TUARAN: The Sabah state government has announced the approval of two significant projects aimed at preserving and enhancing the state's cultural and historical heritage, Media Sabah reported.
These initiatives, announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, are part of the mid-term review of Malaysia's Twelfth Plan (RMKe-12) and underscore the government's commitment to safeguarding Sabah's rich legacy.
He stated that RM2 million was allocated for the Sabah State Integrated Cultural Mapping Development Project while the Old Welfare Services Office Building Restoration Study involved an allocation of RM200,000.
"This mapping project aims to transform the management methods of Sabah ethnic cultural information into a modern information system in line with the Government's Digitalisation Plan.
"The study will witness the redevelopment of a historical building – the North Borneo Chartered Company Office, which was once destroyed by fire.
"This building also aims to preserve and protect historical sites and buildings, besides becoming an important cultural art gallery in Sabah. Both of these projects are new and are entrusted to the Sabah Cultural Board," he said.
Hajiji said various efforts are made by the government to enable the number of tourists to Sabah, expected to reach three million people this year, to be achieved.
According to him, besides arts and culture, tourism products such as Community-Based Tourism are segments of ecotourism that are increasingly gaining attention from various layers of local and international society.
He also urged ethnic associations in this state to continue developing and dignifying ethnic culture and community-based tourism products in their respective areas, besides cooperating to empower and preserve the ethnic cultural heritage of Sabah.
Hajiji said the specialty and uniqueness of Sabah, which has a diversity of heritage, ethnicities, cultures, and races, are important assets as tourist attractions and need to be continuously preserved and protected as a symbol of the state's civilisation.
He hoped that the Sabah Bajausama Cultural Festival, which ends on Feb 28, becomes a field to preserve the cultural treasures in this state.
"It is also in line with the objectives of organising this festival, which is to preserve and dignify traditional culture and strengthen the camaraderie among local residents.
"This festival, which has been included in the tourism calendar, is not only attended by the Bajausama ethnic group but also enlivened by all layers of society of various races and descents in this state," he said.
He added that the festival is also a medium that can attract the interest of the younger generation to participate in various Bajausama ethnic arts and cultural events in this state.