BY GABRIEL LIHAN & JASMINE BADUN
KUCHING: The Borneo Cultures Museum has been a hit since it opened, receiving 1,000 visitors on the first day, on Wednesday (March 9).
Being the biggest museum in Malaysia and second biggest in Southeast Asia, the new museum is nothing short of remarkable and has impressed visitors.
New Sarawak Tribune spoke to some of those who visited it — and those about to — for their thoughts.
NICOLE FRANKIE LIAN FEN NI
(Student)
“I have not visited the new museum but I am currently waiting for a slot to be available. Having seen videos and images circulating on social media, I can safely say that the new museum has exceeded my expectations. The addition of new interactive and digital experiences definitely enhances the quality of a museum in this day and age. I’m also very impressed with the marriage of modern and traditional architectural designs that showcase the unity in Sarawak. This is definitely in a class on its own!’’
RACHEL MAGDELINE SIM
(Freelancer)
‘’Kuching has always been a hotspot for culture and I’m pinching myself as I write this for missing such a big milestone! As a Sarawakian and a Kuchingnite, I’ve always been so proud of our rich culture and have always loved talking about it to my friends from Peninsular Malaysia! The fact that it is so new to people yet so old really reflects the hype and craze of our museum. It’s about time our history, home, and voice be showcased. Looking forward to visiting the museum when I am back in the motherland. It is a testament that we are more than the flora and fauna of our rainforests.’’
TING SHI QI
(Secondary school teacher)
‘’It felt surreal to read about the history of my state because what happened in the past affects what Sarawak is like today. I learned things I didn’t know about before. The museum is beautiful and huge. I spent about four hours there and still had more to look at! The staff are incredibly polite and nice. There are staff in every exhibit ready to explain the artifacts to you. I truly enjoyed my time visiting the museum.’’
AZRA TILAI
(Lecturer)
‘’I have yet to visit the new museum. However, as a Sarawakian, I am truly proud that we have a majestic monument in our capital city. I do look forward to it and I’m excited to see what is in the museum as I know that a lot of effort had been put in to finally have it opened to the public. Being the second biggest museum in Southeast Asia, I expect to see a large array of historical collections being displayed as well as interactive sessions which can create a fun learning experience that there is in Borneo.”
TRISHA CELINE STEWARD
(Student)
‘’I have not visited the museum but I am planning to visit after the Covid-19 cases decrease. I expect a lifetime learning experience which enables me to learn more about Sarawak through the museum. I expect extra knowledge regarding the races in Sarawak, including the minorities. I have expectations that the museum will have diverse knowledge regarding the past and present of Sarawak’s development and such.
AYSHA SAMJUN
(Student)
I have yet to visit the new museum. My friends and I were planning to go at the end of March, but this month’s slot is fully booked. By looking at the exterior of the museum, I want to see what is inside. I’m sure the journey to understanding more about Sarawak starts here.’’
ASHLEY TAN SIA KHOON
(Librarian)
“I have yet to visit the new museum but I am excited to do so! One of the expectations that I have for the new museum is to see many displays of historical artefacts, statues and fossils which were not included in the previous museum.”
