GEORGE TOWN: A glance at the Penang State Museum entrance signage reveals the words "Pendudok" and "Pendidekan", which are the old Bahasa Malaysia spelling for words that are familiar to many, says Wong Hon Wai.
The museum board chairman said the unorthodox spellings are not errors but the official spelling at the time the signage was installed.
The Penang tourism committee chairman said members of the public had recently raised concerns over alleged spelling errors for some of the words on the museum's entrance sign.
"The words are not spelling mistakes made when the sign was recreated as part of the museum's upgrading works.
"They are part of the original inscription on a commemorative plaque erected for the official opening of the Penang State Museum on April 14, 1965, which was replicated based on its original appearance.
“The sign placed at the entrance of the Penang State Museum after the upgrading works and reopening was replicated based on the appearance and original inscription of the commemorative plaque.
“This was done to ensure that historical details, six decades old are preserved as accurately as possible,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 27).
Wong said the words “pendudok” and “pendidekan” on the newly replicated information sign were not spelling errors.
"Before Malaysia and Indonesia simultaneously introduced the new romanised spelling system on Aug 16, 1972, the Bahasa Malaysia spelling used at that time differed from the one used today.
“At that time, ‘penduduk’ was spelt ‘pendudok’, while ‘pendidikan’ was spelt ‘pendidekan’," he said.
He said one cannot use today's Bahasa Malaysia spelling standards to determine whether a word used in the 1960s was wrong or otherwise.
“When examined within the historical context and spelling norms of that time, it is clear that these words reflect valid spellings and are part of the original historical appearance of that era.
"The core functions of a museum include the collection and preservation of collections, research, exhibitions and education.
"An important responsibility of a museum is to display historical materials and artefacts as closely as possible to their original form.
“A museum does not merely store artefacts but is responsible for preserving the history left behind by previous generations, including the writing, terminology, spelling and traces of the period contained within them,” he said.
Wong added that in the conservation and restoration of artefacts, the principles of “minimum intervention” and “authenticity” are important considerations.
Wong also said the fact that the public noticed the words “pendudok” and “pendidekan” on the information sign at the museum's entrance showed that they were paying attention to the museum and reading and understanding the historical materials on display.
“I see this as something positive.
“What the public assumed to be a ‘spelling error’ actually proves that the information sign has retained the linguistic characteristics and historical traces of the period concerned.
The public's willingness to raise questions, examine historical materials and discuss history itself was part of the museum's educational function.
“Any questions regarding exhibitions, historical materials or the way artefacts are presented are welcomed" he said.
The public can submit their questions via email at psm_enquiries@penangmuseum.
