TAWAU: The government will seek recognition of the Maliau Basin here as a World Heritage Site, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday.
The prime minister said that such recognition from Unesco, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, will draw wideworld interest to the basin.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the Maliau Basin Studies Centre at the conservation area and responding to a proposal by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Najib said that Malaysia, which is a member of the Unesco board of directors, could make a presentation to the UN agency.
“Of course the moment you are listed as a World Heritage Site, there is an immediate jump in world-wide interest,” he said.
Najib cited parts of George Town and Melaka and the Mulu Caves in Sarawak as examples of sites that had benefited greatly from Unesco recognition.
Najib said the recognition could not be gained overnight.
“There is a process we have to go through, but hopefully we will be able to get it (Malian Basin) listed (as a World Heritage Site),” he said.
Musa earlier in his speech said the state government will continue to work to preserve Maliau Basin, a favourite destination of nature lovers. — Bernama