[last updated 13/12/2023]
THINGS WE DO, HAVE DONE
See also our latest Annual Reports:
SHS Annual Report 2022-2023
SHS Annual Report 2021-2022
SHS Annual Report 2020-2021
SHS Annual Report 2019-2020
SHS Annual Report 2018-2019
SHS Annual Report 2017-2018
[scroll down for GOVERNMENT LIAISON /POLICY DIALOGUE, EXHIBITIONS, TRAINING, PUBLICATIONS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, etc.]
TALKS, SITE VISITS, LAUNCHES, REPRESENTATION, COLLABORATIONS… (other than Government liaison)
9 Dec. 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Preserving our Underwater Heritage” by Dr. Azmi Hassan (Geostrategist/Research Fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR), Geoffrey Lee (scuba divers and underwater photographer) and Jimmy Yong (founder of Miri Divers). The speakers broached the topic of protection of underwater heritage, under both angles of cultural heritage (shipwrecks and other historical underwater heritage…) and natural heritage (marine biodiversity, pollution…). This was SHS’s first talk in Miri. The event was supported by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and attended by Mr. Adam Yee, Miri Mayor. Attendance: 23 persons. [flyer].
A recording of the meeting in available on Geoffrey Lee’s YouTube channel [Dr Asmi Hassan’s talk starts at 00:01:50; Geoffrey Lee’s and Jimmy Yong’s talk starts at 00:23:30]
26 Nov. 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Origins of the Carpentry in the Brooke Rajahs’ Timber Forts” by Dr John Ting, University of Canberra (Australia). Dr Ting delved into the origins – which range from Malay to Straits Chinese- of the carpentry of the Brooke era timber forts. The event was supported by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts. Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum. Attendance: 60+ persons. [flyer]
25 Nov. 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Preserving Indigenous Knowledge of Melanau Traditional Healing Rituals” by Muhammad Faiz, UNIMAS (University of Malaysia – Sarawak) post graduate student. The speaker presented his findings on traditional healing as practiced by two remaining Melanau active healers. This talk was a collaboration with ‘The Hearth Brought to Light – Food over Fire‘ 2023 Festival What Matters Sdn Bhd. Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum. Attendance: 15 persons. [flyer 1] [flyer 2]
22 Oct 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Uncovering the Story of the Mythical Red Bridge at Kampung Seropak” by Ib Larsen (Mr.). The story of an almost forgotten steel suspension bridge in the remote forest of Bau District, known to some local villagers of Kampong Seropak and rediscovered by some outsiders around 2005. Mr. Ib Larsen, from Denmark, resided in Sarawak for 7 years in the early 2000’s on a professional assignment The Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, which supported the event, was represented by Dr Elena Chai. Venue: Telang Usan Hotel. Attendance: circa 60 persons. [flyer]
26 Aug 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “New Lease Of Life: Repurposing the Old“: Three speakers – Shin Tseng, Shin Chang and Rosemarie Wong-Jabu shared their work in transforming iconic old buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching for contemporary use without destroying their unique characters. Shin Tseng and Shin Chang are the co-founders of REXKL and run their designs firm in KL, Urban Agenda Design and Mentah Matter respectively. Datin Rosemarie Wong-Jabu is the owner, creative and project director of the Ranee Artisan Gallery and restored the Marian Boutique Lodging House in Kuching. Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum. [Flyers]
15 April 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Bergendang and its Spatial Use in The Traditional Sarawak Malay House“, by Yon Syafni, architect and lecturer at UNIMAS. Bergendang is a musical performance unique to Sarawak Malays involving pantun (Malay verse) and dancing that was often held during traditional social gatherings in houses. The talk described how the spaces in the traditional Sarawak Malay house is used to accommodate the bergendang culture and how that has affected the house form. It also discussed the complex interactions and changes between culture and behaviour in Sarawak’s traditional Malay Society prior to the 1960’s and how this influenced the built environment. Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum. Attendance: 95 persons. [Flyer].
18 March 2023 – SHS supported the 5th edition of the Kuching Heritage Race (a Kuching Heritage Awareness Society initiative) by sponsoring two racing teams which accommodated boys from the Salvation Army Kuching Girls Home and Boys Home.
01 March 2023 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Surviving the Sword“: a recounting of a prisoner of war (POW)’s experience during the Japanese occupation. Len Hygate was taken prisoner in Singapore in 1942 and brought to Batu Lintang Camp in 1943, and then to Puak Camp to work on building the road to the Tegora mercury mine until he was liberated in 1945. Colin Hygate, his son, told us how he survived the years of hard labour and deprivation. Venue: Telang Usan Hotel. Attendance: 79 persons. [Flyer]
18 Dec. 2022 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Heritage Conservation and Adaptive Reuse”, a special year-end event with talks by Ar. Tan Bee Eu, Ar. Au Tai Yeow, hailing from Penang and Ar. Rosli bin Haji Nor. Venue; Borneo Cultures Museum. Event supported by the state Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts with collaboration from Jabatan Muzium Sarawak and Borneo Cultures Museum. Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum. Attendance: 73+ persons. [flyer] [Event Programme].
16 Oct. 2022 – Site visit to Sarawak listed heritage building ‘Darul Kurnia‘ -now part of Chung Hua School No. 4- built in the 1930’s by Dato Pattinggi Abang Abdillah, a descendant of Datu Patinggi Ali and an influential leader who spearheaded the movement opposing the cession of Sarawak to the British Empire after WWII. The house was a gathering place for peaceful protests during the anti-cession movement. The visit was led by SHS President James Yong, with the participation of descendants of Dato Pattinggi Abang Abdillah who shared the history of the house and of their ancestor. Event was for SHS members. Attendance: 52 persons.
10 Oct. 2022 – ‘History of Sarawak’ presentation by SHS President J.Yong at a YPO (Young Presidents Organisation) forum in Kuching.
21 Aug. 2022 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “The Realm Between: A Conversation About The Healing Ritual and Unique Culture of the Melanau” by Ms Diana Rose and Dr Rolf Schömer. Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum. Venue: Telang Usan Hotel. Attendance: 67 persons. [flyer]
14 Aug. 2022 – SHS Members’ Night [SHS Members Night invitation poster]. Venue: Telang Usan Hotel. Attendance: 38 persons.
30 July 2022 – SHS Heritage Speakers Series: “Urban Renewal Through Built Heritage Conservation“, public talk by Ar. Lim Take Bane, at the Borneo Cultures Museum (co-hosted with Sarawak Museum Department). Venue: Telang Usan Hotel. Attendance: 90+ persons. [ flyer ]
16 July 2022 – Site visit of the recently restored 1894 Mill Hill block of St Joseph Secondary School, Kuching, a Sarawak gazetted heritage building. The visit, hosted and guided by James Chen, acting principal, and Donald Lam and Christopher Chua, members of the school’s board of management, was attended by 10 SHS members.
08 July 2022 – “Sarawak Endangered Heritage“, public web talk by SHS President James Yong as part of the Badan Warisan Malaysia talk series “Spotlight on Sarawak”. 135 persons attended. [flyer] This slideshow could not be started. Try refreshing the page or viewing it in another browser.