By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, July 24: What began 38,000 years ago in the depths of Niah Cave is now unfolding on screen through ‘The Human Odyssey’, a documentary series exploring the origins and migration of early humans across Southeast Asia.
The six-episode documentary, produced by TVS in collaboration with the Sarawak Museum Department, explores archaeological discoveries at Niah Cave and sheds new light on the earliest inhabitants of Malaysia and Borneo.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Niah Cave is not merely an archaeological site, but one of the world’s most significant records of human history.
“Most nations search their history for a founding moment, a treaty, a battle or a declaration. Sarawak’s founding moment, in the truest sense, predates all of those by tens of thousands of years, and it lies in a cave outside Miri,” he said in a speech delivered by the ministry’s special administrative officer, Datu Dr Rashidah Bolhassan, during the premiere screening at the Borneo Cultures Museum Auditorium here today.
Abdul Karim said UNESCO’s inscription of Niah Cave as a World Heritage Site in 2024 formally recognised what Sarawakians have long known—that the cave holds one of the most significant records of the human story on Earth.
He noted that Sarawak will mark the second anniversary of Niah Cave’s UNESCO World Heritage inscription on July 27 and described the documentary as a fitting way to commemorate the milestone by bringing Niah’s story to audiences who have not had the opportunity to visit the cave themselves.
“Niah’s importance does not need exaggeration. It simply needs the evidence laid out plainly, and the scholars who have spent careers uncovering it given the space to speak,” he said.
Abdul Karim also highlighted a recent fire incident at the Niah National Park, saying it serves as a reminder that heritage, no matter how ancient, must be protected, and that the incident has strengthened Sarawak’s resolve to safeguard its heritage and history.
According to him, Sarawak’s commitment to heritage conservation goes beyond Niah Cave. It includes the UNESCO recognition of Gunung Mulu National Park in 2000, the Sarawak Delta Geopark’s recognition this year, and conservation efforts under the Old Kuching Smart Heritage initiative.
He also pointed out that Sarawak remains the only State in Malaysia with two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Abdul Karim said documentaries such as ‘The Human Odyssey’ play an important role in preserving heritage by educating younger generations.
He also thanked TVS and the Sarawak Museum Department for collaborating on the project and treating Sarawak’s history with the seriousness it deserves.
‘The Human Odyssey’ premieres on Aug 3 and will be broadcast every Monday at 9pm on TVS (Channel 122), as well as streamed live and on demand via the TVS website and TVS Inspire app.
The series combines archaeological discoveries, expert insights, and storytelling to retrace ancient migration routes and reveal how early humans shaped the history of Southeast Asia.
Also present at the premiere were Sarawak Media Group (SMG) chairman Dato Norhyati Ismail, SMG board member Dato Ahmad Shafiee Abdul Yaman, SMG chief executive officer Kushairi Abang, and Sarawak Museum Department director Anielia Siam. — DayakDaily
