Sabah Museum embraces AR/VR tech, cultural ambassadors

Borneo Post

6 days ago

Joniston (third from right) and Atitih (third from left) taking a group selfie with visitors at Sabah Museum.-Information Department photo
KOTA KINABALU (July 19): Sabah Museum has introduced Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology, aligning with the government's aspiration to digitize services.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew stated that through this immersive technology, visitors can not only view but also experience the atmosphere of traditional houses from various Sabah ethnic groups in an interactive three-dimensional format.
'Through this technology, traditional houses are not merely displayed but revived. Visitors can 'enter' these houses anytime, anywhere. This digital transformation conveys the message that heritage is not just to be remembered but also to be experienced in a modern way by today's generation,' she said in a speech text read by Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai during the Sabah Museum Diamond Jubilee Launch on Saturday.
The event was held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sabah Museum's establishment as an institution preserving the state's history and cultural heritage.
According to Liew, the appointment of Unduk Ngadau (Beauty Queen) 2025 Atitih Yati Robert as Sabah Museum Ambassador aims to extend the reach of heritage messaging to youth, artists, cultural figures and social media influencers.
'This ambassador will serve as a cultural spokesperson, conducting awareness programs and promoting historical values to the community through physical and digital channels,' she explained.
The introduction of AR/VR technology and the involvement of a young ambassador is seen as a dual-pronged approach to bridge the gap between traditional heritage and modern reality. This transforms the museum beyond an exhibition venue into an interactive center for learning, recreation, and cultural connection.
She added that the Sabah Museum Diamond Jubilee exhibition features visual documentation, archival materials, and a chronological display of the department's development since 1965, honoring Sabah's longstanding custodians of collective memory.
'I extend my highest appreciation to the entire Sabah Museum Department staff who, for six decades, have strived to document, preserve, and build the identity of this state. As long as this spirit continues, Sabah Museum will remain a beacon of knowledge, heritage and identity for the people, not only at the state level but also nationally and internationally,' she said.
Sabah Museum now has 23 branches and in-situ sites across the state, including the Tun Mustapha Museum Kudat, Agnes Keith House Sandakan, Keningau Heritage Museum, and the Bukit Tengkorak Archaeological Site in Semporna. Plans are also underway to open another new museum in Ranau.
Traditional houses showcased at Sabah Museum include those from the Bongi, Rungus, Murut, Bisaya, Lotud, Brunei Malay, Hakka Chinese planter, Suluk, Iranun, Makiang, Kalabuan, Gana, Lundayeh, Tombonuo, Begahak, Tatana, Sonsogon, and Kedayan ethnic groups.
The 60th-anniversary celebration was also enlivened by a People's Sports Carnival featuring traditional games like congkak, tug-of-war and blowpipe, proving that heritage can continue to be presented and experienced in diverse forms.