By Ling Hui
KUCHING, April 3: Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau has requested Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to prioritise the gazetting of forest areas surrounding the Three Sisters Waterfall, one of the latest tourist attractions at Long San, Ulu Baram.
The Three Sisters Waterfall and two other waterfalls nearby, namely U’ong Geneh and U’ong Bilong, were discovered by four local Kenyahs four years ago.
Since then, the waterfalls, each having its own uniqueness, gradually gained praise and recognition from the rest of Sarawak. However, there are currently active logging activities in Ulu Baram.
Dennis, therefore, saw the need and urgency to protect and preserve the waterfalls and the surrounding forest areas, not to destroy Long San’s tourism products.
“I told Forest (Department) Miri to gazette the forest first. That is (the) number one (priority) because the trees there are huge, kayu besar (big logs). So, we don’t want logging to happen there,” he said.
Following that, he added that he is also looking at ways to apply for the forest concession fund so that proper forest trails can be built from Long San Village to the waterfalls.
At the moment, he said, the trails leading to the picturesque waterfalls were constructed by the local folk, which may not be as safe and convenient for visitors.
He said the current trail consists of about an hour of jungle trekking and a rather challenging steep slope of about 45 degrees down to the waterfall.
“So these are the things I’m looking into, but first and foremost, we must preserve that area. The waterfall is unique,” Dennis told DayakDaily when met recently.
The name ‘Three Sisters Waterfall’ was coined by its founders because the waterfall features three beautiful cascades right next to each other. — DayakDaily
