Kuala Klawang is a quaint small town in the picturesque Jelebu District of Negeri Sembilan and is worth visiting for the scenic journey alone.
The museum, which officially opened in 2008, is in a fairly nondescript modern building in the heart of the town.
Outside the front entrance is a giant model of a traditional Malay headdress.
Inside the exhibits are well presented, with good lighting and ample explanations of the contents in both Bahasa and English.
Did you know that one of the first Malay rulers, Sultan Iskandar Shah, the Raja of Temasik who founded the Malay Sultanate of Malacca in the 1400s, was actually a descendant of Alexander the Great? Perhaps the clue is in his name. Al Iskandar is the Arabic name for Alexander.
The galleries explain the many customs and practices of the various races that make up the population of Malaysia. For example…
• When visiting a Malay home – the greetings, the kissing of the hands of the elders, the removal of footwear, how to sit on the floor, how never to refuse food, how never to visit during evening Maghreb prayers and so on.
• Chinese New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner customs and Baba Nyonya customs – examples of their bamboo and wood tiffin carriers.
• A look at the customs of the Indian community, including the Tamil festival of ponggal.
• Orang Asli blowpipes and darts made from sharpened bamboo. Also wood carvings.
• You can see a mock-up of the interior of an Iban (Sarawak) longhouse and read about the practices of the Kadazan Dusan tribes of Sabah.
• The matrilineal laws (adat perpatih) of the Minangkabau community are also covered.
Traditional occupations: Another gallery focuses on traditional occupations such as paddy cultivation, rubber tapping, fishing and mining, and types of clothing worn by these workers.
Births and marriages: The traditions revolving around lifecycle events such as birth and marriage are most interesting. For example, Malay grooms are prevented from coming into their bride’s presence and ascending the bridal dais until they pay a tax.
Maternity rituals: How to pray for a smooth and safe delivery, and a healthy baby. These involve the use of rice, bathing in lime and water, use of eggs, mirrors, seven pieces of cloth, types of flowers and more.
Other ceremonies concerning the burial of placenta, circumcision rituals and paddy-planting ceremonies.
Opening Hours and Admission Charges: The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm except during the Hari Raya holidays.
Admission is FREE!
This article first appeared in malaysia-traveller.com