Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka Sabah Invites PSMCS to Attend Workshop

Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Sabah (PSMCS)had been invited to attend a workshop on Public Book Writing by Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka Sabah, scheduled on June 13-14, 2011 at the Sabah Muzium Complex, Kota Kinabalu.

Storytelling time at the Sabah Muzium

Teachers and students from the College and schools were treated to a Storytelling session by Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Sabah at the Sabah Muzium Complex in conjunction with the Craft Exotica 2011 festival. It was the story of the Cocos ethnic that came all the way from the Cocos-Keeling Islands in 1949 as estate workers in the abaca and tobacco plantation in Tawau and Lahad Datu. The Storyteller traced their journey from Malacca in the year 1811 when a group of about 3,000 crossed over to Banjarmasin, Southern Borneo State at the invitation of the Sultan of Banjarmasin to help keep peace against the local uprising, mainly coming from the Dayak and the Bugis communities.

Some people called the Cocos ethnic the 'White Tiger'. They could have been brave warriors coming from Malaya and involved in the Java War in 1811 (the war betweent he British and Dutch in Java, the war that the British won). Those group of people was not known as Cocos ethnic yet until they settled down at the group of 24 islands in the Indian Ocean called the Cocos-Keeling Islands.

This ethnic can be found in the east coast town of Tawau, Lahad Datu and about 300-400 in a scheme at Pamol, Sandakan.

The Committee Meets

Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Sabah meets on Saturday, 23rd April 2011 11 am to discuss its participation in the Sabah Fest 2011 at Muzium Warisan Sandakan that will showcase the Cocos Etnic dance and craft for two days from May 5-6, 2011. The Society is bringing the cultural troupe from Kg Balung Cocos, Tawau to perform the Dansa as showcase the Baskat and Setangan Tanduk making. Sabah Muzium coordinates the Etnic Exotica Crafts in Sandakan.

First Committee Meeting in 2011

PSMCS has scheduled its first meeting on February 20, 2011 at the office of the Vice President to discuss among others the activities for 2011 including the Annual General Meeting, Warkah PSM and Journal Publication and brief the Committee what transpired at the Courtesy Call to its Advisor on February 10, 2011 as well as the Courtesy Call to the Director of Sabah Muzium scheduled in February 2011 after the 23rd.

Courtesy Call To Advisor

PSMCS Committee made a courtesy call to its Advisor who is also the Sabah Minister of Tourism, YB Datuk Hj Masidi Manjun on February 10,2011 at 2.30pm, presenting him his life membership card and certificate as his letter of appointment as the Historical Society Advisor. The President briefed him about the Society's activities including the 3rd Malaysia-Indoneisa Dialogue held at Johor Bahru and the Talk on Historical Tourism at UMS and Storytelling at KYS Animation House. The Minister made an on the spot approval for a RM10,000 grant to the Society to enable them to continue with the Warkah PSM Publication as well as the Historical Journal. The Minister as supportive of their request for a permanent place to carry on their activities and the Society will be following this with the Sabah Muzium. That will be the Society's first 'Anjung Sejarah' in Kota Kinabalu, thanks to the support of its Advisor. The Minister advised that the Historical Society showcase the Sabah's ethnic groups starting with the Cocos Community at the Sabah Muzium event scheduled in May 2011.