Latest news with #SabahMuseumDepartment
New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
From crown to culture: Atitih's new role at Sabah museum
KOTA KINABALU: When Atitih Yati Robert first visited the Sabah Museum in 2017, she was a teenage finalist in the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) pageant. The visit was brief — wedged between rehearsals and ceremonial duties — but it sparked a curiosity that would shape her future. Eight years on, the now 26-year-old returns to the institution not as a visitor or contestant, but as a cultural figure in her own right. Atitih, the reigning Unduk Ngadau 2025, was officially appointed as the Sabah Museum Ambassador during its Diamond Jubilee celebration on Saturday. Unduk Ngadau is a cultural pageant held during Sabah's Harvest Festival to celebrate indigenous beauty and heritage. The appointment is part of a broader initiative by the Sabah Museum Department to engage youth, cultural icons, artists and influencers in efforts to safeguard and promote Sabah's heritage through fresh, inclusive, and modern approaches. "I barely knew anything about the museum back then — just the name," Atitih told the New Straits Times. "I was so excited to visit that I didn't even finish my meal. I didn't want to miss the chance to walk around and see what was inside." Despite the short duration of that first visit, the experience stayed with her. Today, she sees the museum not merely as a storehouse of artefacts but as a living space where past and present intersect. "Each time I visit the Sabah Museum, I feel like I'm having a conversation with our heritage," she said. "It's not just something you read about. It's something you see, touch and experience. I've discovered things there I never heard from my family, my community, or in school. That's what makes museums matter — they help us understand before we can appreciate." She said that not everyone sees museums as exciting spaces, especially younger people. But she hopes to change that. "Perception reflects experience. If someone finds a museum uninteresting, perhaps they haven't yet had a visit that moved them," she said. "As Ambassador, I want to help spark that curiosity, even in small ways." For Atitih, being both an Unduk Ngadau and Museum Ambassador comes with weight — but also opportunity. "As someone in this unique position, I want to help bridge tradition and the younger generation. The responsibility is big, but I see it as a chance to raise awareness, inspire pride and connect our identity to the world in a meaningful way." She also believes listening is just as important as promoting. "I want to hear what people think—their ideas, feedback, even criticism. It's not about promoting for the sake of it, but about making the museum a space that people can connect with, and leave feeling proud and inspired." The Sabah Museum itself is undergoing a digital transformation. During the jubilee celebration, Sabah's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment announced the adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology to make exhibitions more accessible and immersive. Visitors can now experience traditional ethnic houses at Heritage Village Phases 1 and 2 via an interactive digital platform, accessible anytime and anywhere. "This proves that heritage is not frozen in the past—it lives in the future," said the minister, Datuk Christina Liew, in a speech delivered by assistant minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. Atitih welcomes the move and hopes to collaborate with content creators, schools, and cultural institutions to bring Sabah's heritage into the digital space. "Our heritage deserves a presence in the digital world. From short videos to virtual tours, there's so much potential to connect with people where they are." Since its founding in 1965, the Sabah Museum has expanded from a single building on Gaya Street to managing 23 museums and in-situ heritage sites statewide—including the Tun Mustapha Museum in Kudat, the Agnes Keith House in Sandakan, and Bukit Tengkorak in Semporna. A new site, the Muzium Tamadun dan Etnik Dusun Ranau, is also in development. Atitih believes heritage must be seen as a shared responsibility.
Daily Express
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Antique sellers call for end to cash deals
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 By: Ahmad Apong Text Size: A British-era vintage motorcycle. BEAUFORT: Antique owners are urging the Sabah Museum Department to conduct transactions more transparently, especially by avoiding cash payments when acquiring antique items. An antique collector, who requested anonymity, told the Daily Express that most officers who had approached him to purchase antiques did so using cash. Advertisement 'They should be paying by cheque instead. Cheques are traceable and would provide assurance that the payments truly come from the Sabah Museum Department. This would create a more transparent process and prevent any element of fraud,' he said. He claimed that he had previously sold several antique items but was paid in cash at prices significantly lower than their actual value. 'There's a possibility that those items were then resold to the Sabah Museum at much higher prices,' he added. Among the antiques he still keeps are a samurai sword, rings, a motorised bicycle, an old cannon, a vintage motorcycle, old coins and a Qing Dynasty-era urn used during the Japanese occupation and British colonial rule. Because of the lack of transparency and the use of cash by certain officers, he no longer wishes to sell his items, believing they may be resold to the museum at inflated prices. He said his trust in the transaction process was lost following the previous sale, despite still having many valuable antique items in his possession. 'It's better to keep them myself for the appreciation of future generations, as these items carry deep historical value,' he concluded.
Daily Express
16-06-2025
- Daily Express
Johnson Gallery to boost tourism
Published on: Monday, June 16, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 Text Size: The Johnsons with locals beside their airplane on their second visit in 1935. Kota Kinabalu: Historical tourism will gain momentum in Sandakan once the Martin & Osa Johnson Gallery has been set up at the vacant PWD 2002 Building in the vicinity of the famous Agnes Keith House here, says Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew. She said the development of this facility will not only provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the American couple's exploration history in North Borneo (now Sabah) but will also complement the existing tourism offering in the area, the Agnes Keith House, which receives about 21,000 visitors yearly. Advertisement Agnes, an American author, lived in the House with her husband Harry Keith who was the North Borneo Conservator of Forests based in Sandakan. 'The Agnes Keith House is now conserved by the Sabah Museum Department (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment - KePKAS). 'Both the Johnsons Gallery and Agnes Keith House, among other historical buildings in Sandakan, are a cornerstone of historical tourism in this east coast town. 'The gallery as a tribute to the Johnsons will attract more Americans to visit Sandakan if this 'must-see' tourist destination is included in tour packages offered by tour operators. The couple's 1920 silent movie 'Jungle Adventure' featuring the native people and wildlife in Kinabatangan became the world's first wildlife documentary,' Liew said in a statement on Sunday. Agnes Keith House and the St Michael and All Angels' Church are located along the Sandakan Heritage Trail. Quoting statistics from the Sabah Museum Department (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment), the Minister said a total of 64,849 foreign and local visitors toured the Agnes Keith House between 2022 and 2024. 'And the period from January to April this year recorded some 7,976 visitors (1,529 foreign visitors and 6,447 locals).' According to Liew, the House was opened to the public as a historical tourism product in 2004. Since then, thousands from more than 50 countries were drawn to this heritage building which houses a museum, documenting the story of the House and the American author who gave Sabah the famous nickname 'Land Below The Wind' through her award-winning book of the same name. Former Curator of the Sabah Museum Stella Moo (now retired), when contacted, confirmed that she, together with the Chief Editor of Daily Express Datuk James Sarda, had received a set of more than 2,000 photographs (taken by Martin and Osa Johnson in the 1920s and 1930s) from the Chief Curator of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Kansas, USA, Jacquelyn Borgeson in 2004 during the latter's visit to Sabah. 'That year (2004), Jacquelyn brought the Johnsons' photos for the Sabah Museum. She was also working on the exhibition area to be dedicated to Martin and Osa in the proposed Sandakan Heritage Museum,' recalled Moo. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
16-06-2025
- The Star
Sandakan gallery to spotlight American explorers, boost Sabah's heritage tourism
The Agnes Keith House in Sandakan, a restored colonial residence that forms part of the Sandakan Heritage Trail. SANDAKAN: Historical tourism in Sandakan is set to receive a major boost with the planned establishment of the Martin and Osa Johnson Gallery at the vacant PWD 2002 Building, located near the iconic Agnes Keith House. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the new gallery would enrich the town's heritage offerings and draw more visitors — especially Americans — interested in the couple's exploration of North Borneo (now Sabah). 'This gallery will give visitors the opportunity to learn about the Johnsons' contributions and adventures, and it will complement the Agnes Keith House, which already draws about 21,000 visitors annually,' she said in a statement on Sunday. She noted that the gallery will complement the nearby Agnes Keith House — a preserved colonial residence once home to American author Agnes Newton Keith and her husband Harry Keith, then North Borneo's Conservator of Forests — which is now managed by the Sabah Museum Department under her ministry. She added that both the Johnsons Gallery and the Agnes Keith House, along with other historic landmarks in Sandakan, would serve as cornerstones of heritage tourism in this east coast town. Liew said the gallery has the potential to be packaged as a "must-see" destination by tour operators, especially for American tourists. She noted that the Johnsons' 1920 silent film Jungle Adventure, featuring native communities and wildlife in Kinabatangan, is widely regarded as the world's first wildlife documentary. The Agnes Keith House and the nearby St Michael and All Angels' Church are both stops along the Sandakan Heritage Trail. Liew also highlighted that the house has attracted visitors from over 50 countries since it was opened to the public in 2004 as a historical tourism product. It now houses a museum documenting the story of Agnes Keith and her award-winning book Land Below The Wind, which popularised Sabah's enduring nickname. Visitor data from the Sabah Museum Department shows that 64,849 local and foreign tourists toured the Agnes Keith House between 2022 and 2024. From January to April this year alone, the site received 7,976 visitors — 1,529 foreigners and 6,447 locals. Former Sabah Museum curator Stella Moo shared that she and Daily Express chief editor Datuk James Sarda received more than 2,000 archival photographs taken by the Johnsons in the 1920s and 1930s. The photos were handed over by Jacquelyn Borgeson, chief curator of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Kansas, during her visit to Sabah in 2004. 'Jacquelyn brought the photographs to the Sabah Museum and helped plan an exhibition space for Martin and Osa in the proposed Sandakan Heritage Museum,' said Stella. Sandakan is Sabah's second largest city, located on the east coast about 320km from the state capital Kota Kinabalu. It is known for its rich colonial history, wildlife sanctuaries, and eco-tourism attractions.
Borneo Post
15-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Sandakan to boost historical tourism with US couple gallery
The Agnes Keith House SANDAKAN (June 15): Historical tourism will gain momentum in Sandakan once the Martin & Osa Johnson Gallery has been set up at the vacant PWD 2002 Building in the vicinity of the famous Agnes Keith House here, says Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew. She said the development of this facility will not only provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the American couple's exploration history in North Borneo (now Sabah) but will also complement the existing tourism offering in the area, the Agnes Keith House, which receives about 21,000 visitors yearly. Agnes, an American author, lived in the House with her husband Harry Keith who was the North Borneo Conservator of Forests based in Sandakan. 'The Agnes Keith House is now conserved by the Sabah Museum Department (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment – KePKAS). 'Both the Johnsons Gallery and Agnes Keith House, among other historical buildings in Sandakan, are a cornerstone of historical tourism in this east coast town. 'The gallery as a tribute to the Johnsons will attract more Americans to visit Sandakan if this 'must-see' tourist destination is included in tour packages offered by tour operators. The couple's 1920 silent movie 'Jungle Adventure' featuring the native people and wildlife in Kinabatangan became the world's first wildlife documentary,' Liew said in a statement on Sunday. Agnes Keith House and the St Michael and All Angels' Church are located along the Sandakan Heritage Trail. Quoting statistics from the Sabah Museum Department (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment), the minister said a total of 64,849 foreign and local visitors toured the Agnes Keith House between 2022 and 2024. 'And the period from January to April this year recorded some 7,976 visitors (1,529 foreign visitors and 6,447 locals).' According to Liew, the House was opened to the public as a historical tourism product in 2004. Since then, thousands from more than 50 countries were drawn to this heritage building which houses a museum, documenting the story of the House and the American author who gave Sabah the famous nickname 'Land Below The Wind' through her award-winning book of the same name. Former Curator of the Sabah Museum Stella Moo (now retired), when contacted, confirmed that she, together with the Chief Editor of Daily Express Datuk James Sarda, had received a set of more than 2,000 photographs (taken by Martin and Osa Johnson in the 1920s and 1930s) from the Chief Curator of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Kansas, USA, Jacquelyn Borgeson in 2004 during the latter's visit to Sabah. 'That year (2004), Jacquelyn brought the Johnsons' photos for the Sabah Museum. She was also working on the exhibition area to be dedicated to Martin and Osa in the proposed Sandakan Heritage Museum,' recalled Moo.
