Remains from Niah Cave to be returned to Sarawak

KUCHING: The human remains from Niah Cave, currently in Nevada, are expected to be brought back to Sarawak this year for public viewing.

Over 100 human remains found in the Niah Cave and the surrounding areas were sent to United States decades ago for scientific research.

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the study had been completed and it was time for the remains to return home.

“Efforts to bring them home are necessary because we want to make the Niah Cave a world heritage site.

“We will display the skeletons as proof that the Niah Cave is the oldest recorded human settlement in the state.”

He said this at the launch of the Program Bermalam Di Muzium (A Night At The Museum), here yesterday.

Abdul Karim said he was informed the remains were well cared for by the university that conducted the study and the state government was making efforts to bring them home.

Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said efforts were being undertaken to gazette the Niah Cave National Park as another world heritage site in the state.

He said the documentation process to get United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation recognition is expected to take about five years.