Site Of Ancient Civilisation At Sungai Batu To Have Exhibition Centre

Zainal Abdul Jalil GURUN (Malaysia), Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Sungai Batu, the seat of a first century civilisation, will have an exhibition centre recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation( UNESCO). In connection with this, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said UNESCO would be invited to give a new reevaluation on the civilisation. He said, artifacts from Sungai Batu, in Lembah Bujang (Bujang Valley), Merbok which had undergone radiocarbon dating and confirmed as being from the first century or dated 101, had strengthened resolve to developed the area. Merbok is a small town in Kedah, Malaysia. The historical Bujang Valley is located here. The Bujang Valley is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately 224 square km. Situated near Merbok, Kedah, between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south, it is the richest archaeological area in Malaysia, show that there was a Hindu-Buddhist polity here. "This is a fact of archeological history that the first civilisation in the Bujang Valley is older than the Perak man found in Lenggong and is recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage. "I have twice tabled the report on the civilisation to the cabinet because I don't want the findings to be viewed lightly," he said after opening the Sword of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W., Treasures of Islamic Civilisation and the Historical Collection of Seni Silat Pusaka Gayong Exhibition at the Naza Factory's Sri Zaleha Hall here, Monday. According to Rais the Heritage and Arts Department had paid RM13 million (US$4.14 million) to purchase a 30-hectare land in Sungai Batu to build a gallery and would invite investments in Lembah Bujang. He also said the department received many contributions including from the Albukhary Foundation to build the gallery next year to house artifacts from the civilisation. The ministry would also ask international experts to do presentations and analysis of the civilisation while Universiti Sains Malaysia (University Science of Malaysia) continued its studies at Sungai Batu, he said. Rais hoped the first century Langkasukan culture found at Sungai Batu would become the focus of attention following the development projects to be implemented. On the exhibition, he asked Malays to learn the history of Islamic civilisation with the value of the Malay culture as axis and not to be rash in their endeavour to become a bigger race. "The Malay race cannot be lackadaisical but must learn from the expansion of Islam to mould a firm personality," he said. Rais praised the effort of Seni Silat Gayong exponents who propagated the Malay art as a noble effort, promising aid to them. During the ceremony, Rais handed 15 netbook laptop computers to 15 students from the Jerai Parliamentary Constituency. The entrance fee for the exhibition is RM10 (US$3.18) for adults and RM5 (US$1.59) for children. The exhibition ends on Dec 19. (US$1=RM3.14) -- BERNAMA