Crowds Surge Into Museums Across Malaysia for International Museum Day

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with International Museum Day Yesterday, countless tourists from nearby areas and distant places seized the chance to delve into the historical and cultural treasures housed in our country’s museums.

A total of 19 institutions under the supervision of the museums department offered free admission to the public in conjunction with the celebration.

As soon as it opened at 9 am, the National Museum in the capital city started teeming with both local visitors and international tourists.

Siti Jumiah Abdul Razak, who serves as assistant curator, mentioned that multilingual volunteers acted as tour guides during an event marked by cultural performances and the inauguration of the ASEAN Gallery. This occurred in line with Malaysia’s current leadership role within the organization.

Harvey, a visitor from New Zealand who landed in Malaysia on Friday, expressed his excitement upon learning that admission to the museum would be complimentary.

"I know about International Museum Day, but I wasn't expecting free admission, which made it quite pleasant. This nation’s variety has certainly been an eye-opener during my stay," he mentioned.

In Selangor, parents brought their children to spend a weekend filled with entertainment and educational opportunities at the Sultan Alam Shah Museum in Shah Alam.

Private-sector employee Hani Hairi came with her 14-year-old twins. The 46-year-old said the visit gave her teenage children the opportunity to learn more about history in a comfortable environment.

They were thrilled because it had been quite some time since their last visit to a museum. I used to take them when they were little," she explained. "Given we had free time over the weekend, we decided to come and check out the exhibits here.

In Negeri Sembilan, the Army Museum located in Port Dickson attracted many guests like Mohd Khairil Abidin, aged 45, who visited with all five of his kids upon hearing about the complimentary entry via Facebook.

At the Malaysian Architectural Museum in Malacca, Siti Hafizah Yusop from Durian Tunggal, Alor Gajah, visited alongside her spouse and their four offspring.

"It’s quite fascinating here, and exploring museums offers not just insight into history and culture but also reinforces familial bonds," stated the individual aged 40.

In Johor, the Kota Johor Lama Museum in Kota Tinggi was visited by local and foreign visitors keen to learn about the historical city, once an important centre of government following the fall of the Melaka Sultanate in 1511.

In Pahang, the Sungai Lembing Museum recorded some 213 visitors as of 11am, with activities such as traditional tin-ore panning being a major attraction.

Museum head Peterson Augustine Anak Augustine Jadan said he hoped the inclusive and interactive approach would foster interest among young people in the mining heritage synonymous with the area.

And farther north, the Kota Kuala Kedah Museum in Alor Setar similarly received a large number of visitors.

Located at the estuary of the Kedah River, this institution showcases the area’s defence history with various archaeological artefacts on display, including ceramics and original bricks from the 18th-century fort.