The state government has a master plan to develop Bau and surrounding areas like Lundu and Sematan to be among the major tourism destinations in the state.

Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said such initiative will not only be able to drive the tourism sector, but also encourage development and economic activities in the areas involved.

“We have an overall plan for Bau. Bau will be connected to Lundu and Sematan and these areas have been identified as a tourism zone. We will develop all the infrastructures related to tourism,” he said when launching the first Borneo Tribal Fest 2017 cum Gawai Raya and official opening of Borneo Tribal Village (BTV) at Kampung Apar, Singai here yesterday.

Apart from that, Abang Johari said the tourism attractions in Siniawan, like the thriving night market there, will be further developed by integrating them with the Rajah Brooke’s Bungalow nearby to make the area more appealing to tourists.

“I have told the elected representative there that if possible, rear horses for horse riding in Siniawan. Whoever wants the experience to be like Rajah Brooke, then you can ride horses there. Of course, that will link to Bau and then we have a master plan for Bau town and areas surrounding Bau, including here (Kampung Apar) and then from Bau, it goes to Lundu and Sematan.”

In stressing the need for public transportation in the state to be upgraded, Abang Johari said that would also enable tourists to enjoy the surroundings while travelling to the different tourist destinations in the state.

Citing travelling to Bau and the surrounding areas as an example, Abang Johari said in the future, there could be a Light Railway Transit (LRT) loop to these areas, similar to the LRT development plan linking Kuching, Samarahan and Serian.

He envisioned that with all the basic facilities pertaining to the LRT services in place, it would enable tourists visiting Bau and the surrounding areas to go in big groups, instead of individually or in small groups.

“Let me do the LRT up to Serian first. The moment we have that finished, then we will have a loop. Maybe not during my time, maybe another chief minister can continue it to have a loop and that LRT loop will go through Bau, Lundu, Sematan right to Damai in Kuching.”

Abang Johari said he shared this because the state government has a master plan.

“Give me time, I have been the Chief Minister for only six months. The Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) will start in January. That will finance all our strategic area (projects).”

Besides Bau, Abang Johari said the state government felt that the whole of Sarawak had a lot of potentials.

“We are also going to develop Mukah. In Recoda (Regional Corridor Development Authority), we have formed the Upper Rajang Development Agency. In the highland, we have formed Highland Development Agency because there are a lot of attractions in our highlands including Ba Kelalan and Bario.

“The whole services industry has potential for Sarawak. The only thing is for us to promote and provide basic infrastructures.”

In order to provide reliable water and electricity supply to the people, Abang Johari said the moment he became the chief minister, the state acquired Bakun HEP back from the federal government.

“With that, we can plan our power supply. Secondly water, we will use new method that is we use water from our dams. What’s the use of using water from river, when sometimes the river has no water.

“So we will use dams as raw water source, we treat the water and then we will have a state pipe grid just like electricity. There will be piping throughout the state so all the places will have water.

“For Bau, of course, it (water supply) will be Bau up to Lundu that had been announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and now in the process of implementation. That will cover the water supply to this area and also power supply.”

With the cooperation from the people and elected representatives, Abang Johari believed that the government would be able to implement any master plan that they have in the pipeline.

“I will come again to Bau next week. I will come again and bring another ‘buah tangan’ (gift) for people of Bau.”

Among those present at the event were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Tasik Biru assemblyman Dato Henry Harry Jinep, Opar assemblyman Datuk Ranum Mina and Borneo Tribal Fest 2017 organising chairman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Jonathan Chia

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