AN impressive collection of 402,256 items have been meticulously curated for display in exhibition galleries by the Sarawak Museum Department.
Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lauded the department’s efforts in preserving these collections, adding they are actively digitalising these collections, ensuring a comprehensive backup record.
He noted that to date, the archaeological collection takes the lead, comprising 62.2 per cent of the total with 250,205 items.
Zoological specimens follow closely at 26.6 per cent, ethnological artefacts at 5.4 per cent, audiovisual collections at 4.2 per cent, and historical documents at 1.6 per cent.
“The department has also converted 654 cassette tapes into digital format. This digital audio has been uploaded into the ATHENA system, which is a digital content management system.
“This year, the department has digitalised 14,889 pages of historical documents, including old maps, manuscripts, field notes, and collection logbooks,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Tuesday (Nov 28).
On the same note, Abdul Karim asserted that heritage preservation efforts have been amplified through the adoption of cutting-edge technology such as the Thermo Lignum system, a chemical-free pest control method.
Remarkably, Sarawak is the sole custodian of this technology in Malaysia, having treated 322 collections since its introduction in June 2023.
Meanwhile, he applauded the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM), saying it remains a prominent attraction for museum-goers.
“Since its opening, the museum has recorded a total of 856,559 visitors. For this year, the museum has welcomed 296,496 visitors to date,” he added.
He said the BCM’s influence extends far beyond local boundaries, attracting 311 schools and 35 universities.
The BCM, he said, also hosted student visitors from international learning institutions like National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, Universitas Muhammadiyah Pontianak in Indonesia, and Crest Secondary School in Singapore.
