lakin Mansel, a retired Department of Agriculture of Sarawak Museum Department staff, said it was important for the state government to declare historical sites and monuments as heritage sites.
For example, Mansel pointed out the former war memorial in Padungan that no longer exists after being demolished when it was moved to Central Padang, and he believed that such monument could attract tourists.
“I hope the governments consider honouring and preserving historical sites, as Sarawak has many historical monuments. It will be a great loss if they are not preserved.
“And from that, the younger generation can get to know the history of the state and the people who became victims of the Japanese Occupation,” he said during a Q&A session after the lecture on “Japanese Occupation in Sarawak 1941-1945” yesterday, at Sarawak Museum Complex here.
Besides that, Mansel also urged the government to cherish the war memorials around the state and the country to honour those who perished during the Occupation.
“Even Kalimantan does this (remember the fallen). Unlike Malaysia, we just want to forget anything that happened (in history).
“The former war memorial in Padungan should have been noted as a heritage site and taken care of,” he said.
Mansel also added that he spoke to Kuching South City Council Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng for the rebuilding of this war memorial.
“He (Wee) was very positive and supportive of the idea…at the exact same place in Padungan. I hope the state government will support the idea,” he told reporters.
In addition, Mansel also hoped that the Ministry of Education would put more of Sarawak’s history in the History subject and textbooks as “it is still lacking.”
“Not only that, the younger generation did not get the chance to understand the in-depth story about Sarawak and they are missing out a lot.
“I hope the curricular departments in the ministry take into account this as it is one of the ways to keep Sarawak’s history alive…to be told from one generation to another,” he said.
