The young man is the driving force behind the digitization of ancient Kuching heritage.

KUCHING, Sept. 21: Youth and student groups are now given a greater role in digitally documenting the heritage of Old Kuching to ensure that the city's historical and cultural treasures continue to be preserved for future generations.

Advisor to the Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE), Dr. Sabariah Putit said that the involvement of younger generations is not only as beneficiaries of heritage conservation efforts, but they also play a role as guardians of heritage and leaders of digital innovation in the future.

According to him, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is now pioneering the effort through its student involvement in documenting heritage through a systematic method of video and photo collection.

"They recorded in detail the architectural features as well as the social history of unique storehouses along the Main Bazaar, besides the traditional heritage houses that are part of the village's history.

"This direct documentation connects local community engagement with expert-led conservation efforts, thus ensuring our heritage is digitally preserved for future generations", he said in an opening speech at the Heritage Future: Voices of Old Kuching program here today.

Sabariah said the effort also supports aspirations of Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 which recognizes sustainable tourism as one of the economic milestones through preservation of historical assets, smart heritage innovation and revival of cultural areas.

He said such an approach is essential to ensure that the old Kuching heritage which includes traditional houses, crafts, trade activities, houses of worship and community traditions continue to be part of the city's identity, as well as support tourism development and empowerment of the community.

"We want to place Kuching as a high-impact destination that values its rich history, while driving forward-looking economic growth.

"By directly involving youth in documentation and conservation efforts, we cultivate a sense of place-based ownership as well as intellectual capital that contributes directly to the larger tourism and cultural goals for the structure", he added.

OKSHE is focusing on four areas around the Sarawak River to be revived namely Kampung Heritage (including Kampung Nombor, Kampung Bandarshah, Kampung Masjid and Kampung Patingan), Riverfront Heritage, Historical Building Heritage (including Astana Sarawak and the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly) and Historic Business Heritage (including Kampung Boyan). - TVS