KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's northern region is rich in history and has the potential to grow into a sustainable cultural destination.
Think City Sdn Bhd managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said Malaysia sits at the confluence of history and geography, as evidenced by the oldest prehistoric settlement in the world after Africa, signifying two million years of human evolution.
"In addition, the archaeological sites of Lembah Bujang and Sungai Batu highlight evidence of the earliest human settlement in Southeast Asia.
"This promises great potential for Malaysia to be enhanced as an international archaeological heritage destination.
"The possibility of new discoveries and opportunities to showcase this historic site will give initial focus to Lenggong, Kuala Kangsar and Taiping," he said during an interview with the New Straits Times and Harian Metro recently.
Think City is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
On April 11, Think City announced that it had allocated RM10 million to support culture-based economic development in the northern Malaysia region, collaborating with the Finance Ministry as part of the Budget 2022 initiative.
Hamdan said Think City has identified potential nodes in the northern region to enhance culture-based experiences and will support grantees who can deepen and diversify visitors' journeys and broaden the public's understanding of the region's cultural significance via the Cultural Economy Catalytic Grants Programme.
Under the Cultural Economy Catalytic Grants Programme, culture-based economic development would leverage Malaysia's archaeological heritage by regenerating socio-economic growth and boosting the community's cultural, economic and social capital development.
The programme aimed to achieve its aspiration in capacity building and advocacy, demonstration, and content creation.
Think City is an impact organisation established in 2009 to create more sustainable and equitable places for the benefit of all.
The company's knowledge, skills and strategies focus on urban solutions, the environment, social communities, and the cultural economy.