Sarawak moves closer to getting Niah National Park on Unesco list

KUCHING: Sarawak will submit a draft dossier on its nomination of Niah National Park as a World Heritage Site to Unesco by September.

State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the document was being compiled by the relevant stakeholders.

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"The final dossier will be submitted by February next year, followed by evaluation by advisory bodies for the final decision by the Unesco World Heritage Committee in July, before Niah National Park can be on the Unesco World Heritage List," he told the state assembly in his winding-up speech on Wednesday (May 25).

If the nomination is successful, Niah will be Sarawak's second World Heritage Site after Mulu National Park.

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The Niah caves are an important archaeological site, where some of the oldest human remains in South-East Asia have been discovered.

Abdul Karim also said efforts were being made to salvage three klirieng (burial poles) found in Sungai Penyarai in Tatau, near Bintulu.

"My ministry is working closely with the Sarawak Museum Department, Council for Native Customs and Traditions, Sarawak Forestry Department, Tatau district office and community leaders to expedite work in protecting and preserving the klirieng," he said.

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Karim later told reporters that the klirieng were discovered during a recent drought when the river became shallow.

"From what I gather, the klirieng were thrown into the river because apparently they were associated with bad luck which led to floods in the past.

"We have sent officials from the Museum Department to do a study as I believe the objects have historical value," he said.