Borneo Cultures Museum Enriched with 41 New Historical Artefacts

via Bernama/New Straits Times, 30 November 2023: Following up from the previous story about the repatriated parangs, the Borneo Cultures Museum has recently acquired 41 historical artefacts, a traditional Iban pua kumbu cloth, through donations and handovers from various individuals. These artefacts, which have journeyed from countries like England and Australia, include items used in Bidayuh rituals and old ethnic beads. This significant addition to the museum’s collection reflects the rich cultural heritage of Borneo.

The Borneo Cultures Museum received 41 historical artefacts originating from Borneo from various countries, as a result of handing-over and donations from individuals who kept the collection of antiquities.

Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said among the historical materials are two Orang Ulu machetes acquired from Duncan Shimwell McDougal, a Brooke-era officer in the 1920s.

According to him, McDougal brought the two machetes to England and remained there until they surfaced at the world-famous Christie’s auction house in London in 1994, before being bought by Lim Jit Boo, a Malaysian living in Penang.

Source: Borneo Cultures Museum receives 41 historical artefacts