22/08/2025

FRIDAY | AUG 22, 2025

6 Bridging centuries with technology

o From augmented reality apps to virtual tours, museums are going digital to captivate the next generation

Young visitors exploring

Malaysia’s rich history with a VR headset at the Hang Tuah Centre. – BERNAMAPIC

MALACCA: Once rooted firmly in the soil, Malaysia’s cultural heritage is now finding a second home in the digital cloud. From ancient manuscripts revived through augmented reality to virtual journeys into the Japanese occupation, technologies such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence and 3D scanning – hallmarks of the Fourth Industrial Revolution — are transforming how history is preserved, experienced and remembered. At the National Museum, an augmented reality (AR) app brings 28 selected collections to life in vivid 2D and 3D multimedia formats for on-site visitors. In Taiping, the Perak Museum’s 2023 VR exhibition transport audiences into the daily realities of life under Japanese occupation. Malacca Department of Culture and Arts director Ezlina Elias said using technology to visualise heritage makes it more appealing to younger audiences and opens the door to new ways of experiencing the nation’s history. “This could become a new tourism draw, particularly for the digital generation, who are naturally drawn to electronic devices and eager to explore history in a fresh, interactive context,” she told Bernama. Unlike the 1970s and 1980s

generation who relied on books to imagine the past, today’s generation can immerse themselves in history through interactive websites and digital applications. “This could deepen their appreciation and understanding of history, while also inspiring tourists to better value our country’s cultural and heritage treasures.” In this context, the Malacca government’s initiative to repatriate and digitise manuscripts and artefacts from the Malacca Sultanate era – particularly those linked to Admiral Hang Tuah and currently held in 14 countries including Vatican City, Italy, India, Japan and Turkey – will give the public an opportunity to explore and appreciate the authenticity of the nation’s history. Notably, one half of a sundang (a large dagger-like weapon) and a pair of ceremonial keris believed to have belonged to Hang Tuah were recently returned via his descendants from the Bintan Islands in Indonesia. Ezlina also pointed to the Hang Tuah Centre in Duyong, which employs AI to create images for video displays and VR content depicting trade, currency and language. She cited it as an excellent example of how the Malacca Museum Corporation (Perzim) is bringing Malacca’s history to life with greater accuracy, appeal and interactivity.

In Malaysia, the Terengganu Virtual Museum is a pioneering example, being the first of its kind in the country and the third in the world. It houses about 33,000 historical artefacts from the Terengganu Museum Board in digital form. However, Mohd Nasruddin cautioned that relying solely on virtual experiences risks depriving visitors of the chance to see and appreciate genuine artefacts. “It creates a huge gap between live and replicated heritage. Over time, society may end up inheriting only copies. There is a need for a balanced approach, one that ensures authenticity is not sacrificed for the sake of digital convenience.”

and dances as examples increasingly at risk when reproduced or artificially recreated through technology. “Technology allows us to mimic authenticity. This is a serious problem for intangible heritage, as it strips away the original spirit and cultural context. “Popular culture and social media content also tend to draw the younger generation towards modern trends over traditional values to the point where some can no longer tell what is truly authentic.” He said the rise of virtual museums, such as themed exhibitions at the National Museum and several under Perzim allows users to “visit” without ever seeing the original artefacts.

Meanwhile, National Heritage Department archaeologist Mohd Nasruddin Rahman said his department had conducted research at Bukit Melaka using advanced scanning and recording tools in collaboration with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry. These innovations, he said, proved instrumental in capturing findings with greater accuracy, consistency and efficiency. Even so, he warned that excessive digitisation can weaken the authenticity and spirit of heritage. “By definition, heritage demands authenticity. When it becomes overly commercialised, especially for entertainment, its true value will be lost,” he said, citing traditional songs

Kembara Merdeka 2.0 to roll through Negeri Sembilan SEREMBAN: A total of 250 high powered motorcycles will participate in the Kembara Merdeka Akar Umbi 2.0 at Negeri Sembilan level, accompanied by state leadership and department heads, to welcome this year’s National Month on Aug 30. State senior exco Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said the journey will pass through seven districts starting in Jempol and ending at Dataran Budaya Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah with a culmination event on the eve of Merdeka which will also be enlivened by a fireworks display. He said the journey will be escorted by 50 cars involving a journey of more than 300km and at each stop, various activities will also be held, including donations to the needy in the districts involved. “We will gather as early as 8am in Jempol before moving towards Jelebu, then down to Seremban, Port Dickson, Rembau, Tampin and ending in Seri Menanti,” he told reporters when met recently. Meanwhile, the Jelebu MP said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is also expected to join the journey in Port Dickson. He said the police traffic team will

assist to control traffic in several hotspots along the route of the Merdeka journey. “We expect more than 8,000 visitors to flood Seri Menanti to join in the celebration on the eve of Merdeka as well as to strengthen goodwill with each other.” – Bernama