Museum keeps Sibu heritage alive but operations crippled by staff shortage

Lau (left) and Ting at the Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum.

THE Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum has resumed normal operations following a two-year closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was reopened in April this year but only on an appointment basis for group visits.

“We felt that this was not satisfactory as we want people to be able to come here during regular operating hours,” said Chinese community leader in Sibu, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau who visited the museum with Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting.

Lau said the museum was currently managed by the Sibu Civic Centre but due to a shortage of staff, it could not open on a regular basis for the past few months.

He hoped the Sarawak Museum Department would take over the museum, so that it could be better managed and maintained.

“State Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is also contemplating whether this place should remain under the Sibu Civic Centre or be managed by the Sarawak Museum.

“This building belongs to the SMC and it has an arrangement with a contractor to manage it.

“Undeniably, repair and maintenance work need to be carried out,” he added.

Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum was formed in 1988 by the Cultural Heritage Committee of Sibu Civic Centre with the support of various ethnic associations.

It was then located at the ground floor of the Sibu Civic Centre before being relocated to the Sibu Heritage Centre in 2010.

The museum displays rich cultural heritage of various ethnic groups of the central region namely Orang Ulu, Iban, Malay, Melanau and Chinese.

It also traces the history of Sibu and the early settlers up to the formation of Malaysia.

The museum’s opening hours are from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. It is open on an appointment basis on Saturdays and Sundays. – By ANDY CHUA