KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graciously launched the Merdeka Textile Museum in the compound of the Menara Merdeka Maybank here today.
The museum was opened by PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), with the aim of preserving and celebrating the textile heritage of the Malay world through in-depth storytelling and interactive cultural experiences.
The Queen decreed that every country has a heritage that needs to be appreciated, preserved, and passed down to the next generation.
Raja Zarith Sofiah said that cultural traditions are a reflection of the identity and values that shape the society of this country.
"I hope the Merdeka Textile Museum will become an important centre for learning and knowledge exploration for everyone, and will serve as an inspiration to Malaysian women today and in future.
"I also hope that the young people will appreciate our country's heritage and culture so that it will not be lost just like that," said the Queen in a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's Facebook page.
The personal collection of the late Sharifah Azah Syed Mohammed Alsagoff (Azah Aziz), wife of the late Prof Diraja Ungku Abdul Aziz Abdul Hamid and mother of the former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Ungku Zeti Akhtar Aziz, forms the museum’s main core.
The collection includes 240 pieces of clothing and 69 traditional jewellery items, including songket sarong, Limar Baju Kurung and Tekat Emas, which were donated by the Azah Aziz family.
The museum also draws inspiration from Azah Aziz's important work, Rupa & Gaya: Busana Melayu, which highlights Malay textiles as a reflection of identity, history, culture and society.
Having eight galleries, the Merdeka Textile Museum is also equipped with a study centre that includes a conservation laboratory, a fabric library and a textile knowledge centre.
Also present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and the PNB group chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda.
-- BERNAMA