Zahid said efforts to recover these items are under way but have been hindered by budget constraints.

“The initiative is costly, but we need to bring home those artefacts due to the historical interest and evidence,” he told reporters after opening the two-day History and National Unity 2024 Convention here today

Zahid said the Cabinet would review the costs submitted by the national unity ministry, and suggested that GLCs or government-linked investment companies could help fund the initiative.

Earlier, in his address, he said that reclaiming the artefacts would support the conservation of historical sites, promote further research, protect territorial sovereignty, enhance national security, and preserve historical knowledge for future generations.

“Many of these artefacts, including key documents such as treaties, official correspondences, and significant manuscripts, remain overseas,” he said.

On a related note, Zahid said the government is exploring the formation of a national historians’ council to unify historians under one body.

“This is so that the council can address historical distortions, which could undermine the nation’s stability, peace and harmony,” he said.