Sarawak contingent to join national-level Museum Day do
KUCHING: Sarawak is sending a contingent to participate in the national-level International Museum Day celebration in Terengganu this weekend.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference yesterday at the Baitul Makmur Complex ( Masja) Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik said the state contingent headed by Zakaria Bojeng would be in Terengganu from May 14 to 21.
He also revealed that the contingent comprises 15 people.
One of the reasons why Sarawak is sending a small contingent is that the state is busy with their own activities as well.
“Members of the contingent will participate in all kinds of activities during their visit to Terengganu.
“Some will attend seminars, take part in traditional games or even participate in community services while there,” he added.
After the press conference, Ik Pahon handed over the state flag to Zakaria.
International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 annually worldwide since 1977.
The main objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that ‘museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people”.
This year’s theme for the national level celebration is ‘Museums and Contested Histories: Saying the Unspeakable in Museums’.
“By focusing on the role of museums as hubs for promoting peaceful relationships between people, this theme highlights how the acceptance of a contested history is the first step in envisioning a shared future under the banner of reconciliation,” Ik Pahon said.
Meanwhile state Museum Department director Ipoi Datan who was also present during the press conference said museum collections offer ref lections of memories and representations of history.
Thus, the event in Terengganu next week would provide an opportunity to show how museums display and depict traumatic memories to encourage visitors to think beyond their own individual experiences.
“History is a vital tool for defining a given people’s identity and each of us defines ourselves through important and fundamental historic events.
“Contested histories are unfortunately not isolated traumatic events as these histories, which are often little known or misunderstood, resonate universally as they concern and affect us all,” Ipoi pointed out.
This year’s celebration was initially scheduled to be hosted by Kelantan but due to technicalities, the hosting duty was passed on to Terengganu instead.
Members of the contingent will participate in all kinds of activities during their visit to Terengganu. Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry permanent secretary