By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 28: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has rubbished claims made in a viral video alleging that Sabah would be “handing over” its heritage sites to the federal government through the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645).
In a statement yesterday, MOTAC said the video, which referenced a ministry letter on seeking consent from the State Authority (PBN) to gazette heritage sites in Sabah, was misleading and inaccurate.
The ministry stressed that the term “penyerahan” (handover) does not exist under Act 645 and does not reflect the legal process of heritage site recognition.
“Gazettement is a form of acknowledgment and protection of a site or building under national legislation without taking ownership from its current owners,” it said.
MOTAC reiterated that Section 69 of Act 645 explicitly provides that any National Heritage property owned by individuals, trustees or entities other than the federal or State government shall remain under the possession of the owner, guardian or trustee.
The ministry also clarified that the Sabah State Secretary’s Office had, in January 2019, withdrawn its earlier consent for gazettement of several heritage sites in the state.
Following that withdrawal, MOTAC through the Department of National Heritage (JWN) did not proceed with the gazettement process.
MOTAC advised the public not to be misled by irresponsible content circulating online and urged all parties to verify information regarding heritage matters through official sources. – DayakDaily
