Sarawak Museum - Functions and Responsibilities

The functions and responsilities of the Sarawak Museum Department are enshrined in the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993. Sarawak Museum Department has been entrusted the responsibility to be the custodian and keeper of all the historical documents and artifacts of the people of Sarawak and Borneo as a whole. We are also involved in collecting historical items for display purposes and provide Sarawak and Borneo history education to students and the public. For effective coordination and implementation, The Sarawak Museum Department is divided into the following departments that will focus on their special fields namely;

• Archaeology

• Ethnology

• Zoology

• Conservation

• Enforcement

• Public Relation

• Display

• History and Reference

• Security

• Administration

• Turtle Board

Headed by a an assistant director, this division is responsible for all the archaeological artifacts. It carries out reconnaissance surveys of project impoundment areas with the responsibility of exhuming and reburying old grave remains. It is also their duty to conduct fieldwork, which includes excavation based on archaeological research. They are responsible for the whole process of cataloguing, documentation and the classification of all their findings.

This division undertakes research on the various ethnic groups in Sarawak. It maintains a research database of socio-economic and socio-cultural as well as linguistic surveys and fieldwork. It is also their duty to conduct interpretative research in order to collect information for captions of items on display as well as in our collections. It is headed by an assistant director.

All keen researchers will be entertained under this division. It serves as a source of information for the mass media. It publishes a monthly article and is also responsible for press releases. Their functions also include planning and implementing programmes for the recording of artefacts, live performance, music and other cultural activities by means of audiovisuals and digital methods. They are also responsible for the production of Museum souvenir items for sale at the Museum Shoppe.

The early curator J.C. Moulton created this division in 1894. It holds the world’s largest collection of Sarawak and Borneo fauna. The collections consist of major taxa entomology, birds, mammals, pisces, crustacea, reptile and amphibians. Specimens are preserved in dry skin or wet spirit collection and are accessible to researchers on written request.

This division is headed by an assistant director who is responsible for the planning and the development of research on National History in Sarawak. This division coordinates all activities that involve natural zoology to safeguard the natural environment of Sarawak. They also organise exhibitions throughout Sarawak in order to create greater awareness of a healthy environment.

A Senior Assistant Curator heads this division. It maintains a conservation laboratory which provides services in preservation of artefacts. Such artefacts may be antiques or historical monuments which are treated with suitable chemicals under a conservation programme. This division has an active conservation programme in identifying the Klirieng (burial poles), Salong (tomb) and megaliths in Sarawak.

This division provides curatorial services on antiques and old artefacts. It is active in preserving material culture of the people in Sarawak. Headed by an assistant director, it carries out enforcement activities as described in the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993. It is responsible for the registration of antiquities, the issuance of export and excavation permits, antique dealer licenses and the gazetting of historical buildings and monuments.

This is a new division set up in 1997 to undertake and plan museum educational programmes. It conducts school programmes on museum as well as to assist students with their history projects. Publicity materials and media information on the museum are prepared by this division. They conduct guest tours of the museum and arrange photo taking and video shooting session for the public inside the museum.

Any agency or organization intending to put up temporary exhibits in the museum has to contact this division. A Senior Assistant Curator who is responsible to design and plan for the exhibitions heads this division. It is responsible for both permanent and temporary exhibitions. They maintain a schedule for exhibitions and help to supervise the arrangement of collection materials to be displayed, as well as the production of the graphics and illustrations.

This division is responsible for the shifting of old records from the Museum Department to the State Archives. Investigation will be carried out to determine the importance of each record for preservation purposes. They are also responsible to collect and gather information and materials for the Archives. Archival materials include historical documents, Sarawak Gazette and the Sarawak Government Gazette since 1860. Other materials include maps, stamps, currency notes, coins and photographs.

The safety of all museum buildings as well as the artifacts that are on display is under the responsibility of this division. They coordinate visits of very important people to the museum gallery. It is also their duty to ensure the cleanliness of the museum buildings and galleries at all times. Besides they also coordinate and supervise training programmes inside the museum buildings.

The function of this division is to assist the Director and his Deputy in his day to day duties. They carry out administrative and human resource management duties and are also responsible for the enforcement of General Order and the Service Circular A and any other orders specified by the Department, including preparation of the department’s annual budget.

This division carries out wildlife conservation projects such as Marine Turtle Conservation Management Plans with the National Parks and Wildlife Office of the Forestry Department. The Director is the Executive Officer of this Board.