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R.O.S. Registration No. : 0071-06-SWK Correspondence Address : c/o 3rd Floor, Lot 2361, No.29 Bormill Estate, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel : +6 082 246810 Fax : +6 082 414629 Email : sarawakheritagesociety@gmail.com

For those wishing to inquire about SHS activities, general information, membership or sponsorship, please contact SHS at :

Gazetted Under The Antiquities Ordinance on February 1971 Fort Lily, Betong 1858 Fort Alice, Sri Aman 1864 Astana Building, Kuching 1870 Court Building, Kuching 1874 Fort Margherita, Kuching 1879 Fort Sylvia, Kapit 1880 Square Tower Building, Kuching 1886 Sarawak Museum Building, Kuching 1891 Fort Hose, Marudi 1899 Post Office Building, Kuching 1931 Gazetted Under The Antiquities Ordinance on 14th June 1972 Niah Cave (Gua Niah), Miri Gazetted Under The Antiquities Ordinance on 10th July 1985 Round Tower Building (Bangunan Menara Bulat), Kuching 1886

Old Fort (Kubu Lama), Limbang 1897 Education Office Building (Bangunan Pejabat Pelajaran), Kuching 1909

Miri Oil Well No. 1 Site, Miri 1910 Satok Hanging Bridge (Jambatan Gantung Satok), Kuching 1926

Malay Maderasah Building (Bangunan Maderasah Melayu), Kuching 1931

Fort Emma (Kubu Emma), Kanowit 1951 Approved on June 2007 to be gazetted as Sarawak cultural heritage under Sarawak Culture Heritage Ordinance 1993 Sites : Bongkissam, Tantric Shrine, Santubong, Kuching Sungai Jaong Bukit Maras Tanjong Kubor Tanjung Tegok Buildings : Tua Pek Kong, Kuching 1770 Bishop House (S.P.G), Kuching 1848 St. James Church, Kuching 1865 St. Thomas Secondary School, Kuching 1885

St. Joseph Secondary School, Kuching 1894 Lim Fah San Temple, Kuching 1896 Chief Justice Residence, Kuching 1899 Kuching Municipal Council, 1908 Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Kuching 1912 Darul Kurnia (Chung Hua School No. 4), Kuching 1930 Sentral Police Station, Kuching 1931 Segu Bungalow, Kuching 1936 Baruk Opar Village, Bau 1952 Monuments : Sultan Tengah Tomb (Makam Sultan Tengah), Santubong, Kuching Proposed in 2008 to be gazetted as Sarawak cultural heritage under Sarawak Culture Heritage Ordinance 1993 Sites : Bung Bratak, Bau, Kuching Gua Sireh, Serian, Samarahan Temenggong Tandok Longhouse Site, Saratok, 1833 Buildings : Masjid Lama, Sibu, 1830 Melanau Longhouse, Kampung Sok, Matu, 1885 Charles Fort, Kabong, Sarikei, 1895 Lio Fort, Matu, 1911 Arundell Fort, Lubok Antu. 1912 Long Akah Fort, 1929 Muara Tuang District Office, Kota Samarahan, 1933 Brooke Fort, Meluan, Sarikei, 1935 Datu Pengiran Haji Matussin Old House, Kampung Datu, Kuala Lawas, 1952

Sri Aman House, Sri Aman Monuments : Air Raid Shelter, Park Lane, Kuching, 1940 Serombong Kilang Sagu Lama, Mukah, 1880 Makam Pengiran Matussin, Sibu Laut, Kuching Batu Datu Merpati, Kampung Tembawang Taup, Serian, 1800

Batu Penanda Sempadan, Batu Taman Demong, Ulu Krian, 1500AD

Lumbong Rentap, Julau, 1989 Makam Rosli Dhobi Terowong Perang Jepun, Miri, 1941 For more information, refer to http://www.mudtour.sarawak.gov.my/

LIST OF SARAWAK HISTORICAL SITES, BUILDINGS & MONUMENTS

Acknowledgement: We thank the following for contributing photographs, drawings and articles for this edition of SHS Newsletter (in no specific order) Wixin Photography, Celine Ling, students of English Language Centre, Bong Siak Khiun, Bong Say Chiung, Mike Boon, Lim Min Zhen, Peggy Wong, Voon Joon Peng, Astley Arnold, Jason Wee, Anthea Liew

July 2009 - February 2010

NEWSLETTER

Since SHS’s inception on 14th February 2006, public awareness and education on the diverse heritage of Sarawak have always been the main objective of the Society. In addition to the numerous talks, education based on our ‘Sarawakiana Talks” module, to education institution and other organizations, we have introduced a monthly Heritage Site Visit to places with significant cultural heritage values. The committee members take effort to research on specific sites and conduct the site visits for members and public. We have received tremendous support from our local press which reported on all our site visits. Our supporters from Talents & Arts Performing Group and Wixin Photography also introduced these sites through Travelmate Magazine, a national Chinese Travel publication. The enthusiasm from the local residents also shed lights in our pilot community based heritage conservation project in Siniawan old town. The heritage walks and stories of Siniawan old town became popular study tour destinations for educational institutions. Together with our project partners, Talents and Arts Performing Group, a team of senior secondary school students residing in Siniawan have been selected to be trained as local facilitators for the project. This is a first step to let the local community take ownership of the heritage conservation effort. As part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, one of the major supporters of this project is Bluescope Lysaght, who contributed RM10,000 for the first 6 months of this project.

There are increasing instances where technical advise and assistance were sought from the society. With very limited resources, there is a dire need for the society to look into a way to provide this sort of services in future. With the help of some dedicated members and volunteers, we are helping to document and manage an old timber house for conservation and relocation to a new site. This team of volunteers have also managed to complete Level 2 measured drawings inventory of all the old timber shophouses in Siniawan. After a fire that destroyed 6 units of old shophouses at Gambier Street, SHS was asked to advise on the ‘re-building’ of these shophouses. Going beyond the advisory role, the team of volunteers had gone to the extend of proposing a sensitive design solution for the ‘rebuilding’ committee. The proposal was agreed by all of the shop owners and it’s in the process of submission to the relevant authorities for approval. Another fire on Wayang Street old shophouses, just days after the Gambier Street fire is alarming. It is necessary for the shop owners, relevant government departments, professional bodies and N.G.O.’s to to get together to initiate guidelines and preventive measures for the historical structures in the Historical Precinct of the old Kuching. The Society will pursue this subject matters, with the relevant governing agencies in heritage issues. We look forward to cooperation and contributions from all sectors to formulate a policy for the conservation of our heritage. SHS can be contacted at 082-453344 or through email at sarawakheritagesociety@gmail.com. We are looking forward to your encouragement and continual support.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 2008-2010 Immediate Past President

Datu Abang Janalak @ Aloysius b. Abang Dris President

Ar. Mike Boon Chee Khian Vice President

Joseph Ingai Gasing Secretary

Bong Siak Khiun Treasurer

Peggy Wong Bik Kay Committee members

Hong Boon Kheng Ian Thomas Parker Rahah Haji Hassan Chiong Sik Ing (Member to replace Chai Phay Yung who had resigned from the committee to pursue Master Degree in Conservation, in China) Florence Teo Lee Wei (Member co-opted to replace Rose Au who had resigned from the committee on 05th June 2008 due to her other commitment overseas)

MEMBERSHIP Since the inception of the Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) on 14 February 2006 the Society has 29 registered members to date. Since March 2008, SHS membership categories had been redefined to include : Life Member (Joining fee RM5,000) Corporate Member (5-year membership RM10,000) Ordinary Member (Joining fee RM100 & Annual membership fee RM100) Affiliate Member - for non-Sarawakians residing in Sarawak (Joining fee RM100 & Annual membership fee RM100) Stude nt M em ber - submission to be accompanied with letter from institution

to verify student status (Joining fee RM50 & Annual membership fee RM50) SHS’S 4TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SHS’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 5th March 2010 at M&M House 828D Lorong Stampin 5. The AGM will start at 6pm and to be followed by the SHS Annual Dinner at 7.30pm, which will be attended by members, supporters & volunteers of the Society. Invitations had also been extended to media partners, Professional Associations and other associated organizations. During the dinner, committee member Chiong Sik Ing will present a talk “Gardens & Recreational Facilities in Old Kuching”. She is also a practicing Landscape Architect.

OUR NETWORKS SHS continue to receive support from professional bodies, The Talent & Art Performing Group (Wujiaoji), other heritage conservation organization in Malaysia and the community of Siniawan Township. Recently, our networks with associated organizations had included Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Jabatan Muzium Sarawak (JMS), Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) and other government authorities. Joint activities with MNS includes the upcoming hike on 18th April 2010 to Mount Serambu at Peninjau, to survey the archaeological site of the Brooke’s resthouse. It is also the site where Arthur Russell Wallace collected specimens in the 1850s upon the invitation of the 1st White Rajah, James Brooke. GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY LIAISONS Ministry of Tourism and Heritage (MOTH) (formerly known as Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism) had recently set up the State Tourism Coordinating Committee and had invited SHS to be represented as a committee member. SHS is also a member of the State Heritage Committee and had been instrumental in the set up of this Conservation advisory body . Being the authority and custodian of heritage conservation matters in Sarawak, Jabatan Muzium Sarawak is in continual working relationship with SHS, with regular discussions. SHS has also been invited to be an advisor on the Gambier Street Old Shophouse Rebuilding Committee, which concerned the highly publicized 6 units old shophouse which was razed to ground on 22nd December 2009. Realising that Darul Kurnia is a listed building under Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993, the Sarawak Chinese Charitable Trust Board has sought advice from SHS on conservation matters for their on-going maintenance and usage of this heritage building.

RTM Sarawak RedFM’s Heritage Walk In collaboration with SHS, RedFM of Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) Sarawak, had produced a series of heritage talks called “RedFM’s Heritage Walk” which is aired for tn ight ly , s ince February 2010. The English versions are aired on every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 12.30noon, hosted by Hendrick Foh, while Celine Ling will host the live Mandarin Heritage Walk on every last Thursdays of the month at 8pm.

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PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTATION OF SINIAWAN CULTURAL HERITAGE PROJECT

Measured drawing documentation in process over several weekends

Various discussions and cultural activities

Level 1 inventory of some shophouses in Siniawan town centre

Some sketches for measured drawings

Scenes and sights of Siniawan old town centre

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CURRENT COMMUNITY BASED PROJECT “ Reminiscing forgotten treasures … SINIAWAN” T h i s i s a j o i nt p r o j e ct i m pl e m e n t e d b y Sa r a wa k H e r i t a g e Soc i e t y & Th e Ta l e n t & Ar t Pe r fo r mi n g Gr ou p , f o r Swe e G e k Ku n g S i n i a wa n Sa r a wa k & S u p p o r t e d b y B l u eSc op e L ysa g h t ( Sa r a wa k ) Sd n B h d .

Siniawan Town Cultural Heritage Project From the last issue of newsletter, The Siniawan Cultural Heritage Project, the first community-based project that SHS had collaborated with other organisation with, had continued to receive support from the town locals and interested public at large.

Both the documentation process of tangible (i.e. buildings, sites, etc.) and intangible heritage (i.e. trades, lifestyle, culture & history) had been well received by all. With volunteers spending their weekends there documenting old shophouses (i.e. in measured drawings), and some throughout the weeks with interviews. Several community activities and cultural celebration had been organised and hosted with project partners, since the inception of this Cultural Heritage Project. Heritage walks of the town centre for different target groups had also been formulated and guided by SHS members to general satisfaction. Thus, in continuation of cultivating a sustainable community cultural heritage project, the project partners will be focusing on training of local facilitators which had been chosen from the student camps. They will be trained to be personally involved in the organisation and documentation of cultural activities of their own town. By involving the locals as facilitators of the project, in hopes to be able to help them reinforce and foster the understanding of their unique identity, sense of belonging and thus a strong sense of local pride. In the next term of events, SHS aims to identify and carry out conservation works to a local historical building for public usage as an information centre and communal place for cultural activities This project continues to aim at providing sustainable economic opportunities to provide the quiet dying town a new lease of life, and by staying on to continue the

Photo of Siniawan Town from across the river taken by Mike Boon

Date Activities 2009 14.03 Taking Photographs of Siniawan Old Shop. 04.04

Meet Siniawan Penghulu at Siniawan, Voon Sip Shoon Coffee Shop

12.04 Meeting with “The Talent & Art Performing Group” 16.05 Update & Briefing Project Team by SHS 17.05 Meet the local 21.05 Oral History 14.06 Site investigation 20.06 Measured drawing 18.06 Oral History 27.06 Measured drawing 30.06 Discussion with “The Talent & Art Performing

Group” (WJJ) at Mike Boon’s house 30.06 Measured drawing 06.07 Performance by “Talent & Art Performing

Group”(WJJ) at Siniawan Chung Hua School 10.07 Meeting with Siniwan Swee Gek Kung Society at

Siniawan Society centre, submit draft preliminary program for the project launching on 23/8/09

11.07 Measured drawing 12.07 “The Talent & Art Performance Group” (WJJ)

performance rehearsal 18.07 Selection of local performers, Lysaght (Sponsor) to

hand-over cheque for project 18.07 Measured drawing 19.07 Discussion at Mike Boon’s house to revise project

launching program on 23/8/09 25.07 WJJ rehearsal at Mike Boon’s house 26.07 Local Children’s rehearse / training 30.07 Red FM on air interview / introduction of project 31.07 CIMB Photo Contest submission 01.08 Siniawan Musical Teams / Children’s rehearsal 05.08 Project briefing to YB Jerip Susil 10.08 Siniawan Cultural Musical rehearsal at platform “Shen

Phin”, opposite Swee Guk Kung Temple 13.08 Banner Design for Wixin’s photography exhibition, KL 14.08 T-shirt Design for project launching 18.08 Flyer emails, invitation cards of project launch 20.08 Press conference on launching at “Chief Chef”

restaurant, 3rd mile. 23.08 Project launching at “Shen Phin” stage, Swee Guk

Kung” Temple, Siniawan 24.08 “Remembering Alfred Russel Wallace”, speech given

by Malaysian Nature Society 03.09 Hungry Ghost Festival 12.09 Discussion on Moon Cake Festival 19.09 Discussion on Moon Cake Festival 22.09 Hari Raya Visiting 02.10 Moon cake Festival 03.11 Study trip - students from English Lecture Centre 29.11 Visitors - Sibu & Sabah’s Temple society group 30.11 《我是导览员》口才训练营

25.11 Lecture on “What’s Heritage” to Siniawan Committee 05.12 大手拉小手，老街齐步走

11.12 讨论会

12.12 《空中的梦想家》中学生广播营

20.12 记忆的遗珠-新尧湾介绍

25.12 记忆的遗珠-新尧湾介绍

2010 15.01 Swee Guk Kung Temple – Year-end Lantern

descending ceremony 21.02 Site visit by UM students 28.02 Chap Goh Meh celebration

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EDUCATION PROGRAMMES Heritage Talks & Walks to students In efforts to raise awareness and appreciation of our cultural heritage, SHS’s education programmes has also been focusing on the younger generation, like school children. Since the last newsletter, SHS has conducted the heritage education activities with various school children:

Heritage walk of Old Kuching conducted to SMK Kuching High’s Scout group on 20th September 2009

Lecture series to English Language Centre’s PMR

students with a field trip to Siniawan on 3rd November 2009

Lecture to Universiti Malaya’s 2nd Year Architecture students on 19th - 21st February 2010, with a field trip to Siniawan, while they were here to recce their project site

Holiday camp for local Siniawan school children on

30th November, 5th December and 12th December 2009, where facilitators for their community conservation program were selected and trained.

Heritage walk of Old Kuching with SMK Kuching High’s Scout group

Siniawan Town field trip for English Language Centre students (left) and Universiti Malaya 2nd year Architecture students (right)

Holiday Camp for local Siniawan school children

On 3rd November 2009, my tuition class SEC3T with OX3T, PMRT and PMRM went on a Heritage Walk around Siniawan, a trip organised by English language Centre. There, we learnt a lot that we did not learn at school. We watched people processing bird’s nests, we enjoyed the architecture of the old town and the local ‘kuih’ (cakes) which were delicious. We also saw how people lived in that town. I had so much fun on this trip which was a most memorable one because it will not happen again in the future or so I think. I will encourage my friends to visit. I would promote this place through the media so that everyone will know about the importance of conserving and preserving old buildings because I feel that heritage can be an income generator for Malaysia.

By – Tay Guan Yun, SEC3T

Comments f rom students of English Language Centre (ELC) on their f ield t rip to Siniawan old town

The trip to Siniawan was a memorable one as I got to know an ancient site that still exists in Sarawak. This is made possible because the Sarawak Heritage Society has made this a heritage site. Before this trip, I had never been to Siniawan. Upon our arrival, we were greeted warmly by the locals there. Later, Mr. Mike Boon gave a short briefing and told us the history of Siniawan. After that, we got a chance to taste some local delicacies. I really enjoyed the delicacies as they did not have any artificial colouring. The colour of the black-coloured ‘kuih’ came from the vines of ‘smelly fart’ (a direct translation from the Hakka name for the vine which could only be found in Siniawan). Then we visited the bird’s nests processing shop. There, we could see workers removing the feathers to produce high quality bird’s nests for sale. We also visited the abattoir. We got to know how they slaughtered the animals in the past. I was amazed to meet an 80-year-old teacher because he didn’t look that old. Our group even visited the old shop houses and Mr. Mike explained some of the architecture to us. Next, we went to the Ong’s family mansion. The house was special especially the living room and the dining room. As soon as we entered these rooms, we felt cool even though it was hot and sunny outside. The Chinese temple beside the mansion was our last destination before we had our lunch. I would recommend my friends to try the local delicacies which are delicious and healthy as the food does not contain any artificial colouring. They should also observe the unique architecture of the buildings that were built without using nails. If I have a chance, I will definitely visit this place again. As a Sarawakian, I am proud of this heritage site. I will create awareness among all my friends so that they know that places of great heritage are important to us. They will also learn the meaning of conservation and try to practise it in our society. When they learn about the importance of conserving places of interest, they will try their best to protect the heritage sites so that these sites can be passed down to the next generation.

By – Liew Pi Ying, OX3T

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PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMMES Heritage Site Visits Since August 2009, as an outreach to the general public and activities for members, SHS had started a series of regular site visits to heritage buildings, conducted by SHS’s Committee Members. All site visits are well attended by both the members and publics alike. With positive feedbacks from participants and the growing media coverage of these site visits, there was a growing interest in the general public on heritage buildings and site in Kuching. On 16th August 2009 to Fort Margherita by Chai Phay

Yung & Square Tower with was under conservation works by Mike Boon

On 13th September 2009 to

Air Raid Shelter & Segu Bungalow by Joseph Ingai Gasing

On 17th October 2009 to Bishop’s House & Anglican

Mission Grounds by Ian Thomas Parker

On 22nd November 2009 to St.

Joseph’s Cemetery, by Peggy Wong

On 23rd January 2010 to “Darul Kurnia”, the library

block of Chung Hua Middle School No.4 by Bong Siak Khiun

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Before midnight on 22nd December 2009, about 6 pre-war shophouses were destroyed in a massive fire that was speculated to have started from a 2-unit fabric store. This struck a massive sentimental cord in a lot of Kuching citizen who grew up with memories of this place, and especially for the traders. Thus, almost immediately a ‘Rebuilding Committee’ was set up to assist the shopowners.

SHS was invited to be the ‘Advisor’ on Heritage Conservation and Design matters pertaining to the ‘rebuilding’ exercise. Architects from 3 local firms (i.e. Design Network Architects, I-Jong Architect and Arkitek JFN Sdn Bhd) volunteered their time to brainstorm on the concept for ‘rebuilding’ A design proposal was developed by a team of volunteers from JFN’s staff, led by Ar. Mike Boon. All the owners agreed to the design proposal. The same will be submitted by the ‘Rebuilding Committee’ Chairman Mr. Wee Hong Seng to State Planning Authority (SPA) on behalf of the owners. The design proposals addressed the following issues: 1. How to meet Government Regulations and at the

same time satisfy Owners’ Requirements? 2. How to establish ‘existing conditions’ as there are no

records of Approved Building Plans? 3. What is ‘original’? How far can we trace back? 4. What is Authenticity and how is it relevant? 5. What are the Government Policy, Guidelines and

Procedures relevant to this rebuilding situation? Subsequently a 1937 surveyed plan was found in Land & Survey Department Kuching. It gave the basis for tracing

the earliest footprint in record to develop a plan for rebuilding. The proposed plan reinstated traditional airwells to let in light and ventilation for shophouses that is minimum 120ft long. Party wall and rear-yard are introduced as fire breaks.

Out of 6 units, 2 elevations are restored where the remaining 4 takes on new facades that interpreted the architecture elements of the surrounding historical shophouses (i.e. scale, texture, colour, rhythm, materials, etc.) to continue the ‘character of old Kuching’. It is a contemporary interpretation of the past rather than a replica of what was lost. The proposed ‘rebuilding’ of the shophouses once completed, will tell the story of their past, responding to the present conditions and as a bridge to the future.

REBUILDING SIX UNITS OF GAMBIER STREET OLD SHOPHOUSES DESTROYED BY FIRE ON 22ND DECEMBER 2009

The incident took frontpage headlines on The Borneo Post on 23rd December 2009.

Before A

fter ‘Re-built’

Proposed ‘rebuilding’ footprints overlaid on 1937 surveyed plan

Air-Well

Five Foot Way

Air-Well

Backyard