Posted by
wetbenang
at
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
REVAMPING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
A RM20 million facelift for the tired, lack-lustre Muzium Negara is in the pipeline, with the hope of making it more attractive to local and foreign tourists. Apparently, a recent survey among KL folks shows that the museum is definitely not their choice visit destination. About 11 per cent of the respondents in the survey say they only visited the museum once in the past decade.
The revamp, says the Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, will be in time for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007, and will give the museum a fresh look to excite visitors.
"There will be a new style of exhibition, better presentation, more artifacts and attractive lighting display," he was quoted by a local daily. He also said city folks bypass the museum as they take things for granted. "They assume that if they don't visit the museum, they won't miss anything."
I fall into that 11 per cent category of people, I guess, as the last time I visited the museum was about seven years ago. Not because I take things for granted. I love our history, because it is an integral part of what we are today and where we should be heading as a nation. When I travel to foreign countries, I always make it a point to visit their museums. And I always come out of these museums feeling that I have learnt something.
In all honesty, I cannot say the same about our national museum. The exhibits are poorly displayed or documented. Description of the artifacts is inadequate or non-existent in some cases. At the end of the visit, you feel you learn almost nothing. So is it surprising to see the number of visitors to the museum has dwindled?
I hope the people overseeing the RM20 million revamp will also look at the museum's official website. I visited the website recently and was appalled at the horrendous standard of English used in the homepage. Grammar mistakes, spelling errors, poor sentence construction and choice of words are in every single sentence! No one seems to care! If I were the museum's authorities, I would send the website's writer(s) back to grammar school -- that is if I was in a good mood. Otherwise, I'd just fire their sorry arses. Memalukan!
If you're not convinced, please visit the website (www.museum.gov.my), and you'll know what I mean. You don't have to read every single page, if you don't have the time. Just sample the Director's Message, which I reproduced verbatim below:
A Message from the National Museum Director
Welcome to the National Museum Homepage. Similar to other museums, the establishment of the National Museum is as; " a non profit making, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to public which acquires, consignee, researches, communicates and exhibitions for proposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their enviroment."
Efforts to realize this definition and concept of a museum is a continous effort which has become an upholding priciple for those responsible for maintaining the National Museum. Numerous approaches undergone is a small attempt by the National Museum to communicate with the society regarding the knowledge found In reply the context of the intrinsic values of elements in cultural and historical heritage. There are more approaches and techniques still to be applied by the National Museum in its endeavor to be an institution based on unique brand of general education that can adapt to the changing needs of time. However, all efforts and approaches requiere support and cooperation from everyone as it involves a high level of cost and expertise in an assortment of fields.
We appreciate all constructing reviews from every level of society to together help ensure that the National Museum become a sign of the dignity for all of us."
Efforts to realize this definition and concept of a museum is a continous effort which has become an upholding priciple for those responsible for maintaining the National Museum. Numerous approaches undergone is a small attempt by the National Museum to communicate with the society regarding the knowledge found In reply the context of the intrinsic values of elements in cultural and historical heritage. There are more approaches and techniques still to be applied by the National Museum in its endeavor to be an institution based on unique brand of general education that can adapt to the changing needs of time. However, all efforts and approaches requiere support and cooperation from everyone as it involves a high level of cost and expertise in an assortment of fields.
We appreciate all constructing reviews from every level of society to together help ensure that the National Museum become a sign of the dignity for all of us."
And this is among the not-so-bad write-ups in the homepage. Sad, isn't it.....?
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