Look at archeology sites for its economic value, urges expert

SHAH ALAM - The state government should look into archaeological sites for their economic value and for their potential to increase the income of local people through tourism.

These were the sentiments echoed by Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Siti Zuraina Abdul Majid, a renowned archaelogist who had dedicated her life to uncovering and preserving the rich history of Perak.

In an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily, Zuraina expressed her utmost dissatisfaction with the state government's lack of initiative in developing the archaeological sites that had been inscribed by Unesco back in 2012.

"So now, people respect us; we have something important, but the state government does not think so," she lamented.

Zuraina further said that the federal government had handed over the responsibility to the state government to develop and promote these historical treasures.

"It was inscribed in 2012; up to today, nothing much has been done.

"There was so much hope to raise the standard of living and the income level of the local people through tourism. We have lost a lot," she said.

Zuraina also emphasised the economic potential of valuable sites by pointing to examples from other archaeological sites like those in Melaka, Georgetown Penang, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and the Great Wall of China.

"Other countries badly want the inscription because they can make money.

"They make money out of it while protecting it because it's a nest egg. You don't want to lose it. That is your capital, so you have to protect it while you expand.

"They should look at it as state pride. Perak has got something special—because it has been proven as one the states where there had been early forms of life, the earliest centre of people in groups living there," she said.

Commenting further, Zuraina stressed the importance of having a master plan to develop archaeology sites.

"You must have a master plan to develop the area while also protecting it," she said.

In a heartfelt plea, she urged the Members of Parliament to recognise and value these archaeological sites as economic assets that could elevate the income levels of local people through tourism.

"It would preserve the cultural heritage and highlight Perak as a state with a site of world significance," she concluded, hoping that her words would spark much-needed attention and action from the authorities.