Museums Dept receives over 100-years-old Kadazan Tagung collection
The tagung were made in Brunei when North Borneo (Sabah) was under the rule of the Brunei Sultanate around the 1700s.
KUALA LUMPUR - The Museums Department recently received a collection of tagung (gongs) that is over 100 years old from the Kadazan Society Sabah, including gendang (double-headed drums) and a set of kulintangan (kettle gongs).
It said in a statement that the traditional Kadazan musical instruments belong to the society’s president, Datuk Seri Marcel Leiking.
"The tagung were made in Brunei when North Borneo (Sabah) was under the rule of the Brunei Sultanate around the 1700s. They were brought by traders from Brunei to the coastal areas of North Borneo and later to the interiors,” read the statement.
The handover ceremony took place in the Central Hall of the Raja Kita Exhibition at the Department of Museums Malaysia.
It said that on Dec 7, 2021, the department launched its Collection Donation Campaign aimed at preserving and protecting the nation’s heritage, in which the public is encouraged to donate their valuable personal collections.
According to the statement, from 2020 until this year, the department received 468 collections from 31 contributors, consisting of items under various classifications such as envelopes, games and entertainment, currency, tools, weapons, clothes, and personal adornments.
"The contributors will receive...a certificate and a letter of appreciation for their contributions to the nation. Their names will be displayed every time the collection is showcased and they are eligible for tax exemption (Income Tax Act under Subsection 44 (6A) - gifts of artifacts, manuscripts and paintings),” it added. - BERNAMA
