KUCHING: Niah National Park in Miri is currently in the final selection phase to be recognised as a World Heritage Site under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said, this step will connect Sarawak directly to historical and heritage communities around the world.
"We have already nominated Niah National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we have reached the last phase in Paris, then the second and final step, the 'finale one' is the election in New Delhi next July.
"In Paris this is one of the 'preliminary meetings' for the Executive Committee which consists of 50 UNESCO countries.
"While in New Delhi, it will be the last selection involving more or less the nomination of all countries around the world to be listed in this UNESCO."
He said this to reporters when met at the Aidilfitri Open House at his residence in Demak Baru here on Saturday.
To recap, Niah National Park which is located 110 kilometres from Miri City is an area of human settlement more than 40,000 years ago.
This is proven by the discovery of paleolithic and neolithic cemeteries and wall paintings in caves in the area.
Also present to enliven the Open House were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian and his wife Datin Amar Enn Ong Siok Ean, Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew and Batu Kitang State Assembly Member Dato Lo Khere Chiang. - UKASnews
