Perak’s Papan Town Should Be Declared A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Says Expert

BATU GAJAH, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The town of Papan, located in the Batu Gajah district, deserves recognition as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), according to a cultural heritage expert.

Dr Goh Ai Tee, a member of the Executive Board of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Malaysia, said the town's history holds significant heritage value, while its preserved old buildings showcase unique architectural designs.

Papan, which has existed for over 100 years, thrived during the tin mining boom and is one of the oldest towns in the Kinta Valley, spanning an area of 28.7 hectares. It is often dubbed a ghost town as it is now quiet and neglected.

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“For us (ICOMOS), Papan is one of the good representative new villages within the old town. At the same time, the authenticity is there because the tin mining industry went downhill from the 1970s to the 1980s. This particular town has not been developed for the past 50 years.

“The documentation effort for Papan to gain UNESCO recognition has been ongoing for the past three years,” she said when met by reporters during a visit to Papan today.

Meanwhile, Carl Warner, head of narrative and curatorial at the Imperial War Museums (IWM), said stories by Malaysians during the Emergency era will feature in an exhibition titled Emergency Exits at the IWM in London.

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"We've been planning the exhibition for several years. The exhibition is expected to be held in October next year," he said.

-- BERNAMA