The Malaysian government is making efforts to push forward the Maliau basin in East Malaysia to be listed as a World Heritage Site.

A group of 31 government officials visited the basin recently, the third tour of such by officials over the last two years, the New Straits Times said on Tuesday.

The Maliau basin is a forest terrain 260 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of East Malaysia's state of Sabah, said the newspaper.

The saucer-shaped area spans 25 kilometers in diameter and is distinguished by its almost circular perimeter, according to the daily.

Last year, Sabah State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun proposed that the 588-square-kilometer forest terrain be listed by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a World Heritage Site.

Masidi had said the move would boost the Maliau basin's reputation as a research site among scientists around the world.

Currently, Malaysia has four places declared as World Heritage Sites, namely Mount Kinabalu National Park in Sabah, Mulu National Park in Sarawak, George Town in Penang and Malacca.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2010)