Tuan Haji Sanib accompanies Datuk Amar Puan Sri Dr. Hajjah Laila for a tour to the various galleries in the museum

Another historical moment happening in a historical building, and it is in fact for the sake of our historical heritage. On September 9th 2005, the Chief Minister’s wife, Datuk Amar Puan Sri Dr. Hajjah Laila Taib, has officially opened Sarawak’s first textile museum.

Strategically housed at one of the oldest historical building in Kuching or rather in Sarawak, the Pavillion (opposites the General Post Office) is a perfect place to lure locals and tourists to come and see our unique textile works of various ethnics.

There are four main galleries within the three-storey building. The galleries are for materials’ preparation (Penyediaan Bahan), looming (Menenun), clothing motives (Motif-Motif Pakaian) and accessories and wedding (Aksesori dan Perkahwinan).

In the galleries, visitors will be able to view the various concepts of textile works which include Malay songket, the Iban’s pua kumbu, clothes made of trees, beaded clothing, Baba Nyonya kebaya as well as the Chinese and Indian’s unique costumes.

According to the person in-charge of the department’s Analogy and Exhibits Management Section, Tazudin Mohtar, the internal and external renovation works started back in 2003 and completed about a year after that. Exhibits were brought into the renovated building earlier this year.

Tazudin, who was also the project manager coordinating and monitoring the renovation works said the renovation works on the building was initially proposed back in ten years ago. However, the proposed renovation works were held back due to the construction of a building behind the Pavillion at that time.

Amid that, the department did not just stop its effort there but continued with the plan and went on to renovate the almost a hundred-year’s old building.

“Having the textile museum is part of the department’s initiative to preserve our heritage. For example, our famous songket or pua kumbu or other unique
traditional costumes… these are our heritage that we must be proud of and preserve for our future generations,” Tazudin stressed.

He said the locals’ textile works displayed in the museum is mostly old and uniquely beautiful. With its distinguished designs, colours, stories behind the works, and visitors, especially the tourists would also be amazed by it.

When asked about the not-to-be-missed exhibits in the museum, Tazudin revealed a few exhibits such as the two international award-winning pua kumbu, the biggest pua kumbu ever made, a very well preserved old Malay songket with its unique designs, and some beaded traditional costumes of Orang Ulu ethnics.

Also present at the opening of the textile museum were Finance Minister II cum Minister of Urban and Tourism Development, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and the Sarawak Museum Department’s director, Tuan Haji Sanib bin Haji Said. Meanwhile, the textile museum is open to public daily except for the first day of public holidays. Admission is free.

Apart from being an additional to the series of museums in the state, this museum has certainly added to another variety of tourist destination in this city.
For school children, it will be another interesting place to add in their ‘school visit programme’.