By Shikin Louis
MIRI, Feb 4: The status of Niah National Park’s application to be inscribed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site is expected to be decided by July this year.
In stating this, Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was optimistic that Sarawak will be able to secure its second UNESCO recognition after Gunung Mulu National Park in 2000.
“I’m very sure that before the end of this year, Niah National Park will also be recognised because we are reaching the last stage of the survey (evaluation) conducted by International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
“The last one (stage) was in November and I was made to understand that Insya-Allah, by July this year, we should be getting our Niah National Park (to be inducted) as another World Heritage Site.
“When we have that accreditation from UNESCO later, we will see an increase in the number of visitors coming in; how developed and how it will be programmed as a must-visit place when visitors come to Sarawak,” he said when officiating at Miri Gong Xi Bazaar 2024 last night (Feb 3). Abdul Karim’s speech was livestreamed on his Facebook page.
The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex, Sarawak, Malaysia has been nominated for UNESCO’s 2024 World Heritage Site under the mixed category for natural and cultural heritage.
The ICOMOS, an advisory body to the UNESCO, conducted an evaluation mission on Niah National Park, from Sept 29 to Oct 4, 2023. — DayakDaily
