KUCHING: The new state-funded Sarawak Museum Campus — to be completed by 2020 — aims to be the main centre for Borneo Heritage collection by 2030.
State Museum Department director Ipoi Datan said the new museum will involve two main buildings.
“The first building at the former site of Dewan Tun Abdul Razak will be for display and the other building at where Sipec (Sarawak Industrial Promotion and Exhibition Centre) used to be will be for storage and conservation,” he told reporters at an appreciation dinner hosted by the department on Thursday.
“Dewan Tun Abdul Razak has been demolished to make way for the new building. Infrastructural work has been done, sooner or later the piling work will start, either this year or early next year.”
Ipoi said while the project was valued at RM300 million, the new museum would exhibit collections specifically on the various cultures of ethnic groups in Sarawak.
The new depository site, he said, would comprise topical and thematic galleries encompassing the early history of Sarawak besides featuring various historical developments.
“It will also focus on various aspects of different cultures and different ethnic groups in Sarawak.
“That is our stronghold even though we are diverse in culture. There are nearly 30 ethnic groups in Sarawak, but we are all united in our way of life.
“We observe mutual respect and live in harmony and unity,” he said.
Ipoi did not rule out the possibility of an entrance fee.
“We will refer to the government whether we will be charging or not. But that is one possibility because we will then be showcasing the best of Sarawak.
“Of course we will put in place state-of-the-art facilities in terms of exhibition and conservation.
“We aspire to be the collection of Borneo Heritage by 2030,” he said.
Under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), Ipoi said the department had been granted some RM25 million to conserve, develop and build up a few more museums in some of the old forts ‘that are not yet occupied at the moment’.
These historical structures included Fort Lili in Betong, Fort Emma in Kanowit, Fort Sylvia in Kapit, Fort Hose in Marudi and Fort Brooke in Meluan.
“We will improve and make the buildings better in terms of conservation. We will also put in the exhibition,” he said, adding works done on Fort Alice in Sri Aman would be extended to the other forts.
He added that the Brooke Gallery would be ready at Fort Margherita here by April.