State govt remains committed to preserving, conserving Selangor heritage

The Selangor government is committed to preserving and conserving its heritage, with the aim of boosting state tourism. State Housing and Culture Committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah emphasized the importance of ensuring that the state’s heritage treasures remain intact for future generations. As part of these efforts, the state plans to officially designate several historical buildings and sites, including Istana Bandar, the National Leprosy Centre, and a disused tin dredger in Dengkil.

Istana Bandar, an essential tourism asset, is set to undergo restoration after the Selangor government’s application was approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. The conservation process, including damage assessment and the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan (CMP), is expected to take about three to four years, according to Borhan Aman Shah.

This announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the Merdeka Heritage Trail carnival held at Istana Bandar in Jugra. The event was attended by Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (Culture) Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff.

Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the preservation and conservation of heritage buildings. The Ministry has approved an allocation amounting to RM350,000 for the conservation, renovation, and upgrading works at Istana Bandar. Additionally, RM420,000 has been allocated for damage assessment and the preparation of the Conservation Management Plan for the palace.

During the ceremony, Borhan Aman Shah also launched the book titled ‘Pemetaan Warisan Bandar-Bandar Diraja Di Malaysia’ (Mapping the Heritage of Royal Cities in Malaysia). The book, a collaboration between the State Department of Heritage and the Centre for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor, provides insights into theoretical frameworks, typologies, components, elements, heritage characteristics, and the myths surrounding nine royal cities in Malaysia.

The nine royal cities featured in the book are Klang in Selangor, Arau in Perlis, Kuala Kangsar in Perak, Seri Menanti in Negeri Sembilan, Pekan in Pahang, Anak Bukit in Kedah, Maharani in Muar, Chendering in Terengganu, and Kubang Kerian in Kelantan. The book serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the heritage of these cities.

This article is sourced from Bernama.