Old Kuching set for heritage protection

KUCHING: Historic buildings and old shophouses in parts of Kuching are set to come under greater protection as Sarawak moves to zone heritage areas and introduce new legislation for their conservation.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the protection would cover privately owned old shophouses as well as government buildings and monuments.

“We have to make sure, although they are under private ownership, the private sector might just turn it into modern buildings.

“So, we need all those legislation, those laws,” he said during a press conference after the launch of the Voices of Old Kuching: OKSHE-MTCP Public Initiative Programmes at a hotel here today (Sept 21).

Among the areas being focused on are Gambier Street, Main Bazaar and India Street, with landmarks including the Old Courthouse, Round Tower, Square Tower and India Mosque (Masjid India).

“We will gazette and zone and identify what are the buildings that need to be conserved and preserved,” he added.

Abdul Karim also raised the need to consider heritage buildings as Kuching’s Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system is developed, saying some could be demolished or affected if the works were not properly arranged.

“There will definitely be new legislation on this and before legislation is being introduced, my own personal observation, we will have to engage with the people on the ground, the owners of these premises and all that.

“We won’t just bulldoze things through, you know, it will not be right,” he added.

He added that Kuching could eventually pursue UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition after the necessary conservation and preservation measures.