KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts has proposed many new products as well as improvement to national parks, public waterfronts and recreational space under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said heritage tourism is another emphasis where many museums and old buildings will first be upgraded before being opened to visitors.
He said the Ministry has been allocated RM472.23 million under the state fund allocation and received RM14.86 million from the federal government through Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to implement various projects.
“During this period, my Ministry has completed the following projects, amounting to RM388.20 million, which have become new products in Sarawak.
“This include Borneo Cultures Museum; upgrading of Old Sarawak Museum; the Santubong Archaelogical Park and Wallace Centre; Upgrading or World War II Heroes Memorial Park; upgrading of tourism facilities at Archaeological sites in Gua Sireh, Serian and Gua Niah, Miri; walking/footpath and railing in front of new DUN Building; Linkway and railing from Fort Margherita to Jambatan Darul Hana, Kuching; Tourism Facilities at Tusan Beach, Miril upgrading of tourism facilities at Niah National Park and Simunjan Esplanade,” he said when delivering his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here on Today (Nov 30).
He said projects which are still ongoing and targeted to be completed by this year are – upgrading of tourism facilities at Pangkalan Sapi; English Tea House at Fort Margherita; Proposed Electrical and Lights Provisions for Fort Margherita; upgrading of Textile Museum Sarawak; upgrading of Chinese History Museum, Kuching; upgrading of Kuching City Aquarium and Sarawak Cultural Village.
Among the list of approved projects to be completed beyond 2022 are – Limbang Development Museum; Proposed Heritage Gallery and Resource Centre at Long Terawan, Tutoh; Sadong Jaya Mangrove Tourism; Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum; Construction of Jetty and Other Facilities at Santubong for Kuching Wetland NP (Ramsar site) Tourist Embarkation; the improvement of Bebuak Mud Tourism Facilities in Meritam, Limbang; performing arts centre at Old DUN Building; upgrading of facilities at Melasak Waterfall Lawas; proposed Sg Niah Bridge at Niah National Park and Elevated Road for buggy to main cave; develop and establish national parks tourists support centre in Lundu, Sematan; RASCOM Museum Sibu; Rumah Sri Aman and Sarawak Gastronomy Centre.
He said the Ministry has also worked closely with the Regional Development Agencies to implement projects through alternative funding and this includes 36 tourism projects under Integrated Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA) amounting to RM109,400,000 and 19 tourism projects amounting to RM105,035,000 under Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA).
He added that the Ministry is also in the process of submitting more proposals under the 12MP Mid-Term review and among those are upgrading of Petroleum Museum, Miri; Miri Museum (former Miri Resident and District Office); upgrading of Muzium Warisan Islam; Sarawak Arts Gallery and management plans for Totally Protected Areas (TPAs).
Apart from the events grant, he said the Ministry also provides research grants to government agencies, higher learning institutions/universities, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations who propose to carry out research, studies or surveys in topics or areas related and contribute to the development of tourism, arts and culture of Sarawak.
A total of 10 research grants have been given involving a sum of RM2,820,016.
