By D’Drift Team
BINTULU, July 4: The Sg Asap Resettlement Scheme has been identified as a gateway for eco-tourism activities in Murum constituency, said Murum Assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon.
He said all the 15 longhouses in Sg Asap will also be involved in a homestay programme to provide accommodation to visitors.
“Sg Asap is the gateway to the tourism attractions in Murum. Every longhouse in Sg Asap Resettlement Scheme will be involved in eco-tourism.
“I can see that Murum area has good potential for eco-tourism with two hydroelectric dams namely Bakun and Murum. Besides that we also Lusong Laku Waterfall and we still have plenty of greenery,” Chukpai told Drift Team here yesterday.
However he cautioned that in order to make Murum a successful eco-tourism attraction, it has to be planned property, including infrastructure especially road.
“We plan for a alternative road from Bakun to link Lusong Laku Waterfall,” he said.
The first-term assemblyman also revealed that last year Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approve RM15 million to set up a Cultural Heritage Centre in Sg Asap to be built on a 18-acre site.
“Besides having a cultural centre to showcase our rich cultural heritage, we proposed that under the 12th Malaysia Plan, we will include river rafting activities,” he said.
Chukpai also revealed that the Ulu Rajang Development Agency (URDA) has planned to set up an Emurau Sanctuary in Murum.
“Besides that SEDC is also planning something in both Murum and Bakun Lakes. And URDA is planning Bakun’s new township.
“At the same time, we are going to do an alternative road and other facilities are ongoing now for the public so that they don’t have to go through the security at Bakun HEP plant,” said Chukpai.
On land issues, Chukpai said, the state government had approved the setting up of a trustee for the 15 longhouses in Sg Asap Resettlement to spearhead the acquiring of all the islands and in Bakun HEP Lake.
“We still have rights to claim on the land there. We will take it back. As YB of the area, I will make sure we will get it back those land such as the islands and those which is not submerged around the lake area.
“But we have to do this properly and we must work together. There is no blaming game to solve any problem.
“I kept the word of the late Tok Nan (former Chief Minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) who said that we should not be worried about land as there is enough land for the people,” he added.—DayakDaily.
