OKSHE launches official website & community-centric activities
KUCHING, 21 September 2026: The Voices of Old Kuching: OKSHE-MTCP Public Initiative Programmes was officially launched today during the Heritage Future: Voices of Old Kuching event at Sheraton Kuching.
Organised by the Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE) and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Voices of Old Kuching is made up of a series of public programme events which will be held in conjunction with the upcoming International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2026 (GA2026), happening October 17 to 24, 2026 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
Dubbed the Olympics of Cultural Heritage, the 22nd ICOMOS GA2026 will welcome over 1,500 delegates from 110 countries to Kuching, and is set to be the largest global assembly of heritage professionals and practitioners.
Aimed at advancing the preservation and sustainable management of Old Kuching’s built heritage, the OKSHE-MTCP Public Initiative Programmes include the Old Kuching Guided Thematic Heritage Walk Series, Mini Community-Based Heritage Exhibition, Old Kuching Short Video and Photography Competition, Heritage Publication and Book Launch Series, Youth Hackathon: Heritage Preservation, Technical Workshop with DBKU on Heritage and Climate Change and Masterclass: Training of Trainers on Heritage.
Today’s launching ceremony was graced by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, and kicked off with informative expert sessions by Registered Conservator, Lim Hooi Siang and Chairman of the Penang State Cultural Build Heritage Expert Committee, Ts. Dr. Tan Chin Ling, who shared on George Town’s Journey to UNESCO World Heritage Site and Heritage Management & Conservation in George Town World Heritage Site respectively.
Also attended by OKSHE Advisor, Datu Dr. Sabariah Putit, Mayor of Kuching North City Commission, Dato Haji Hilmy bin Haji Othman, ICOMOS General Assembly 2026 delegates, academic leaders, community partners and university students, the programme provides training, community engagement activities, knowledge-sharing sessions and pilot projects, which are designed to strengthen local capacity and inspire long-term, collective action for the protection of Old Kuching’s heritage.
“The OKSHE-MTCP public initiatives are built on a powerful philosophy: that sustainable growth and community empowerment are shared responsibilities. These programmes are designed to deliver comprehensive benefits across all stakeholder tiers,” shared Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in his officiating speech.
“To ensure that these efforts are widely recognized and embraced, visibility is key. The newly unveiled official website and community-centric activities represent a vital step forward in making OKSHE visible, accessible, and easily understood by the general public. By leveraging digital platforms and transparent outreach, we are breaking down barriers, ensuring that no community is left behind in our digital and creative economy transformation.”
For more information, check out https://www.oksheevents.com/
