> Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/sarawak-islamic-heritage-museum/ — updated 2026-10-22. Markdown mirror generated at build time from the same content as the HTML page. Title: Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum: Free Entry & Hours Asia History Museum ⏱ 1 hour Free entry # Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum [Kuching](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/kuching/) · [Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) · Founded 1992 [Baca dalam Bahasa Melayu →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/ms/museums/sarawak-islamic-heritage-museum/) ![Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum in Kuching, Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/sarawak-islamic-heritage-museum.webp) Photo: [Yeo Jiun Tzen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Islamic_Heritage_Museum_-_Madrasah_Melayu_Kuching_(Old)_01.jpg) · [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) Building opened as madrasah 1930 Opened as museum 1992 Galleries 7 Recommended Visit 1 hour ## Quick answer Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum in Kuching, Malaysia — the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum fills the 1930 Madrasah Melayu, a former Malay teacher-training college on Jalan P. Open Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission: free admission for all visitors. Allow 1 hour. Visitor information last reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the official museum site for current details. ## Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed - **Opening hours:** Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM - **Closed:** on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day - **Admission:** Free admission for all visitors - **Booking:** Tickets usually available on the day - **Time needed:** 1 hour - **Best time to visit:** Weekday mornings from 9:00 AM, when it opens an hour earlier than at weekends. - **Getting there:** Walk: About 15 minutes on foot from the Kuching Waterfront to Jalan P. Ramlee; the museum is a stop on the Old Kuching Heritage Trail - **Address:** Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia - **Official website:** museum.sarawak.gov.my Checked 2026-10-22 against [the official website](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/103). Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel. ## What is Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum known for? The Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum occupies one of Kuching's most distinctive school buildings. According to the Sarawak Museum Department it was first known as the James Brooke Malay College and became the Madrasah Melayu Sarawak in 1930, a college that trained teachers in higher Malay studies at a time when mission schools taught English well but qualified Malay teachers were scarce. The Sarawak Gazette of March 1931 described its aim as 'to help the Malay to help himself'. Sarawak Tourism adds that the Brooke government built it as a boys' secondary school, which closed in 1964, after which the Education Department took the building over. The building stands on a raised floor and is rectangular in plan, with three annexes enclosing two inner courtyards; the department says it is the only one of its kind in the state. It is built mainly of concrete and timber. After extensive renovation it was declared open as the Islamic Heritage Museum on 22 May 1992 by the then Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud. Its stated purpose is to show the contribution of Islam to human civilisation, and to present the history and culture of Muslims in Sarawak and across the Malay-Indonesian archipelago. Seven themed galleries are set around a central courtyard garden: the coming of Islam to the Malay Archipelago; Islamic architecture; science, technology, economy and literature; music and costumes; weaponry; decorative arts and domestic utensils; and an Al-Quran Corner. The department's collection notes single out carved wooden door leaves inscribed with Quranic verses and painted gold and red, a carved screen 4.8 metres long with plant motifs and Arabic writing, and a 17th-century Bugis keris with an ivory hilt and a carved silver sheath. Sarawak Tourism also mentions religious artefacts and manuscripts. Admission is free. The museum on Jalan P. Ramlee opens Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and closes on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Governor's birthday and Christmas Day. The department encourages modest clothing. Sarawak Tourism puts the museum about 15 minutes' walk from the Kuching Waterfront, and it is a stop on the Old Kuching Heritage Trail. Best for: History Enthusiasts · Architecture Enthusiasts · Budget Travellers ## What are the must-see works at Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum? 5 highlights that define the collection: Carved door leaves with Quranic verses, Carved screen with plant motifs and Arabic writing, Bugis keris and more. 1 ### Carved door leaves with Quranic verses Malay woodcarving · tradition of the 15th–16th centuries Carved wooden doors inscribed with Quranic verses and painted in gold and red, of a type used as internal doors in the houses of Malay aristocrats in the 15th and 16th centuries. 2 ### Carved screen with plant motifs and Arabic writing Traditional Malay house carving A pierced screen 240 cm high and 480 cm long, carved to let light and air into a room, as screens were used in traditional Malay houses. 3 ### Bugis keris Bugis, Sulawesi (Celebes) · 17th century A straight-bladed keris with an ivory hilt, a silver pendongkok ring and a sheath encased in carved silver, with the word 'Allah' in Arabic letters on the crosspiece. 4 ### Al-Quran Corner Quran collections 📍 Al-Quran Corner Gallery One of the museum's seven galleries, devoted to its collection of Qurans; the department notes that Arabic calligraphy with Quranic quotations runs through all Islamic art. 5 ### The Madrasah Melayu building Brooke-era school architecture · 1930 📍 Jalan P. Ramlee A raised, rectangular building with three annexes enclosing two inner courtyards, which the Sarawak Museum Department describes as the only one of its kind in the state. ## Collections and highlights - • The coming of Islam to the Malay Archipelago - • Islamic architecture - • Science, technology, economy and literature - • Music and costumes - • Weaponry, including the keris - • Decorative arts and domestic utensils - • Quran collections ## Tips for visiting Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum 1. ### Best time to visit Weekday mornings from 9:00 AM, when it opens an hour earlier than at weekends. Avoid the seven listed holiday closures, including the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. 2. ### Tickets & booking Free for everyone; no ticket or booking is needed for individual visits. 3. ### Accessibility No accessibility information is published. The 1930 building has a raised floor, so expect steps; contact the museum before visiting. 4. ### Photography rules No photography policy is published. Ask staff before photographing Quran manuscripts or religious items, and avoid flash. ## How do you get to Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum? - walk About 15 minutes on foot from the Kuching Waterfront to Jalan P. Ramlee; the museum is a stop on the Old Kuching Heritage Trail - taxi Grab or taxi to the museum entrance on Jalan P. Ramlee in central Kuching Address: Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia ## Sources we checked Visitor facts and history on this page come from these sources, checked on the dates shown. 1. [Islamic Heritage Museum - Sarawak Museum Department (Wayback Machine snapshot of the official page, 5 Aug 2026)](https://web.archive.org/web/20260805171732/https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/103) — Sarawak Museum Department (Jabatan Muzium Sarawak), checked 22 October 2026 2. [Islamic Art - Collection (Sarawak Museum Department, archived 2018)](https://web.archive.org/web/20181021225326/http://www.museum.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=111&menu_id=0&sub_id=139) — Sarawak Museum Department (Jabatan Muzium Sarawak), checked 22 October 2026 3. [Islamic Heritage Museum | Sarawak Tourism Board](https://www.sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/museums/islamic-heritage-museum) — Sarawak Tourism Board, checked 22 October 2026 4. [Islamic Heritage Museum (Sarawak Tourism, archived 2015)](https://web.archive.org/web/20150207231955/http://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/islamic-heritage-museum/) — Sarawak Tourism Board, checked 22 October 2026 5. [Old Kuching Heritage Trail (archived 2019)](https://web.archive.org/web/20190226082251/https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/old-kuching-heritage-trail/) — Sarawak Tourism Board, checked 22 October 2026 6. [Islamic Heritage Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Heritage_Museum) — Wikipedia, checked 22 October 2026 7. [Islamic Heritage Museum (Q27639188)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27639188) — Wikidata, checked 22 October 2026 ## Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum: frequently asked questions ### How much is the entrance fee for the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum? There is no fee. The Sarawak Museum Department lists admission to the Islamic Heritage Museum as free for all visitors, and there is no ticket to collect or booking to make for individual visits. The department encourages visitors to wear modest clothing, which is worth planning for since this is a museum of Islamic heritage housed in a former madrasah. ### Where is the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum and how do I get there? The museum is on Jalan P. Ramlee in central Kuching, in the old Madrasah Melayu building. Sarawak Tourism puts it about a 15-minute walk from the Kuching Waterfront, and it is one of the stops on the Old Kuching Heritage Trail. If you prefer not to walk in the heat, a Grab or taxi can drop you at the entrance on Jalan P. Ramlee. ### How long should I spend at the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum? Plan 1 hour for the highlights of Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café. ### What are the highlights of the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum? The department's collection notes single out carved wooden door leaves inscribed with Quranic verses and painted gold and red, a carved screen with plant motifs and Arabic writing measuring 240 by 480 cm, and a 17th-century Bugis keris with an ivory hilt and a carved silver sheath. The Al-Quran Corner and the building itself, said to be the only one of its kind in Sarawak, are also worth time. ### Can I take photos inside the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum? The Sarawak Museum Department does not publish a photography policy for this museum. Follow any signs in the galleries, ask staff before photographing Quran manuscripts or other religious items, and avoid flash near carved wood and textiles. The courtyard garden and the exterior of the 1930 Madrasah Melayu building are good subjects from the grounds. ### Does the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum close for Friday prayers? The Sarawak Museum Department's published hours show no separate Friday break: the museum is listed as open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM, and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It closes on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Governor's birthday and Christmas Day. ### What was the Madrasah Melayu building used for? The department says the building was first known as the James Brooke Malay College and became the Madrasah Melayu Sarawak in 1930, training teachers in higher Malay studies at a time when qualified Malay teachers were scarce. Sarawak Tourism adds that it was built by the Brooke government as a boys' secondary school, closed in 1964 and was later used by the Education Department before becoming a museum in 1992. ### What are Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum's opening hours? Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum is open Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and closed on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go. ### Is Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum free to visit? Yes — free admission for all visitors. Plan your visit Admission Free admission for all visitors Hours Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Closed on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day) [Official website & tickets](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/103) [View on Google Maps →](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=1.5551,110.3415) We don't sell tickets or take commission — links go to the museum. More in Kuching [Borneo Cultures Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/borneo-cultures-museum/) · [Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/brooke-gallery-fort-margherita/) · [Chinese History Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/chinese-history-museum-kuching/) [All museums in Kuching →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/kuching/) [All museums in Sarawak →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/states/sarawak/) [All museums in Malaysia →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) Kuching quick answers [Are museums free in Kuching?](https://worldmuseumguide.org/answers/are-museums-free-in-kuching/) · [Which museums are open on Monday in Kuching?](https://worldmuseumguide.org/answers/museums-open-on-monday-in-kuching/) ## More museums in Kuching [![Borneo Cultures Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/borneo-cultures-museum.webp) Kuching, Malaysia Borneo Cultures Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/borneo-cultures-museum/) · [![Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/brooke-gallery-fort-margherita.webp) Kuching, Malaysia Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/brooke-gallery-fort-margherita/) · [![Chinese History Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/chinese-history-museum-kuching.webp) Kuching, Malaysia Chinese History Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/chinese-history-museum-kuching/) Found this guide useful? 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