What early Sabah was like as told by a great contributor
Kota Kinabalu: The State Museum on Wednesday launched the diary of late George Cathcart Woolley – a product of the prestigious Queen’s College Oxford in the United Kingdom – whose many contributions to Sabah as a Chartered Company official not only survived to this day but also impacted locals lives positively.
This includes documenting the adat of the natives wherever he went as well as being the architect of the 1930 Land Ordinance which enabled natives to for the first time own land titles and better safeguard their rights.
He was also involved in conducting or overseeing the surveys of many native lands throughout the State.
The book’s launch was in conjunction with the museum’s Golden Jubilee celebration.
“The launch of ‘The Diaries of G.C. Woolley’ on this auspicious day is because it is to Woolley that the museum owes its existence,” said its Director Joanna Kitingan.
She said it was the Woolley bequest of artefacts, photographs, negatives, books and diaries to the government in 1946 that paved the way for the formation of the Sabah Museum on July 15, 1965.
She said launching the first volume of his diaries on the museum’s birthday would be a tribute to a great man who dedicated his life to the people of Sabah.
“It has always been Sabah Museum’s desire and intention to have the Woolley diaries published for the benefit of the public,” she said, adding that the project to publish the massive collection, known as the Woolley Publications project was spread over three years.
The existence of the diaries which shed vital insights into pre-war British North Borneo (as Sabah was then known) were the museum’s best kept secret. They were withheld from public view and access for 70 years due to their fragility.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said the diary which was transformed into a book pictures the environment, cultures and beliefs of the locals of a bygone era.
“It is important for us to understand our history because we can learn to appreciate our ancestors’ struggles. We hope the people will purchase the book to understand more about our State’s background during the colonial era,” he added.
Universiti Malaya Professor Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken who was one of the editors said the diary covered a very long period dating from 1901 to 1926.
“Woolley started writing the diary the day he stepped into the boat for his journey out here up till he passed away. The year 1901 to 1926 covers a period which we don’t know much about.
“Of course, we have historical documents but we don’t have that personal eyes coming from an individual and Woolley being an admin officer was able to witness a lot of events, meet lots of people and make decisions,” he said.
Woolley’s diary, Wong said, played a crucial part in allowing the people to catch a glimpse of past events which had not been described elsewhere.
The first volume, when Woolley first came to Sabah portrays more about the European community but later changed as he started to come in contact with more locals like Dusuns, Muruts, Bajaus and Bisayas.
“Woolley learnt their languages, he documented their folklores, laws, customary laws or adat and so on and all these were recorded in his diary,” he said, adding that the information would definitely contribute to all Sabahans.
“Do not forget that Woolley also took about 3, 000 photographs. It is possible for one to do so today but in those days every photograph was one glass negative and it was very expensive.
“Besides, it is difficult to carry a camera to the jungle as they need tripods, lights and it’s not automatic and you need to burn the flash. So, basically, Woolley went through all these things documenting about Sabah society starting from 1901,” he said. The images captured were important as during World War 2, Jesselton was bombed flat to the ground leaving behind only three buildings which were the clock tower, old post office and the old Welfare office opposite the present-day Suria Sabah shopping mall.
“So whatever newspapers people used to have and whatever photographs that were taken would have been burnt down the ground,” he said, adding that those taken by Woolley survived the war as he even kept them in a safe deposit box in the bank.
He and Sabah Museum Senior Curator Stella Moo-Tan, took about one and a half years to complete editing the book with other volumes currently in the process.
Kitingan during her speech also announced that they will be having a variety of events to commemorate the State Museum’s 50th anniversary namely the Crafts Exotica from July 1 to 16, First Day Cover on July 15, the museum golden jubilee historical walkathon on July 25, the golden jubilee official launching on July 27, museum seminar from July 28 to 30, State Museum Hari Raya Open House on July 30, Special Women in History Exhibition from August 28 to December 28 as well as the Se-Borneo Beads Carnival from Oct 7 to 11.
Source: Daily Express
