Sungai Lembing Semarak@Muzium Prog To Bring Community Closer To Mining History

KUANTAN, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The 2024 Sungai Lembing Semarak@Muzium programme organised by the Department of Museums Malaysia is aimed at bringing the people closer to the history of mining in Sungai Lembing here which once went through a golden era in the 1900s.

Sungai Lembing Museum head Peterson Augustine Anak Augustine Jadan said through a two-day programme starting yesterday, the community, especially the young people, could take a closer look at the artifacts in the museum as well as try the activities provided.

He said the occasion with the theme ‘Museum and Education’, is featuring many interesting programmes among them is El Dorado Mining Gemstone, where visitors have the opportunity to experience the open-cast mining method carried out by miners in the past.

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"The objective of the activity that was held for the first time is that we want to bring the community closer to the museum, at the same time they can gain knowledge, especially regarding tin mining which was famous here once upon a time," he told Bernama.

Among the artifacts that can be seen by visitors is a jumbo drill which is a tool used in underground mining, a kiew wheel which works for lowering and raising workers and goods in addition to ore pourers and calculators.

The Sungai Lembing Semarak@Muzium programme which is targeting 3,000 visitors was opened by the Ministry of National Unity secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad yesterday, and was also attended by the Museums Department director-general Datuk Kamarul Baharin A Kasim.

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More interestingly, Peterson Augustine said his party also held a Pai Naa Photo Exhibition starting yesterday until Dec 25, which takes visitors through time with a collection of photos taken around Sungai Lembing in the early 1940s by Miss Baker.

Miss Baker is the younger sister of Pahang Consolidated Company Limited (PCCL) general manager, V.B.C Baker who used to live in the Sungai Lembing Museum building or better known as European Bungalow 1 (EB1).

"We have received about 32 photographs from the heirs of Miss Baker who visited the museum last year and submitted photos to us which have never exhibited," he said.

Commenting further, he said the programme is also two-pronged as it involves local residents selling various food items besides organising the El Dorado Exploration competition and sports events such as the Community Fun Run and Ride that took place this morning.

Meanwhile, he said the Sungai Lembing Museum uses social media as a platform to promote activities and historical artifacts in an effort to ensure the museum's role remains relevant.

The museum, which uses the original building where the general manager of the tin mining company lived, is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm and charges an entrance fee of RM2.

-- BERNAMA