New museum in Sarawak introduces Borneo's epic story to the world

The Borneo Cultures Museum's black-and-gold diamond facade is inspired by a Sarawakian craft motif. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

After a 15-month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) in Kuching finally opened its doors last month to much anticipation.

And the wait has certainly been worth it.

This is a museum on an epic scale, from its sheer size to the ambition of the displays in its permanent galleries.

The RM323mil BCM is the largest museum in Malaysia and second largest in South-East Asia with a total floor space of 31,000sq m in its main building and adjoining annex office building. This includes 6,638sq m of exhibition space in the five-level main building.

The museum’s exterior is clad in a black-and-gold diamond pattern inspired by Sarawakian craft motifs while its golden roof resembles that of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex across the Sarawak River.

With over 6,000sq m of exhibition space, the Borneo Cultures Museum is the largest in Malaysia and second largest in South-East Asia. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

Inside, three permanent galleries tell the story of Sarawak’s history and rich cultural heritage through more than 1,000 artefacts and interactive displays.

“From its majestic exterior to its immersive exhibits, the Borneo Cultures Museum should be on everybody’s top 10 list of places to visit in Kuching, if not Sarawak,” says Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) communications director Maggie Apau.

“Thanks to the innovative use of extended reality, Sarawak’s rich history can come alive for tourists.

“Locals will get to appreciate the stories of their cultural and natural heritage being retold in a new and fun way that younger generations can instantly relate to and engage with,” she added.

Head trophies from enemies were usually hung over a fireplace in the verandah of a longhouse as part of rituals celebrating bravery and warfare. These skulls were previously on display at the Sarawak Museum. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

The permanent exhibition begins with the first gallery on Level Three themed “In Harmony With Nature”, which explores the cultures and lifestyles of Sarawak’s indigenous communities in relationship with their natural environment.

The biggest of the three permanent galleries, it is divided into three geographical zones - the coast, the rainforest and the highlands.

A place to explore

Here visitors can immerse themselves in the environment of each zone to discover the ethnic groups living there and their cultural traditions, rituals and beliefs, from subsistence activities such as farming, fishing and hunting to marriage customs, burial rites and even headhunting.

Exhibits include a Melanau burial pole known as “kelidieng”, the replica of giant carved burial poles known as “kelirieng”, heirloom ceramics and zoological specimens. The gallery ends with an interactive display where visitors can see themselves transforming into different trees found in the coast, rainforest and highlands of Sarawak.

A recreation of the Niah Painted Cave provides an immersive experience with interactive cave paintings on the walls. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

For STB’s Maggie, the “In Harmony With Nature” gallery is her favourite part of the museum.

“It weaves together the stories behind the historic and cultural artefacts of Sarawak’s indigenous people with nature in their daily lives,” she says.

The next gallery on Level 4, “Time Changes”, tells the history of Sarawak and Borneo from prehistoric times to what the state is today. The first section on cave discoveries displays archaeological finds from the Niah Caves, including a renowned skull discovered in 1958 which dates back 35,000 years.

There is also a recreation of the Niah Painted Cave where wall paintings of various figures and shapes have been discovered. Visitors can touch the motifs on the walls of the recreated cave to learn about the paintings in a series of interactive displays.

The gallery then explores Borneo’s contact with other empires through trade before moving on to the making of Sarawak under the Brunei sultanate to Brooke family rule which lasted 100 years from 1841.

A modern history

The final section, “Sarawak In Motion”, details the state’s modern history from 1941 to the 1990s, including its role in the formation of Malaysia in 1963. The documents and exhibits surrounding the Proclamation of Malaysia and the independence of Sarawak are exhibited here.

The Proclamation of the Independence of Sarawak and the Proclamation of Malaysia which were read at a proclamation ceremony declaring the formation of Malaysia at Central Padang, now Padang Merdeka, in Kuching on Sept 16, 1963. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

The best examples of Sarawak’s material culture are on display in the third permanent gallery on Level 5, themed “Objects of Desire”. This gallery showcases the objects that are most cherished by Sarawak’s ethnic groups and artefacts valued for their skilled craftsmanship, spiritual power and symbol of status.

The first section focuses on beads and ceramics and their value in trade. For example, multi-coloured glass beads such as the rosette and chequerboard treasured by the Orang Ulu communities came from Europe, in particular Venice.

Ceramic jars, meanwhile, mostly originated from China and reached Borneo from the 14th century onwards, when they were used for storing goods on long sea journeys.

The next section highlights craftsmanship in basketry and weaving. Woven and embroidered textiles and baskets, including the Iban ceremonial cloth known as “pua kumbu”, are displayed as masterpieces, as the skills to make them can take years to master.

An immersive experience of travelling along rivers marks the first stop in the Children’s Gallery. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

The gallery’s final sections display artefacts believed to have spiritual power as well as status objects such as tattoos, metalware and jewellery.

There is an interactive children’s gallery on Level 2 themed “Love Our Rivers”, which takes visitors on a river journey to learn about environmental sustainability and conservation and the harmful effects of pollution. Level 2 also houses an arts and crafts gallery which provides space for workshops and performances.

Located on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, the Borneo Cultures Museum is open from 9am to 4.45pm on weekdays and 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekends and public holidays.

For the month of Ramadan, the opening hours are temporarily revised to 8.30am to 4pm daily.

Entry is free for the first three months but visitors are advised to book their visit.

More info here.