Transforming historical buildings into heritage sites

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Nazri (left), Pau and Wee (right) with a ‘Kamek Sayang Sarawak’ placard in front of the Carpenter Street Arch in Kuching. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

Nazri (left), Pau and Wee (right) with a ‘Kamek Sayang Sarawak’ placard in front of the Carpenter Street Arch in Kuching. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism Malaysia is keen to transform historical buildings in the city into heritage sites.

Tourism and Culture Minister Dato Seri Mohammed Nasri Abdul Aziz assured that his ministry would support the state government to register any historical site in the state and city to ensure history and culture were preserved for posterity.

“Once buildings at historical sites are gazetted, they would not be demolished and my job is to ensure they stay put,” he said at a press conference held at Carpenter Street here yesterday.

“This is also part of tourism development and I hope to promote all heritage buildings in the country,” he added.

He said his ministry would provide support to enhance the area for tourism and heritage.

On Carpenter Street, he noticed it had many colonial style buildings with potential to be tourism draws.

“We may want to make Carpenter Street a pedestrian mall with no vehicles passing through, like India Street,” he cited.

Nazri said this would increase the value of the buildings at Carpenter Street.

“It’s something to ponder on and we want it to boom,” he said.

He urged the business community in areas with tourism potential to come out with ideas to develop and promote them.

As stake holders, they stand to benefit so should not lament about it, he said.

Present were BN candidate for Padungan, Peter Pau Kiu Sung and community leader Dato Wee Hong Seng.