Malaysia nominates FRIM Selangor Forest Park as Unesco world heritage site

PUTRAJAYA: The FRIM Selangor Forest Park (FRIM-SFP) has been nominated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for consideration as a World Heritage Site for the 2024/2025 evaluation session.

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry submitted the nomination document to the Unesco secretariat on Monday (Jan 29) through the Permanent Delegation of Malaysia to Unesco in Paris.

The ministry said efforts to nominate the site began in 2017, with the tentative list sent to Unesco on Jan 31, 2017.

“The decision on the nomination is expected to be known in June or July 2025, with the evaluation process taking around 18 months from the date of submission,” the ministry said in a statement here on Tuesday (Jan 30).

It said the listing under the Unesco World Heritage List is highly sought after by many countries, as it represents the highest global recognition for heritage sites.

It said the recognition would not only provide promotion and international exposure but also showcase Malaysia’s commitment to preserving heritage sites.

“Increasing Malaysia’s visibility globally, the recognition indirectly enhances the country’s reputation as a tourism product capable of contributing to the economy through related industries,” said the ministry.

To date, a total of 1,199 sites worldwide have been recognised as World Heritage Sites under the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The ministry said preparations for the nomination dossier involved various agencies, with the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, coordinated by the National Heritage Department to ensure that the document meets Unesco’s criteria.

Currently, Malaysia has four Unesco World Heritage Sites, namely Gunung Mulu National Park (2000), Kinabalu Park (2000), Historic Cities of the Straits of Melaka, namely Melaka and George Town (2008) and the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012).

Meanwhile, the ministry isaid the decision on the nomination for the Archaeological Heritage of the Niah National Park’s Cave Complex in Sarawak will be known in June or July, and if successful, will be Malaysia’s fifth Unesco World Heritage Site.

It also said that there are ongoing efforts to nominate several other sites as Unesco World Heritage Sites in the future, including the Royal Belum State Park and the National Leprosy Control Centre. – BK