Abg Jo: Use Niah Caves to delve deeper into history of human settlement in Borneo

SIBU (Aug 13): The Niah Caves can be further explored for new discoveries of the history of human settlement on the island of Borneo, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Premier pointed out that artefacts and other evidence discovered by recent University of New South Wales expeditions estimated that human settlement in Niah Cave started about 60,000 years ago.

This was in contrast with the initial findings that human settlement began in the caves 40,000 years ago.

“In other words, there is a historical background that can be explored and for us to explore how people lived at that time and how we inherit the way of life of people in Niah Cave, basically Borneo.

“I think it is the only site in Borneo because in Kalimantan there wasn’t any Unesco credited site that reflects the human settlement on the island.

“You know, I went to the cave and I saw bale of turtles, meaning that area one time must have been submerged by water,” he said before launching the 18th Biennial International Participatory Design Conference (PDC) 2024 at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) here last night.

The Niah Caves complex was officially listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site during the 46th World Heritage Committee Session held from July 21-31 in New Delhi, India.

Meanwhile, UTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab Hamid said the PDC is being hosted for the first time in Asia.

“Sarawak is the first destination in Malaysia and Asia to host PDC 2024. UTS is proud to be awarded the hosting rights of the conference and to put Sarawak on the global map as a destination that promotes knowledge, innovation, and partnerships.

“This prestigious event brings together participants from diverse backgrounds, all united by our shared passion for participatory design and innovation based on principles and collaboration, inclusion and empowerment.

“PDC 2024 aims to grow new alliances with research communities, stakeholders and practitioners, enabling structured exchanges that transform design initiatives both locally and globally,” he said.

Over 200 participants from Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, China, and Malaysia are attending the conference.

Themed ‘Reaching Out: Connecting Beyond Participatory Design’, the leading international conference will discuss solutions for the design of products, services, and socio-technical systems that involve people and technology functioning together.

During the event, UTS also exchanged memorandums of understanding with academic institutions from Australia (Oceania), Africa, Europe, and North America.

Among those present were UTS Board of Directors chairman and Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee; Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman – chief political secretary to the Premier; Sibu Deputy Resident Christopher Ranggau Unting; and Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting.