Abang Johari (second right) seen holding an artist’s impression of the proposed Sarawak Museum Campus. Also seen are Ipoi (right), Ik Pahon (third right) and others.
KUCHING: The construction of the new Sarawak Museum Campus building is progressing well and will be open to the public as scheduled by 2020.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg gave this assurance when he visited the building’s site with the Ministry of Tourism permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik and Museum Department director Ipoi Datan yesterday.
Although the building itself is scheduled to see completion by 2019, the process of moving artefacts to be displayed at the museum will take some time; thus it can only be open to the public in 2020.
Commenting on the design of the new building, Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the building will have features that portray harmony to reflect Sarawak’s diverse and unique communities.
“We have already discussed the future and plans for this museum. The state government is really hoping that this new museum will be the best in the Southeast Asian region,” he added.
Once completed, the new Sarawak Museum will have a research centre and a link with the old Sarawak Museum.
“An overhead bridge with a green concept will link the old and new buildings. Not only that, there will also be pathways for tourists around the city which link the museum and other places so that it won’t be necessary for them to travel around the city to places of interest using vehicles,” he said.
Sarawak Museum will be connected to other places of interest around Kuching City such as the Old Courthouse, Fort Margherita and the Old Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex which will be converted into a cultural centre soon by pathways.
The Sarawak Museum Campus project is to revive the international status of the Sarawak Museum and to showcase Sarawak’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
Recently, Ipoi said once the Sarawak Museum Campus is open, the Museum Department should be able to achieve its target of becoming a global centre for Bornean heritage by 2030.