Donate cultural collections to museum — Masidi
KOTA KINABALU: Members of the public or any agencies who happen to still own cultural collections of any kind are encouraged to donate their collections to the State Museum Department.
In line with this, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said that the passage of time and the rise of technology might have affected the people’s cultural origin.
He reiterated that the museum plays an important role in collecting, keeping and preserving the people’s cultural heritage, not only for research purposes but for the sake of sharing it with tourists as well.
“Thus, I hope that each one of us will bear the responsibility to preserve and protect our respective heritage and tradition and to promote that awareness within ourselves and our children,” Masidi said in his speech, which was read by his assistant minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi at the launching ceremony of the State Museum’s special three-in-one exhibition at its complex on Tuesday.
Masidi said that the exhibition was held in conjunction with the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin’s 64th birthday and it would feature three displays, namely, the the ‘Digarhayu Tuan Yang Terutama’, ‘Wastra Borneo: Kain, Kosmos dan Warna - Jalinan Warisan Budaya Kita’ and the ‘Galeri Busana’ exhibitions from October 17 onwards.
He added that the exhibition was in line with the government’s intention to further improve the country’s tourism industry, adding that the country should utilize any opportunity that it can get to compete with the other countries.
‘Dirgahayu Tuan Yang Terutama’ (or long live the Head of State) is a yearly display showcased by the State Museum to commemorate the Head of State’s birthday by showcasing the function and role in the society as well as his social activities throughout the year.
‘Wastra Borneo’ is a display that aims to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of the clothing and textile of the Borneon and Java islands. It was co-organized together with various museums from Kalimantan, Brunei, Sarawak and Java.
Meanwhile, ‘Galeri Busana’ (or fashion gallery) will be showcasing 34 different types of traditional clothing and the cultural textile history of Sabah.
The public may visit this special exhibition from 9am to 5pm daily. Locals will be charged RM2 per person and RM15 for each international tourist.
Also present at the event were Tun Juhar’s wife Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni and Rural Development Minister cum the Head of State’s 64th birthday main committee chairman, Datuk Seri Panglima Radin Malleh and his wife Datin Seri Panglima Angeline Tom.