Seeking Unesco heritage city status for Kuching, Miri
// // SARAWAK wants to seek Unesco heritage city status for Kuching and Miri.Assistant Tourism Minister Mong Dagang told the house yesterday that a team would be sent to Malacca and Penang soon.
This was in order to meet the relevant authorities for a better understanding of the criteria for the final assessment as required under the Unesco Heritage Convention, he added.
“The ministry has also met and discussed with the National Heritage Commission early this year to assist in the technicalities,” he said in reply to a question from Aidan Wing (BN-Lambir).
Mong said that Kuching and Miri had the criteria to be listed as heritage cities but the process was very tedious and lengthy.
The ministry had taken numerous initiatives especially for the old Kuching area to be kept as a Heritage City for Sarawak
He said among the initiatives taken since last year, included a public forum jointly organised by the Sarawak Tourism Federation and Sarawak Heritage Society, to raise public awareness on heritage matters.
Meanwhile, the house was told that public transportation would soon be seen as a prominent mode of transportation in urban areas.
Under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has submitted a request to the Federal Government for funds to improve and revamp public transportation starting with Kuching City.
Replying to a question by Abdul Rahman Junaidi (BN-Pantai Damai), the minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the government had already commissioned consultants to undertake a study.
He said the Kuching public transportation study, which was completed in 2005, recommended that buses remain as the backbone of the public transport system in Kuching.
Museum Volunteers, JMM 