By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, July 28: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Dato Sri Nancy Shukri hopes Santubong will be selected as a location for an ASEAN Underwater Mini Landmark (AUMiL).
Nancy said it would help to introduced new tourism activities by showcasing iconic landmarks from the 10 ASEAN countries.
“The latest AUMiL iconic landmark was a sculpture planted in Pulau Pasir in Langkawi.
“We hope that one day in Santubong we can have something like that,” she told reporters after officiating the 23rd meeting of Asean Sub-Committee on Culture (SSC) and 11th meeting of Asean Plus 3 Cultural Cooperation (APTCCN) held at a local hotel, today.
Nancy added in 2021, Motac, in collaboration with the Department of National Heritage (JWN) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) successfully launched the first AUMiL in conjunction with the ASEAN Seminar on Preservation and Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2021.
She said AUMiL will continue to be developed as a sustainable cultural tourism product in Malaysia benefitting the local community. Besides promoting efforts to conserve and preserve underwater cultural heritage, it will foster greater cultural appreciation amongst the ASEAN people.
Meanwhile, Nancy said the 23rd meeting of Asean Sub-Committee on Culture (SSC) and 11th meeting of Asean Plus 3 Cultural Cooperation (APTCCN) had been held for the first time in Sarawak.
According to her, the meeting, which hosted a total of 20 participants from all 10 ASEAN Members States, is to promoted the exchange of ideas and experiences in the cultural space.
Throughout the five-day programme, she explained, participants actively took part in seminars, workshops and activities whilst creating digital content to “show-and-tell” the region’s rich history, food, diverse community and unique heritage.
“Before the opening up of international borders, Malaysia continued with its effort to achieve an inclusive, sustainable and socially responsible community in line with SDG and the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Culture and Arts 2016-2025,” she said.
Among those present was Motac deputy secretary-general (Culture), Datuk Saraya Arbi. — DayakDaily
