Exhibition to showcase Brunei-made cannons

THE Muzium Teknologi Melayu in Kota Batu, for the first time, is putting up an exhibit an array of more than 30 locally-made cannons dating back to 1960s.

The exhibition, launched by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Hj Mohd Rozan Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos yesterday, is part of the International Museum Day 2012 celebrations.

Pudarno Binchin, Ethnography Curator at the Museums Department said they have a collection of over 700 cannons since 1965.

He said the exhibition however, will only feature 31 cannons as part of the department's collection, showcasing their sizes, shapes and functions, among others.

Themed "Bedil dalam dunia yang sudah berubah: Cabaran baru, inspirasi baru" (loosely translated as Cannons in a changed world: New challenges, new inspirations", Pudarno said: "The theme is very timely because there is not much research that has been done so far on the national treasures that have a history, and an important role in the establishment and expansion of the empire of Brunei in the 15th and 16th Century."

"This exhibition will hopefully appeal to Bruneians our cannon culture, and for them to be appreciated from this day on," he said.

Ethnology Officer of the Museums Department, Dk Norazah Pg Hj Muhd told The Brunei Times that one of the objectives of holding the exhibition is to create awareness about the history of Brunei's cannons to its people.

"We want to show and educate people about our heritage, especially for the younger generation to know about the cannons. They do not know it was Bruneians themselves who made these cannons in the olden days," she said.

The exhibition also coincided with the publication of a book titled "Bedil: Khazanah Ristaan Brunei Silam" (loosely translated as Cannon: A Treasure Depicting Brunei's Past), produced by nine authors including Hj Mohd Rozan.

The publication, Pudarno said, is an effort to fuel further research into cannons and its history in Brunei in particular, with the existing foundation of early studies initiated by Pg Dato Paduka Hj Sharifuddin Pg Metali (former Museums Director) in the 1960s with Tom Harrisson. Visitors will also be able to view a documentary titled "Bedil: Seni Warisan Brunei" (loosely translated as Cannon: Brunei's Art Heritage) at the exhibition, as well as drawings by primary school pupils which are up on display.

The exhibition will be open to the public until September 20.

The Muzium Teknologi Melayu was officially opened on February 29, 1988 by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

The museum which has three galleries, was a gift from the The Royal Dutch / Shell Group of Companies to the Brunei government on December 2, 1986. It showcases the use of traditional technologies in areas such as industries, handicrafts, architecture and society skills of living in the water village and on land or inland in the years 1880s to 1950s.The Brunei Times