Today we celebrated the 130th anniversary of our Sarawak Museum which had always been the all-time popular venue to showcase the state’s unique culture and heritage. The old museum building we have along Jalan Tun Abang Openg is also one of the most iconic tourist attractions before the Covid19 pandemic.
Back in 2019, we received a total of 4.66 million visitors who had spent RM11.6 million and this is one of the contributing factors for our heritage sector to thrive and leverage from the tourism industry.
I am very passionate about museums and I can still vividly recall visiting this iconic Sarawak Museum back in my younger days. Visitors would often include visiting museums in their itinerary, regardless of whether travelling domestically or internationally.
I hope our museums will have the pulling effect or Bilbao effect similar to what happened in Bilbao city, Spain with the establishment of Guggenheim Museum. Thus, having museums not only helps to generate the city’s economy but also for the community living within its proximity.
We are also fortunate to have a very supportive government as allocations have been provided for restoration works according to international standards. Moreover, there are various old and historic buildings throughout the state which are in the progress of conversion to become museums. It is good for the tourism industry that is rapidly developing and it contributes to the country’s socio-economic growth. Sarawak is not only known for its multi ethnicity and multiculturalism, but it also has many historical buildings and monuments.
Our Sarawak Museum was built during the reign of Rajah Charles Brooke in 1891 and its development under the Sarawak Museum Campus will be a catalyst for Kuching city’s progress.
I have urged the Sarawak Museum Department to continue with their hard work in ensuring our museums and rich heritage will continue to be preserved because we are not marketing Sarawak as a shopping destination, but for culture and heritage.
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