KUCHING: The Sarawak Museum Department has received donations of 41 objects from various sources including a 100-year-old Iban pua kumbu (a ceremonial, warp-patterned, multi-coloured cotton cloth woven by Iban women in the state).
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Iban pua kumbu was from an Australian collector, and donated by Deborah Dalziel. The date of acquisition was this year, March 17, 2023.
Also donated to the Sarawak Museum were two Orang Ulu parangs, obtained by Duncan Shimwell McDougal, an officer during the Brooke era in the 1920s.
Abdul Karim said McDougal took the parangs to England and they remained there until they appeared at Christie’s Auction House in 1994.
“Then, the two unique parangs were purchased by Lim Jit Boo, who resides in Penang. Following that, the Sarawak Museum Department (SMD) received a request for donation of the two parangs by Louise Macul.”
Abdul Karim said Bidayuh items of Dayung Borih, closely related to a Bidayuh ritual ceremony, were also given to the museum on March 2, 2023.
“Donated by Michael Borro Durieng, they were kept by the custodian, Father John Chong Khin Leong from St. Stephen Church, Bau, for a very long, long time,” he said.
The minister was speaking to reporters in a press conference in conjunction with Sarawak Heritage Council 2023 meet at Riverside Majestic Hotel today (Nov 30).
Abdul Karim also said the Sarawak Museum Department received early 19th century printed images of Sarawak people and places from books and newspapers.
“The old prints were donated by Datuk Richard Curtis on April 14, 2023.
“Other than that, the Department also received beaded accessories from the ethnics of Borneo, donated by Dr. David McLanahan, on Dec 1, 2023,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that due to its excellent reputation in collection care, the Sarawak Museum had successfully instilled confidence in donors and source communities, resulting in the return of various Borneo objects from different parts of the world.
Among those present at the press conference were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting, Sarawak Museum Department, director, Nancy Jolhi and Tun Jugah Foundation senior advisor, Dr Peter Mulok Kedit.
