Sarawak artefacts abroad raise global awareness; repatriation not urgent, says Abdul Karim

KUCHING (Jan 24): There is no urgent need to repatriate Sarawak artefacts held in museums worldwide, as their presence overseas helps introduce the state and Borneo to a global audience, said State Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Speaking to reporters after officiating the ‘Interpreting Borneo in Britain and Sarawak’ special talk at the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) auditorium here, he said the international display of these items benefits Sarawak by raising awareness about the state and Borneo.

“The world today has become borderless. Sometimes it is good that these items are spread all over the world because visitors to museums such as the British Museum will get to know about Sarawak and Borneo,” he said.

Abdul Karim was responding to questions regarding an estimated 4,500 Sarawak-related artefacts held abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom.

He added that repatriation would only be considered for artefacts of exceptional significance.

“There is no real necessity to bring everything back unless it is very significant to Sarawak. If it has very significant value, then we can apply to have it returned,” he said.

Many of the artefacts displayed overseas, he noted, are small items that have already been extensively researched, including their origins.

“In the British Museum and other museums, the items are mostly small, and research has already been done on where they came from.

“Many similar items can also be seen here in Sarawak, in our own museums,” he said.

Earlier at the event, Dr Jennifer Morris, Borneo Research Fellow and Henry Ginsburg Curator for Island Southeast Asia at the British Museum, shared her extensive research on Sarawak collections, particularly those associated with Charles Hose, a civil servant under Charles Brooke, the Rajah of Sarawak.

Abdul Karim highlighted Morris’ work, noting that she had visited Sarawak to study the artefacts in their local context.

“She came to Sarawak to go to places where Charles Hose had been, to study the collections in the British Museum and elsewhere, and to research the deeper meanings of these artefacts, how they relate to history and the communities from which they were obtained,” he said.

He added that such research helps deepen understanding of Sarawak’s civilisation and the origins of its diverse ethnic groups.

“We are very proud that researchers have carried out such deep studies because through this we can better understand our civilisation and the origins of the communities in Sarawak,” he said.

Morris’ presentation also revealed that Sarawak artefacts are spread across not only the United Kingdom but also countries such as Germany and the United States.

On this note, Abdul Karim emphasised the need to nurture local expertise in heritage research.

“We need to generate deeper interest in this field in Sarawak so that we can have our own researchers and scientists who are willing to carry out in-depth research,” he said.

He added that international collaboration can inspire more Sarawakians to value and study their own heritage.

“When scientists and researchers from outside show us the importance of studying and valuing our own heritage, more educated people will be interested and willing to research matters related to our civilisation and treasures,” he said.