By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 1: Sarawak may set up a special unit to oversee the management of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said while there have been no discussions on such a proposal so far, he also did not rule out the possibility for it happening in the future.
“We have not been informed of such an idea (of having a special unit) but if it is necessary, we will do it.
“At the moment, the two UNESCO sites are looked after by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and my Ministry is partly involved because the sites are tourism products that we have been promoting,” he told reporters after the launching of ‘What About Kuching (WAK) 2024: Call of The Tribes’ at Old Court House here today.
He was responding to a reporter’s query who caught wind of the possibility for a special unit to be established to exclusively look after the two UNESCO sites.
Asked whether there is a special occasion to commemorate the recently-announced Niah National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Abdul Karim replied in negative: “Not yet”.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Snowdan Lawan and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng. — DayakDaily
