By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 29: The Sarawak government has allocated RM6.5 million through the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) to upgrade Kampung Annah Rais into a Bidayuh cultural heritage village, in a major boost to community-based tourism in rural areas.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Road) and Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil announced the allocation during the PETRONAS Gawai 2025 Driving Life Programme held in the village in Padawan yesterday (June 28), according to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report.
Dr Jerip highlighted that the initiative forms part of the State’s integrated development agenda encompassing the tourism, culture, and agriculture sectors in rural areas.
“Kampung Annah Rais has unique historical, cultural, and Bidayuh heritage values.
“Efforts to upgrade tourism facilities here will not only provide economic benefits to the local residents, but also enhance our cultural heritage to the outside world,” he said.
The RM6.5 million will go towards enhancing basic tourism infrastructure including visitor trails, handicraft spaces, cultural information centres, and community training in tourism management.
Located about 48 kilometres from Kuching, Kampung Annah Rais is well known for its traditional Bidayuh longhouses, hot springs, and enduring customs still practised by its residents.
In conjunction with the event, 200 underprivileged families from the Padawan Subdistrict received food basket donations under a Gawai Dayak 2025 welfare programme by Yayasan PETRONAS, in collaboration with the Kuching Division Resident Office and Padawan Subdistrict Office.
PETRONAS Sarawak general manager Norazibah Md Rabu revealed that a total of 585 families across Sarawak have benefited from the programme this year.
Also present were Kuching Division Resident Dayang Joanita Azizah Abang Morshidi, Padawan Subdistrict administrative officer Julius Scott Sapong, and Kampung Annah Rais village chief Joda Mamung. — DayakDaily
