Wong: Museum needs more artifacts, exhibits

0

SIBU: The Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum is short of exhibits and artifacts from the Malay, Melanau and Iban communities.

HOW DOES IT WORK?: Wong checks out a latex processing machine used in the old days.

HOW DOES IT WORK?: Wong checks out a latex processing machine used in the old days.

As such, Minister of Environment and Public Health Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said it would be great if people from these communities could give the museum a helping hand.

“The museum needs more heritage materials from the Malay, Melanau and Iban communities. Maybe they can loan the exhibits or artifacts to the museum for a brief period of time,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after officiating at the soft opening of the museum yesterday, Wong also hoped that the Sarawak Museum could loan some artifacts, particularly those pertinent to communities in the central region.

The Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum used to be holed up at the Civic Centre, but it was recently relocated to the Sibu Heritage Centre.

In its compound are planted 40 specimens of timber which is representative of Sibu as a timber town.

At the Civic Centre, it used to draw about 10,000 visitors annually.

Wong remarked that since the museum was now strategically located, it should be able to draw more locals and tourists to it.

He revealed that the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) would put the museum on the Internet to

make its presence known globally, and hopefully become a major tourist attraction in the near future.

“We want to make it an iconic place that all of us can feel proud of,” Wong said.

He also urged students to visit the museum for a ‘living’ lesson on the historical developments of the town so that they

could emulate the early pioneers in contributing to the development of Sibu.

Such a study tour would enable students to have a better understanding of their roots and foster greater racial unity.

“The study visit will expose students to the various stages of development of the town. The younger generation will learn the hardships their ancestors had to endure to bring betterment to the town,” he said.

Among others, students would get to learn how various communities come together to cooperate and live alongside with each other harmoniously.

This, said Wong, would encourage the younger generation to practise greater tolerance and embrace the spirit of accepting and respecting one another.

“Young people will learn to be more sensitive and care for others, and together play their part in contributing to the betterment of Sibu,” he said.

Earlier, SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng said Wong mooted the idea of relocating the museum from the Civic Centre to its current location.

“We have informed the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) that tourists joining the Pandaw Cruise should be encouraged to visit the museum,” Ngieng said.

Among those present were Sarawak Museum Department director Gilbert Ipoi Datan, SMC secretary Hii Chang Kee and Unique Wood Holdings chairman Datuk James Tai.