Sarawak restores heritage sites

KUCHING Heritage sites along Kuching waterfront and old forts in the state will be restored following detailed studies by experts on how to best preserve the sites.
Sarawak Tourism Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, told a press conference at the annual music festival over the weekend that mistakes were made in the past, but heritage conservation remained a priority.
“We have hired experts who assisted Penang to restore its heritage asset to assist us, he said.
Conservation work will include on the on-going project to restore forts linked to the colonial era when the ‘White Rajahs’ ruled Sarawak.
inside no 9There are plans to link the forts across the state with a well sign posted heritage trail. Restoration will work will also continue on waterfront heritage sites in Kuching town.

Sarawak Cultural Village, the site of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival, will also undergo renovations at a cost of around MYR10 million.
Discussions on the restoration projects were held with the Brooke Trustees that represents the interests of the descendants of the Brooke family who ruled Sarawak in the mid-1800s to the start of the second world war.
Descendants of the White Rajah visited Sarawak earlier this year and toured the site of a recently restored fort linked to the family.
The delegation, included grandchildren of Charles Brooke, the second Rajah, who built the now restored Fort Alice at Sri Aman, located about 180km from Kuching city.
“The fort was in what was then called Simanggang town and was a favourite of the second White Rajah,” Lim Hian Hock, chairman of Sarawak Tourism Federation’s heritage development committee told the Borneo Mail during the delegation’s visit.
The newly restored Fort Alice will become a museum. Of the 40 forts built during the White Rajah era, only 10 are still intact. Alice is the oldest, an entirely wooden structure built in 1864.
Sarawak is also promoting its festival line up with its music festivals in Kuching (world music 22 to 24 July 2016) and Miri (jazz 13 to 14 May 2016).
It is also hosts an annual Sarawak Regatta on the Kuching River, held in September, that highlights dragon boat races with teams participating from ASEAN nations.

sourced:ttrweekly.com