By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 22: The preservation of cultural and natural heritage must be incorporated into development planning from the outset to prevent damage to heritage sites and safeguard their historical and cultural significance.
Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said heritage assessments should identify the values of a site, its significance to the community and the potential impact of proposed developments.
He said this would enable development needs to be addressed without compromising the preservation of heritage.
“It is important to integrate heritage considerations into development planning from the earliest stages, rather than addressing them only after major decisions have been made,” he said, as reported by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).
He highlighted this when speaking at the 22nd International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) 2026 event at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Wednesday (Oct 21).
Len Talif said effective heritage conservation required close collaboration among heritage authorities, planning agencies, environmental institutions, local authorities, research institutions and community leaders.
“Information sharing, professional expertise and research findings must be strengthened to ensure development decisions were guided by a comprehensive understanding of the areas concerned and the communities affected,” he added.
He said stronger cooperation among the government, local communities, the private sector and relevant organisations was essential to ensure heritage preservation remained an integral part of Sarawak’s development planning and decision-making processes. — DayakDaily
