By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 13: The Niah Caves in Miri will be in included among the three heritage sites in the country that would be developed under Budget 2024.
Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2024 today, said the Federal government has set aside an allocation amounting to RM80 million to preserve and conserve the heritage sites that have the potential to be recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Apart from Niah Cave, the other two sites are Lembah Bujang in Kedah and Royal Belum in Perak.
For the record, Sarawak is in the process of nominating Niah National Park as its second World Heritage Site under the mixed category for natural and cultural heritage, after Gunung Mulu National Park in 2000.
A dossier document highlighting Niah National Park’s uniqueness and beauty was submitted and accepted by UNESCO in Paris in March 2023.
Recently, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to the UNESCO, was in Kuching to conduct a five-day assessment of Niah National Park, which it hopes will be inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The assessment report will be submitted to the World Heritage Committee for its review and decision on the status of the site. — DayakDaily
