By Shikin Louis
BAU, May 17: A tragic cave near Bau known locally as ‘Ghost Cave’—where hundreds of gold miners perished during the Brooke era—will be developed into a heritage tourism site, says Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Located next to LePapa in Bau, the cave, shrouded in history and sorrow, was a hiding place for gold miners, who were eventually trapped and killed during a military assault in Brooke era.
These were followers of Liu Shan Bang, a leader of the 1857 Chinese Uprising against the White Rajah James Brooke.
“There is one cave where a lot of people died. When the army came and attacked back, that is where the gold miners hid. But they were flushed out. In front of the cave was set on fire, and everyone inside died—hundreds of them,” Abdul Karim said during a press conference after officiating the Bau Sports Carnival in Bau today.
He added that this tragic episode could be documented and preserved as part of Sarawak’s historical narrative and serve as a unique draw for both domestic and international visitors.
“Even though there was a tragedy in those caves, many people died, but those stories will be the ones that attract tourists. They would want to be there to offer their prayers, to visit those places,” he said.
Abdul Karim noted that the cave, known as Gua Hantu (Ghost Cave), is part of a much larger network of caves throughout the limestone-rich Bau district, which also includes the popular Wind Cave and Fairy Cave.
“Within Bau itself, it’s not just Fairy Cave or Wind Cave. There are quite a number of other caves down here which have not been known or opened to the public, but the locals know,” he said.
Plans are underway for the Ministry to collaborate with the Bau District Office and the Museum Department to identify and list the many cave sites in the area, with the aim of promoting them as eco-tourism and heritage attractions.
Abdul Karim stressed the importance of conserving the natural limestone formations in the area, which stretch from Bau to Padawan and Serian, as some of these caves are even larger than the well-known ones but remain unexplored and unpromoted.
“We are blessed to have this kind of khazanah alam (natural treasures) and we should preserve them. It takes millions of years for a single limestone formation to become a cave. Once destroyed, they are lost forever,” he cautioned.
Among the other lesser-known natural attractions in the area is the Paku Rock Maze, which Abdul Karim described as “beyond imagination” due to its natural stone labyrinth created by water erosion.
He also mentioned Silabur Cave near Serian, dubbed the “Emerald Cave” for its stunning greenish hue when sunlight hits its cavern walls.
The minister hopes that while the government balances limestone extraction for industrial use, critical cave ecosystems and heritage sites will be preserved for future generations and sustainable tourism.
In response to questions, he affirmed that the government would consider developing facilities, including potentially a small aquatic centre in Bau, especially given the area’s contribution to producing diving talents.
Bau, once a mining town, is emerging as a key eco-tourism and heritage site in Sarawak’s tourism roadmap, thanks to its unique geological and historical wealth.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Transport (Maritime and Riverine) cum Tasik Biru assemblyman, Dato Henry Harry Jinep, together with Bau District Officer, Eddy Nayoi, and Kuching Resident, Dayang Hajah Joanita Azizah Abang Morshidi. — DayakDaily
