State Govt To Collaborate With Ministry To Promote Lenggong Valley

IPOH (Perak, Malaysia), July 12 (Bernama) -- The Perak government will collaborate with the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry in carrying out efforts to promote Lenggong Valley in Upper Perak to the public. The state's Chief Minister Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Lenggong Valley would become a tourist attraction, especially among people interested in archaeology after it was recognised by Unesco as a world heritage site on June 30. "We will work together with the ministry on how we can attract people to Lenggong Valley and we hope this area will be a major tourist draw," he said after chairing a state executive council meeting, here, Wednesday. "Lenggong Valley is a special treasure of Perak and the country". Zambry said the state government also planned to hold a celebration to mark the listing of Lenggong Valley as world heritage site. "The Information, Communications and Culture Minister (Dr Rais Yatim) is happy with what has been achieved and is prepared to cooperate with the state government (over Lenggong Valley)," he said. Meanwhile, heritage commissioner at the National Heritage Department, Prof Emeritus Zuraina Majid said the recognition would help boost this morthern state of Perak's economy and create job opportunities for the local community, besides promoting the state to the world. On the proposal for the 'Perak Man' skeleton found in Lenggong Valley and then kept at Muzium Negara (National Museum) to be brought back and placed at the Lenggong Archaelogy Gallery, Zuraina said the matter would be discussed with Rais. "The artefact which is now at Universiti Sains Malaysia for study purpose will be brought back to the Lenggong gallery after the study is completed," she said. Asked whether the 'Perak Man' would be made an icon for Lenggong Valley, Zurina said the matter would have to be studied and discussed first. -- BERNAMA