KUCHING: The Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) has secured international recognition after being listed in the Museum World Ranking (MWR), placing it among the world’s best museums.
BCM is one of only three Malaysian museums to make the list, alongside the National Museum and the National Textile Museum.
It currently ranks 305th out of 413 museums worldwide.
In a Facebook statement, BCM described the recognition as a source of pride for Sarawak and Malaysia, while encouraging continued public support to improve its standing.
“Let’s boost our ranking together — your vote matters,” it said, sharing the voting link at http://www.museumworldranking.net
Opened in 2022, BCM is the first museum in Malaysia to be certified as a Green Building under the Green Building Index (GBI).
The five-storey facility houses climate-controlled permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, a children’s gallery, function room, auditorium, restaurant, and a souvenir shop.
It also features an arts and crafts gallery with activity labs and a dance studio, while modern audio-visual technology and interactive displays are used throughout to enhance storytelling and create immersive visitor experiences.
The museum’s thematic galleries provide a journey through Sarawak’s natural and cultural heritage.
The children’s gallery on Level 2, themed ‘Love Our Rivers’, introduces primary school children to the importance of river conservation.
On Level 3, ‘In Harmony with Nature’ highlights the biodiversity and cultures of communities in Sarawak’s coastal, rainforest and highland regions.
Level 4’s ‘Time Changes’ traces the evolution of human settlements from the Paleolithic period, featuring archaeological and historical artefacts.
On the top floor, ‘Objects of Desire’ showcases material culture from the Sarawak Museum collections, underscoring their uniqueness and cultural value.
With more than 1,000 artefacts on display, BCM is the largest museum in Malaysia and the second largest in Southeast Asia.
