Malaysia has once again gained global recognition as the Niah Caves (Gua Niah) in Sarawak have been officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture announced in a statement that the decision was made during the 46th World Heritage Committee session held in New Delhi, India, from July 21 to 31, 2024.
This prestigious title was decided by the 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee, with India serving as the chair country for this session.
The nomination process for Niah Caves began in 2019, with the tentative list of documents submitted to UNESCO on January 22, 2021.
The official nomination documents were handed over to the UNESCO Secretariat in Paris, France, on January 31, 2023.
With this latest recognition, Malaysia now boasts five World Heritage Sites, including Lenggong Valley (recognized in 2012), the historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (George Town and Melaka, recognized in 2008), Gunung Mulu National Park (recognized in 2000), and Kinabalu Park (recognized in 2000).
The statement highlighted that being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is highly coveted by countries worldwide as it represents the highest level of global recognition for heritage.
Apart from promoting and showcasing national heritage globally, this recognition also underscores Malaysia’s commitment to heritage preservation,“
The statement further noted that this honour will increase Malaysia’s visibility on the world stage, making it a preferred destination for tourists.
We hope that the added value brought by the Niah Caves can stimulate the economy of Sarawak and Malaysia.“
Located in Sarawak, the Niah Caves are the site of the oldest human remains discovered in Southeast Asia, holding significant archaeological and research value.
The site has yielded microlithic tools dating back 65,000 years and a “modern human” skull dating back 55,000 years.
According to the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, there are currently 1,199 sites globally recognized as World Heritage Sites.
Malaysia is actively working on nominating more locations as World Heritage Sites, including the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Forest Park, the Royal Belum State Park in Selangor, and the National Leprosy Control Centre in Sungai Buloh.
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