LAU King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum needs immediate government attention.
Bukit Assek assemblyman, Chieng Jin Ek said, “It is showing signs of deterioration, resulting from the leaking rooftop and other damages.
“The museum requires extensive extension and renovation. Hence, it urgently needs the government’s immediate attention and upgrading,” he said while debating the 2024 State Budget at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in Kuching today.
Earlier, Chieng proposed under the third initiative of the proposed State Budget 2024 that the development of new tourism attractions and upgrading of existing facilities should include the improvement and upgrading of Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.
“Lau King Howe Hospital, which was completed in 1936, provided important medical services to the people of the Rejang River.
“In September 1994, the new Sibu Hospital was opened. The Lau King Howe Hospital basically did not provide hospitalisation. It only provided some outpatient medical services.
“In 2005, Lau King Howe Hospital closed completely to give way for the development project of Sibu Town Square Phase Two.
“Lau King Howe Hospital was converted into Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum on August 3, 1996,” he said.
Chieng added that the hospital museum was not just a museum of medical equipment, but also a historical record.
“It allows us to understand medical services in the past.
“Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum was declared by the Sarawak State Government as a Gazetted Heritage Building under the Sarawak Culture Heritage Ordinance 1993 on September 23, 2019.
“We are very blessed to have Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum, the only hospital museum in Malaysia. The total number of visitors in 2023 (until October) is 4,339,” Chieng said.
