The Information Communication and Culture Ministry will make the research at the Bujang Valley archaeological site in Kedah its major programme under 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP), Minister Rais Yatim said.

He said the research would involve foreign experts who would study the findings from the archaeological, anthropological and scientific aspects so that the results would be conclusive and not based on hypothesis.

"I will try to propose to the Economic Planning Unit to put the project as the ministry's main programme for the 10MP.

"The amount (of allocation) is not known yet. This depends on the working papers to be submitted by Prof Zuraina (Majid) and Prof Mohd Mokhtar (Saidin)," he told reporters after opening the International Conference on the Bujang Valley and Early Civilisation in Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur today.

lembah bujang ancient port 030209 Zuraina is the National Heritage commissioner while Mokhtar is the Global Archaeology Research director at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

He said the finding would help prove the existence of an old civilisation , much older than those found in Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the Borobudur in Java, Indonesia.

Rais said that USM's finding "is nationally important."

He also said that cabinet ministers had been informed of the finding and they too had shown interest in seeing the continuation of the research in the area.

"In determining the human development programmes for the 10MP, we should not forget the importance of studying the roots of own civilisation through history as well as research on archaeological sites," he said.

He added that the Al-Bukhary Foundation had contributed RM5 million for the research, carried out by the USM, National Heritage Department and local residents.

Rais also reminded the authorities in Penang and Melaka to adhere to Unesco's recommendations to safeguard the listing of George Town and Melaka as World Heritage Sites.

- Bernama