KOTA KINABALU: The red tape
that is hampering Sabah's efforts in getting World Heritage Site status for the
Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon and Danum Valley is on the part of the Federal
Ministry of Culture, Arts and Information headed by Datuk Seri Yais Yatim.
Daily Express understands
that while Sabah is trying very hard to push for the status, the Director
General of the Heritage Council under the Ministry had declared she would only
endorse it if the State is agreeable to placing these Sabah environment icons
under their administration and management upon listing.
Sources in the know said
that the State Government vehemently opposed the suggestion because this would
be going against the Malaysia Agreement, in particular the stipulation that
land is a state matter and one that is very sensitive.
"Agreeing to the
condition will mean indirect federalisation of State land," said the
source, leaving the State Government helpless to attacks by the opposition
eager to portray the Federal Government as colonisers.
Meanwhile, in the earlier
report, the Federal Minister who has been urged to be more pro-active in the
Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative involving Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia is
the Environment Minister and not the Tourism Minister. (DE)
No comments:
Post a Comment