KUCHING: Fort Lily in Betong will undergo renovation works, to turn the town’s historical landmark into a museum.

The ceremony to hand over the 164-year-old fort up for conservation and upgrading works by the Sarawak Museum Department was held on Thursday.

The department will carry out the works under the ‘Conservation and Upgrading of Historical Fortress Programme’.

In his speech at the handover ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said upon the completion of works, the people of Betong Division would have another new iconic landmark they could be proud of.

According to him, many towns in the world have their own sites and buildings with historical and cultural values, unique architectures as well as conservation, aside from institutions of higher education, public libraries and museums.

Uggah also expressed his hope for the Fort Lily museum project to improve the economic and social aspects of Betong.

He believed that Fort Lily would attract more visitors and tourists to Betong and, indirectly, this would assist local small-holding entrepreneurs.

“I hope this project would be implemented smoothly without complications. With the success of the project to transform Fort Lily into a museum, I hope the local community, irrespective of gender, age and background, would benefit from it later on,” he said.

Fort Lily was built during the Brooke era and initially, it served as a defence against the attacks launched by Iban warrior Rentap and his followers.

Later, the fort was used as an administrative centre and also a police station, before being turned into a government office.

According to Uggah, Fort Lily has been listed as one of the forts and historical buildings to be conserved and upgraded under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).

Other than Fort Lily, he listed a few historical forts set to benefit from 11MP, including Fort Brooke in Meluan, Fort Emma in Kanowit and Fort Hose in Marudi – all presently under the care of Sarawak Museum Department.

In this regard, Uggah said efforts to get Fort Lily and other historical forts in Sarawak to be recognised as the ‘International Heritage and Cultural Sites’ by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), should be seen as a positive step to make Sarawak well-known globally.

“I believe that with the commitment and will from all parties, we can transform Fort Lily and other historical forts in Sarawak to be well-known worldwide.”

Former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and his wife Tan Sri Empiang, Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu, Saribas assemblyman Mohammad Razi Sitam, and Sarawak Museum Department acting director Suria Bujang were also present at the event.