Sabah jewels get support as UNESCO Heritage Site
PUTRAJAYA: Sabah’s jewels – the Danum-Maliau-Imbak Canyon – will be exempted from the provisions of National Heritage Act (Act 645) with their nomination as Unesco World Heritage site.
The Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) has agreed in principle to Sabah Government’s application for the exemption, said its minister Mohamaddin Ketapi during an inaugural meeting with Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Christina Liew who led a seven-member delegation.
As it is, Act 645 requires that Danum-Maliau-Imbak Canyon be recognised first as a national heritage to facilitate its progression towards being accorded a UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
“We (Sabah) are grateful and appreciative of the Minister’s consideration and approbation for the exemption. This positive move will pave the way for my Ministry to proceed with the application for Danum-Maliau-Imbak Canyon to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage,” said Christina who is also a Deputy Chief Minister.
According to her, the nomination made in 2014, was raised again under the new government.
“It was discussed during the Cabinet Meeting on July 18 this year, and decided that the nomination be continued without being restricted by Act 645,” Christina said.
Christina who was accompanied by her ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai, and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) General Manager Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani, also introduced Sabah Parks Director Dr Jamili Nais who is a member of the World Heritage Panel of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and sits on the 12-member Panel as the sole representative from Asia.
This panel, she said, provides high quality, technical and scientific advice to UNESCO regarding all matters related to natural World Heritage sites.
The meeting was attended by Motac’s secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah who said his ministry would extend the necessary assistance for the nomination to be successful.
Also present were the chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Ahmadshah Tambakau, director of Motac Sabah Office, Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar, general manager of Sabah Cultural Board, William Baya and director of Sabah Museum, Mansur Hj Asun.
On the Ministry’s proposal submitted by Christina for the upgrading of the Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu Airports to international status, Mohamaddin said he would bring it to the attention of the Federal Cabinet.
She said the move was warranted and would minimise congestion at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, given that 90pc of domestic and international tourist arrivals in Sabah involve air transportation. “We are promoting tourism beyond Kota Kinabalu. The other three airports that will be upgraded accordingly will serve as alternative gateways to Sabah.”
Mohamaddin was also receptive to Sabah’s call for her to play a proactive role, particularly in eco-tourism, in Visit Malaysia Year 2020 which aims to raise Malaysia’s name as the main tourist destination in Asia.
“Sabah offers herself as the host for PATA Adventure and Travel Mart in February 2020 and B2B Travel Mart 2020. I am confident events of this nature will lure more than 200 international groups of visitors from South Asia, the United Kingdom and Europe,” said Christina.
Mohamaddin gave a positive response to the Sabah Government’s application for an annual grant for the preservation of Sabah’s ethnic culture and heritage, management of the Sabah Ethnic Association, the International Youth Folk Dance Festival and “one-off” programmes such as Riu De’ Tawau in conjunction with Cuti Cuti Tawau campaign.
Meanwhile, she assured the Federal Minister that her team would work together with the latter in efforts to promote Sabah as an ideal tourist destination in response to his call to Sabah to participate in overseas tourism promotion programmes involving Malaysia.
Source: New Sabah Times
