By Shikin Louis
MARUDI, Sept 30: The first 3-star hotel in Marudi town would provide comfortable accommodation for tourists and increase the local community’s income, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He stated that the idea of building a hotel in Marudi was mooted during a conversation between him who was the then Sarawak Tourism Minister, and Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was the then Sarawak Chief Minister.
“At that time, we had proposed that the services sector, especially tourism, should become an economic activity that benefits the people in north Sarawak.
“From there, we mooted the idea of developing strategic factors such as a hotel,” he said during the hotel’s earth-breaking ceremony at Marudi Civic Centre here today.
Abang Johari also stressed the need for such a hotel to be built as he recounted the lack of accommodation services during the Sultan of Pahang and Sultan of Brunei’s visits to grace the previous Baram Regatta events.
“We did have a rest house previously, but there were so many stories about some rooms being ‘uninhabitable’. However, as far as my experience, I didn’t encounter anything while residing in the rest house.
“Nevertheless, we feel that it is appropriate now for us to build a 3-star hotel to accommodate the locals and the tourists,” he added.
He further advised Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as the hotel operator, not to charge high rates for hotel guests.
“If it is too expensive, the people will not come. The hotel is more towards facilitating the influx of tourists because the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government only wishes to help the locals, not to gain profit,” he said, adding that another hotel will also be built in Mulu.
Earlier, SEDC general manager Datu Abdul Hadi Abdul Kadir said in his speech that the three-star Marudi Hotel would be located on the old Marudi Rest House site, just across from Marudi Civic Centre.
The architecture of the new hotel will combine modern elements with a touch of traditional motifs and carvings of the local ethnicities such as Orang Ulu.
Slated for completion and expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2027, the hotel will be equipped with 90 rooms consisting of Superior Rooms, Family Rooms, and Suites.
The hotel will also provide a VIP lobby lounge, a café, a children’s pool, a playground, a pool bar, a garden, meeting rooms, and a hall that could accommodate about 300 to 500 people.
Also present at the ceremony were Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government-cum-Marudi assemblyman Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil; Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala; and former Sarawak Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong. — DayakDaily
