KUCHING: A total of 38 buildings, monuments, historical sites, and underwater heritage sites in Sarawak have been gazetted under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 to ensure the state's heritage treasures remain protected and preserved.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said among the initiatives implemented this year was the Sarawak Tangible Heritage Inventory Programme, which recorded 407 heritage inventory items from August 10 to 14, 2026.
“The Sarawak Museum Department has also established the Sarawak Heritage Working Committee (JKKWS) and completed conservation works on the Beting Maro Battle Memorial (1849),” he said.
He said this when delivering his ministry's winding-up speech at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, he noted that the department received donations of oil and gas industry equipment from Sarawak Shell Berhad, Miri Branch, in the second quarter of this year as part of joint efforts to preserve shared heritage.
He explained that the contribution comprised a Subsea Wellhead and a set of Drilling Rig Equipment Assembly, representing the over-century-long evolution of Sarawak's oil and gas industry technology.
He added that as part of the initiative to honor the contribution, the department will launch a three-month temporary exhibition titled 'Donated Legacy: Building Collections', beginning November 2026.
“The exhibition will showcase 63 selected objects from the Sarawak Museum Department's collection and will be held in conjunction with the Sarawak Heritage Conference scheduled to take place from November 23 to 24, 2026, at the Borneo Cultures Museum,” he elaborated. — UKASnews
Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Hazrin Sunaini & Muhd Zulfadhli Ahmad Sharir
Translator: Ryan Lim
