Sabah to host International Museum Day next month
KUALA LUMPUR: Locals and foreign tourists will get the chance to witness and participate in Sabah’s traditional sports at the national-level International Museum Day 2019 (IMD 2019) celebration to be held from July 15 to 20 in Kota Kinabalu.
Department of Museums Malaysia’s Natural History Museum director Dr Farizawati Sabri said among the nine traditional sports to be highlighted were sumpit (blowpipe), membujak (spearing) and rampanau (bamboo stilt walking) and sepak manggis (street version of Sepak Takraw).
Farizawati said the traditional sports events that would be held in Kampung Warisan 1 and 2, Sabah Museum were just a few of several attractions that had been lined up for the tourists during the five-day celebration.
She said as part of the celebration, 24 museums throughout the country as well as the Kapuas Raya Museum, Kalimantan, would also be organising special exhibitions.
“For this year’s celebration, Sabah’s rich cultural heritage will be highlighted in every programme, among others, the museum with the Malay-Brunei community programme to be held at Kampung Benoni and also during the Papar and Jesselton Heritage Treasure Hunt that will involve historic places around Kota Kinabalu,” she told Bernama.
IMD is celebrated every year as a form of recognition by the government towards the importance of the museum and its function in society as well as in the formation of the country.
“The festival, mooted by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), has received good response when 145 countries have recognised the day and hosted their respective IMD celebration.
“To date, IMD has seen participation of nearly 35,000 museums which host various events around the world,” she said, adding that the Department of Museums Malaysia hoped many locals from Kota Kinabalu area would participate to enliven IMD 2019.
Themed Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition, about 50,000 visitors are expected to attend IMD 2019 to be held at the Sabah Museum Complex and admission is free.