By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Feb 19: The Borneo Highlands development is expected to undergo revamping starting with its clubhouse and golf course once the redevelopment masterplan is approved by the Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA).
Borneo Highlands Residents’ Club (BHRC) secretary Liew Nam Boon said there is pressing need for repair and renovation works at the clubhouse because the building is deteriorating fast especially with water leakages.
Including plans to rope in more private investors to build facilities such as hotels, theme park, wellness and spa centre, he said Borneo Highlands would have a facelift in five years’ time.
“The State government is eager to see Borneo Highlands become the main tourism attraction (in the area). They will be getting the SPA to approve the master plan. The intention was to invite private investors to come in after the masterplan has been approved,” he said.
Liew, who was also the architect of the Borneo Highlands clubhouse under the previous developer, expressed feeling regretful every time he passed by the abandoned nursery which used to be an attraction at Borneo Highlands.
“I always have the urge to want to help the government to develop the place because this is a very nice place. We have very clean air here and very cool climate. It’s so different (from the city).
“It’s just about an hour from Kuching to here and you come to a totally different environment. I mean, where else can you find such a place?
“So, when this became abandoned, we decided to help whenever we can. It’s not about money; it’s about passion,” he told DayakDaily when met at his bungalow at Borneo Highlands yesterday (Feb 18).
For the record, the resort which is about one-and-a-half hours’ drive from Kuching City, is the only hilltop resort in Sarawak presently.
Since Sept 20, 1994, the resort was under Country Heights Holdings Bhd in a joint venture (JV) with the Sarawak Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA).
On Nov 2, 2020, the Sarawak government terminated the concession given to Country Heights Holdings Bhd through a letter after it failed to fulfill the agreement to develop the resort after more than 10 years.
On March 7 this year, the Federal Court dismissed the company’s application for leave to appeal against an order made by the Sarawak Superintendent of Land and Survey to forfeit three parcels of land that were meant for the development of Borneo Highlands Resort.
Borneo Highlands is 1,000 metres above sea level with temperatures ranging between 18 to 28 degrees Celsius, although temperatures as low as 16 degrees Celsius have been recorded. — DayakDaily
