http://news.brunei.fm/2010/01/13/spore-nhb-keen-to-showcase-bruneis-history/
S’pore NHB keen to showcase Brunei’s history
By Ubaidillah Masli Jan 13th, 2010
SINGAPORE’s National Heritage Board (NHB) is eyeing area of possible collaboration with Bruneian authorities, particularly in showcasing Bruneian civilisation and history along with those of the other Asean member states to the population of the island city-state.
“In order to make Asean real to the people, we need to help the people to get to know the histories, cultures and livelihood of Asean,” said NHB Chairman Professor Tommy Koh.
The NHB chairman, along with a delegation comprising NHB board members, senior management and staff, have been in the country for a four-day study visit to Brunei’s historical centres and archives. The visit is part of NHB’s tour of Asean member states, where Brunei is the final stop of the tour.
Speaking to The Brunei Times yesterday during the delegation’s visit to the water village, Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery and the fishing village of Kg Sg Matan, Koh said that they wanted to learn more about Brunei’s history and how it exists today.
His interest in the Sultanate spawned from the country’s status as an independent sovereign state and its “unbroken dynasty of rulers” which lives on with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam as the 29th ruler.
“The history books tell of when Brunei was a great maritime empire,” he said.
The NHB, a statutory body under Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts, has organised yearly exhibitions in Singapore where they showcased Asean civilisations. In 2008, they carried out an exhibition on Vietnam and last year, on the Philippines.
Koh said that the NHB was looking for possibilities to showcase the other Asean countries, including Brunei.
“You have a story to tell. I want to help you tell that story to Singaporeans,” the chairman said.
Apart from promoting the Sultanate among his fellow countrymen, Koh also hopes to work together with Brunei in looking back into the past of both countries.
During the 15-member delegation’s visit to the Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery, it was noted that records for the rustic water village’s history during the 17th and 18th century were unavailable.
Koh saw this as a potential area where Singapore could help Brunei find out about its past from either their own archives or from the archives of the empires present during that era in order to “fill the gap”.
The NHB chairman said that he will discuss these areas of cooperation during his meeting with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, whom he met with yesterday.
The NHB Chief Executive Officer, Michael Koh spoke on his experience from the visits since they arrived in Brunei on January 10. Among other places visited by the delegation were the Royal Regalia building, Brunei Museum, the National Archive and the Malay Technology Museum.
“They (the museums) have really given me good insight into the civilisation and the long history of Brunei Darussalam,” he said. “I learned a lot. I think Mr Bantong (Director of Museums Department) has the right vision.”
Speaking on Kg Ayer, Michael Koh said, “It is something I’ve always wanted to see all my life.”
He believed that the iconic water village was a “living testimony of water-based culture” which had been the way of life throughout Southeast Asia at one point in time.
“Brunei has one of the greatest living examples of this,” he said.
With Kg Ayer still evolving as modernisation takes place, the chief executive officer lauded the government for preserving the existence of this lifestyle, especially with the addition of new facilities such as schools and the Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery.
The delegation’s visit will conclude today.
S’pore NHB keen to showcase Brunei’s history
By Ubaidillah Masli Jan 13th, 2010
SINGAPORE’s National Heritage Board (NHB) is eyeing area of possible collaboration with Bruneian authorities, particularly in showcasing Bruneian civilisation and history along with those of the other Asean member states to the population of the island city-state.
“In order to make Asean real to the people, we need to help the people to get to know the histories, cultures and livelihood of Asean,” said NHB Chairman Professor Tommy Koh.
The NHB chairman, along with a delegation comprising NHB board members, senior management and staff, have been in the country for a four-day study visit to Brunei’s historical centres and archives. The visit is part of NHB’s tour of Asean member states, where Brunei is the final stop of the tour.
Speaking to The Brunei Times yesterday during the delegation’s visit to the water village, Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery and the fishing village of Kg Sg Matan, Koh said that they wanted to learn more about Brunei’s history and how it exists today.
His interest in the Sultanate spawned from the country’s status as an independent sovereign state and its “unbroken dynasty of rulers” which lives on with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam as the 29th ruler.
“The history books tell of when Brunei was a great maritime empire,” he said.
The NHB, a statutory body under Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts, has organised yearly exhibitions in Singapore where they showcased Asean civilisations. In 2008, they carried out an exhibition on Vietnam and last year, on the Philippines.
Koh said that the NHB was looking for possibilities to showcase the other Asean countries, including Brunei.
“You have a story to tell. I want to help you tell that story to Singaporeans,” the chairman said.
Apart from promoting the Sultanate among his fellow countrymen, Koh also hopes to work together with Brunei in looking back into the past of both countries.
During the 15-member delegation’s visit to the Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery, it was noted that records for the rustic water village’s history during the 17th and 18th century were unavailable.
Koh saw this as a potential area where Singapore could help Brunei find out about its past from either their own archives or from the archives of the empires present during that era in order to “fill the gap”.
The NHB chairman said that he will discuss these areas of cooperation during his meeting with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, whom he met with yesterday.
The NHB Chief Executive Officer, Michael Koh spoke on his experience from the visits since they arrived in Brunei on January 10. Among other places visited by the delegation were the Royal Regalia building, Brunei Museum, the National Archive and the Malay Technology Museum.
“They (the museums) have really given me good insight into the civilisation and the long history of Brunei Darussalam,” he said. “I learned a lot. I think Mr Bantong (Director of Museums Department) has the right vision.”
Speaking on Kg Ayer, Michael Koh said, “It is something I’ve always wanted to see all my life.”
He believed that the iconic water village was a “living testimony of water-based culture” which had been the way of life throughout Southeast Asia at one point in time.
“Brunei has one of the greatest living examples of this,” he said.
With Kg Ayer still evolving as modernisation takes place, the chief executive officer lauded the government for preserving the existence of this lifestyle, especially with the addition of new facilities such as schools and the Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery.
The delegation’s visit will conclude today.
