KUCHING: New legislation should be introduced to ensure the preservation and conservation of areas, monuments, sites and buildings with heritage value in Sarawak.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stated that the legislation would be introduced through heritage area zoning initiatives by the government.

However, he noted that before the legislation is introduced, engagements with stakeholders including owners of premises must be held to ensure understanding of the importance of protecting heritage assets for future generations.

“We cannot simply take action without consultation, as that would not be right.

"We must conduct engagement sessions and explain to them that these assets will be protected for the future, and so on,” he said.

He made these remarks during a press conference after the OKSHE Public Programmes Initiative at a leading hotel here on Monday.

He added that once an area is gazetted, efforts to beautify and preserve it would also be prioritised, including aspects such as landscaping and trees of historical significance.

He stated that if there is a need to pay compensation or carry out beautification work on gazetted buildings, such matters would also be taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, Dato Sri Abdul Karim shared that there are various heritage assets across Sarawak being considered for gazettement, with priorities to be determined in stages.

He also noted that the ‘pokok kapas’ (cotton silk tree) at Padang Merdeka is among the assets proposed for heritage gazettement, given its historical significance dating back to the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

“The ‘pokok kapas’ at Padang Merdeka was already there when Malaysia was formed in 1963. It is part of our heritage.

"Without specific legislation or gazettement, the tree could simply be cut down,” he explained. -UKASnews