By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 18: Key heritage sites in Sarawak, including the Brooke Dockyard Maritime Museum at Jalan Market here and archaeological sites in Santubong such as Bongkissam and Bukit Maras Archaeological Park, Sungai Jaong Archaeological Park, and the Wallace Centre, are set to be officiated this year, offering new tourism and cultural experiences for visitors.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah shared the update during a press conference after chairing the Sarawak Heritage Council Meeting at a local hotel here today.
“Our archaeological sites in Santubong, the Bukit Maras, the Sungai Jaong, as well as the Wallace Centre, we will be officiating them.
“We’re still waiting for a date from the Premier (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg), but they will be officiated this year.
“They’re more or less completed already. That’s where we will have new tourism products as well as archaeological sites for people to visit,” he said, adding that a total of four sites are scheduled to be officiated this year.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said the Sarawak Museum Department has successfully gazetted 14 historical sites, buildings, monuments, and underwater heritage as protected heritage under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance (SHO 2019) on Feb 12, 2025.
The gazetted sites are: Rumah Panjang Melanau Kampung Sok, Matu; Rumah Sri Tanjung, Tanjung Lobang, Miri; Sacred Heart Church, Sungai Bawan, Kanowit; Makam Dato Permaisuri, Miri; Pusara Ali Wallace, Kampung Jaie, Sadong Jaya; Kubur Shariff Skrang, Kampung Igan, Matu; Tapak Masjid Bandaraya Kuching; Tapak Pertempuran Beting Maro; Lombong Arang Batu Brooke, Gunung Ngili, Simunjan; Batu Ritong in Pa’ Lungan, Bario; Tapak Pertempuran Kampung Jangkar, Lundu; Tuang Schist Semeba, Kuching; Folded Schist Demak, Kuching; and the Japanese Landing Craft, Brighton Beach, Miri.
The minister also highlighted that the Sarawak Museum Department will participate in the 2025 National-Level International Museum Day celebration, which will be held in Kedah from July 23 to 29.
He said Sarawak will be sending a 34-member contingent to take part in both the exhibition and the sports meet during the week-long event.
This year marks the 29th edition of the celebration, themed ‘Masa Depan Muzium dalam Komuniti yang Berubah Pantas’.
Also present at the press conference were Deputy Ministers Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew and Datuk Snowdan Lawan. — DayakDaily
