Huazong urges govt to allocate funds for community-run museums

KOTA KINABALU: Besides funding the state museums, the government should also consider providing funding for community-run museums in the country, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).

He said this while welcoming the government announcement of funding for museums run by state governments, besides encouraging the private sector to participate in the development of museums.

Goh was responding to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri's recent statement that her ministry (Motac) has approved the first allocation of RM20.25 million to several state museums for maintenance and development purposes.

In a statement issued yesterday, while commending the government for its continuous efforts to maintain and to improve the state museums, so as to better attract both domestic and foreign visitors, Goh hoped the government could also pay attention to the development of community-run museums.

He cited for example, the Huazong-run Malaysian Chinese Museum (MCM), which is the largest community-run museum in Malaysia, deserves to receive funding from the government, and that Motac should do its best to assist in this aspect.

He then recalled that, back in 2018, during the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak even made a RM1: RM1 pledge for the development of MCM. But, it was never materialized following the change of regime, after that.

“We earnestly hope that the present Perikatan Nasional government could provide some funding for the upkeep and development of our museum,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, Goh who is also the President of Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) also welcomed and supported the minister's statement for encouraging the private sector to actively take part in the development of museums, in order to better promote cultural tourism in the country.

He noted that, currently in Malaysia there are a total of 236 museums and 22 are placed under the administration of the Museum Department.

He thus opined that these community-run museums too should be given due attention and funding by the government.

Kota Kinabalu medical officer Dr Tee Wen Li answering a question from the public during the Covid-19 vaccination awareness program at the Sabah Association of Senior Citizens clubhouse.