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KENINGAU: The Oath Stone at the Keningau Heritage Museum has the potential to attract tourists from within and outside the country as it holds rich history, said Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan. 

The State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister said it is also an important reference for the intelligentsia to analyse the formation of Malaysia. 

“The Keningau Oath Stone is a great historical and physical proof of the agreement of the people in the interior in the formation of this country with the merger of Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya.

“In addition, the construction was carried out according to the customs of the natives in the interior who believe that the monument has a spirit that needs to be protected to avoid disasters,” he said when officiating the 60th Malaysia Day Celebration Ceremony and the “History @ Sabah Museum” event in conjunction with Malaysia Day 2023 at the museum grounds, here, Friday.

During the ceremony, 37 individuals who donated a collection of historic photos, old police and St John Ambulance uniforms, traditional clothes and private collections to the Keningau Heritage Museum received certificates of appreciation.

Meanwhile, Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai hoped history-based tourism can be aggressively promoted.

“We promote too much tourism based on the beauty and uniqueness of nature that we overlook the diversity and uniqueness of this state’s historical heritage which can also be an attraction for those who want to study the important events of Sabah’s liberation until the formation of Malaysia.

“South Korea and Vietnam managed to take advantage of their war history and attract millions of tourists, especially from America, to come to their country to understand and learn about the events behind the country’s war history,” he said.

Also present were Public Works Assistant Minister Datuk Robert Tawik, Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Assistant Minister Datuk Flovia Ng and Sabah Museum Department Director Arif Abd Hamid.