KUCHING: Preserving Santubong’s rich historical and cultural heritage was the focus on Thursday at the ‘Seminar Warisan Santubong: Eksplorasi Ilmu dan Jejak Tamadun’ (Santubong Heritage Seminar: Exploration of Knowledge and Traces of Civilisation) event.
National Archives of Malaysia Deputy Director-General, Ahmad Sukri Abdul Kadir, described the seminar as a crucial platform for promoting heritage preservation and fostering collaborative research.
“The seminar serves as a strategic forum for sharing research findings and insights from historians, archaeologists and local cultural experts.
“Such initiatives ensure that knowledge about Santubong is strengthened with professionalism and integrity,” he said at the event held at Sarawak Technical Excellence Centre.
Highlighting the broader significance of the event, Ahmad Sukri noted that raising public awareness on Santubong’s heritage is vital not just for Sarawak, but for the world.
“Preservation cannot rely solely on institutions; it must have community support to ensure the historical value is passed down to future generations.”
The seminar also underscored the importance of strategic collaboration between educational institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities to sustain the conservation of Santubong’s heritage.
“The National Archives is committed to serving as a custodian of the nation’s historical records and aims to strengthen partnerships with various agencies to enrich research and documentation in Sarawak,” Ahmad Sukri added.
He also commended the Sarawak Museums Department for their initiative in establishing the Santubong Archaeological Park, officially launched on October 4, which opens new avenues for public engagement with the state’s heritage.
“This effort not only preserves historical sites such as Sungai Jaong, Bukit Maras, and Bongkissam, but also provides opportunities for visitors and students to appreciate the true value of our heritage,” he said.
