89 heritage patrons honoured for contributions worth nearly $12m

They donated cash and artefacts on top of in-kind support for various heritage causes

- Caelyn Tan

One of Professor Lim Tow Keang's prized possessions is a ceremonial textile from the Iban tribes of Borneo, known as the pua.

Adorned with icons and symbols, cloth like this was used in the past by the Iban warriors to wrap the heads of their enemies, who believed that this was a way to contain their spirits, said Prof Lim, 70.

Women would use the pua to collect sometimes as many as 20 head trophies that warriors bring home after battle, he added.

The pua is one of 125 pieces of rare handmade textiles that Prof Lim, a respiratory and critical care senior consultant at the National University Hospital, has donated to NUS Museum.

He was one of 89 patrons recognised at the National Heritage Board's annual Patron of Heritage Awards ceremony on Sept 24.

This is the highest number of patrons presented with awards at the annual ceremony in five years.