KUCHING – The Niah National Park in Miri has qualified for the semi-finals for inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage list, said Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
According to the state deputy Natural Resources and Urban Development minister, the semi-final selection took place in Paris, France and its nomination would be finalised in New Delhi, India, this July.
“The meeting in Paris was a crucial step, attended by an executive committee representing 50 Unesco member countries.
The committee, he added, would deliberate over the 50 nominations from around the globe for Unesco World Heritage Site status in the upcoming meeting in New Delhi.
“While we cannot offer guarantees, the progress and actions taken thus far bode well for our bid,” he told reporters during his Aidilfitri open house in Demak Baru here today.
Niah National Park, renowned for its historic caves dating back 40,000 years and housing Southeast Asia’s oldest human remains, attracts more than 15,000 visitors annually.
Should the park secure Unesco recognition, it would follow in the footsteps of Sarawak’s Mulu National Park, which had been honoured with the Unesco status in 2000.
Covering an expanse of 3,138ha, comprising limestone hills and forests, Niah National Park was declared a national historical monument in 1958, subsequently becoming a national park on November 23, 1974, and opening its doors to the public on January 1, 1975. – April 13, 2024