By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, May 25: The Sarawak government will either amend or enact a new Cultural Heritage Ordinance to better protect its heritage conservation.
This will be done at the next sitting of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Among others, he said, this initiative had to be done because certain criteria had to be met before a site could apply to be a Unesco World Heritage Site.
“We are in the process, actually. We are identifying town heritage because, in Penang, they can declare certain streets that have met all the requirements of Unesco.
“Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and the state government are looking into that possibility of identifying historical sites in Kuching to be listed as Unesco heritage,” he said, adding Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was also looking into it.
“There’s also a possibility we may table a new law on heritage in the coming DUN session,” he told reporters after officiating at the Gawai Raya Bazaar 2018 in India Street here today.
On the Gawai Raya Bazaar 2019, Abang Johari was delighted with the joint celebration theme because it reflected what Sarawak is all about.
“India Street has its own historical value, it is very strategically located near the city and many people from around the city would come and shop here. And they can shop and celebrate Gawai and Raya together,” he said.
The Gawai Raya Bazaar 2019 is a collaboration between DBKU, the vendors and business owners of India Street. — DayakDaily
