[last updated 03/09/2023]
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 SITE VISITS, TALKS, WORKING GROUPS, LAUNCHES, SHOWS, REPRESENTATION, COLLABORATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES]
GOVERNMENT LIAISON / PUBLIC POLICY DIALOGUE
27 March 2023 – SHS Executive Committee meeting with Puan Nancy Bte Johly, newly appointed Director of the Sarawak Museum Department. The continuation of SHS’s collaboration, engagement and support with the Museum for community-based programmes was discussed.
21 March 2023 – SHS Executive Committee meeting with YB Dato Sri Hj Abdul Karim Hamzah, Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, to introduce SHS’s new Committee and to raise support for SHS’s future plans. On the same day, members of the Exco attended a meeting of the State Tourism Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister.
21 July 2022 – SHS President represented the Society at the official unveiling, at the Batu Lintang memorial square, Kuching, of a Memorial Plaque commemorating the WW2 Long Nawang 1942 massacre victims.
25 June 2022 – Participation in an a forum on Intellectual Properties Infringement in Art and Culture Scene (SHS Vice President and Treasurer)
12 June 2022 – Participation in a Sarawak Development Institute meeting on Cultural Resource Mapping in Kuching (SHS President and Vice President)
27 May 2022 – Meeting with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak on the State Records Repository (SHS President and Vice President)
22 Apr. 2022 – SHS President, participated in the inaugural meeting of the Sarawak Heritage Council in his capacity of appointed SHC member.
13 and 19 Apr. 2022 – participation in a web session with Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) and Google on proposed Google “Art and Culture” app (13/04, SHS Vice President and Treasurer). MTCP web meeting on GoDigital Sarawak (19/04, SHS Committee member Angelina Jong).
12 Apr. 2022 – Sarawak Museum Department presentation and discussion of archaeological findings near Central Police Station Police Station (SHS President and Vice President).
1 April 2022 – Participation in a a web briefing session on marketing strategy for the Singapore market (SHS President and Treasurer).
31 March 2022 – Participation in a Sarawak Government ‘lab’ on the drafting of a Craft Council Bill (SHS President, Vice President and Treasurer).
2020-2022 Pandemic control period – The new SHS Committee (2020-2022) met with Mr Hii Chang Kee, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on 14 Jan. 2021 and subsequently, on 28 Jan. with Datuk Hj Abdul Karim Hamzah, Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture to introduce itself, to update the ministry on SHS’s activities. The discussion touched also on the status of the new Sarawak Heritage Ordinance (2019) and on the concerns of the heritage conservation community on the alterations made on the Round Tower, Kuching, as part of its repurposing into a cafe-restaurant. We also submitted to the Minister several projects for funding support. Besides, the Sarawak Economic Action Council (SEAC), tasked with the design of an economic recovery plan for the State, has put SHS in the loop of its consultations, in which heritage is touched upon, in particular, in discussions on the tourism sector; SHS is also involved in consultations on the design of a new long term Tourism Master Plan 2020-2035; these consultations (mostly run via digital meetings) were occasions for SHS to advocate further for a boost in the management of the State’s cultural heritage.
3 Aug. 2020 – Meeting with the new Director of the Sarawak Museum Department, En. Tazudin Mohtar. We had a wide ranging discussion covering the new Sarawak Heritage Ordinance, specific heritage sites around Kuching, our 2018-19 ‘Heritage Quest’ public campaign and other SHS projects, as well as collaboration possibilities going forward.. (5 members of the SHS Committee).
16 Jul. 2020 – Briefing and sharing session with several councillors from the Padungan Area Comnmittee of MBKS (Kuching South Municipaly) on “The Story of Padungan” project, a private initiative by James Yong (SHS Vice-President) and John Soo (SHS member) to document the history and heritage of Kuching’s Padungan area. The project is supported by SHS.
9 Jan. 2020 – 5 members of the SHS Committee paid a courtesy visit to the new Mayor of DBKU (Kuching South) Dato Wee Hong Seng. SHS highlighted the potential for synergies between our two organisations for the conservation of heritage assets under MBKS jusrisdiction, such as the old Padungan precinct.
01 Nov. 2019 – SHS forwarded to the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture a comments note ‘SARAWAK HERITAGE BILL 2019 – Review and Discussion‘ on the Sarawak Heritage Bill, 2019 circulated for tabling at the November 2019 session of the Sarawak State legislative Assembly. The Bill was tabled (first reading) on 4 Nov. 20109, the first day of the November sitting of the Sarawak Sate Legislative Assembly. The second and third readings took place the following day, 5 Nov. 2019, upon which the Bill was approved without amendments. [ HERE is the unedited hansard of the State Assembly’s debate and approval of the Bill, as accessed on the Sarawak State Assembly website shortly after the debate – see pages 55 to 76]. The new Ordinance was gazetted on 13 Dec, 2019. Its coming into force remains subject to a decision by the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture.
Full text of the new ordinance: SARAWAK HERITAGE ORD, 2019 (source: lawnet.sarawak.gov.my)
16-17 Oct. 2019 – Three SHS members participated in a workshop called by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak on UNESCO’s ‘Memory of the World’ programme.
15-16 Aug. 2019 – three SHS Committee members contributed to the ‘Lab Program on the Proposed Outstanding Univerrsal Value (OUV) for Niah Cave World Heritage Site under UNESCO Listing‘ (Waterfront Hotel, Kuching).
20 June 2019 – SHS President DS Ridu and SHS adviser (architecture) Ar. William Khoo represented SHS in a Sarawak Government “Lab (on) Proposed Transforming Brooke Dockyard Into Maritime Museum“. See SHS notes-Brooke Dockyard Lab 14062019 w.
17 Apr. 2019 – SHS Committee meeting with Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports to present SHS’s ‘Heritage Quest’ project and proposals for the upgrading of Sarawak’s institutional and regulatory framework for cultural heritage. [Summary of points presented to the Minister]
6 Dec. 2018 – Two SHS Committee members participated in a Sarawak Government workshop on the “Old Kuching Smart Heritage” initiative.
01 Nov. 2018 – SHS participated in a discussion meeting on the revision of the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance convened by the Sarawak Museum Department.
10-11 Jan. 2018 – Four SHS committee members participated in Sarawak Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources ‘Lab’ on cultural heritage management. [Follow up SHS letter-28/03/2018]
15 Dec. 2017 – SHS Committee meeting with Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports further to the Dec. 2016 meeting with the Sarawak Chief Minister. [SHS Media Release-15/12/2017]
14 Nov. 2017 – SHS Committee meeting with Sarawak Chief Minister to present SHS current activities and forward a Position Paper on cultural heritage management in Sarawak. [SHS POSITION PAPER-Nov. 2017 presented at the meeting]
July 2016-Aug. 2017 – a Committee member represented SHS a Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) meetings on the preparation of a Master Plan / Management Plan for Santubong national Park.
SITE VISITS, TALKS, WORKING GROUPS, LAUNCHES, SHOWS, REPRESENTATION, COLLABORATIONS…
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. [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. 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. 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. 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. Attendance: 67 persons. [flyer]
14 Aug. 2022 – SHS Members’ Night [SHS Members Night invitation poster]. 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). 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.