By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Feb 18: Tourism opportunities will slip away if Sarawak fails to strike while the iron is still hot, warns Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, as he calls for urgent action to revive the long-delayed Borneo Highlands project.
Expresssing disappointment over the slow pace of progress by the agency responsible for its development, Abdul Karim stressed that hesitation and legal justifications must not stand in the way of progress.
“After being in the tourism industry for many years, you must strike while the iron is hot. If there is a tourism product that needs to be developed, it must be done quickly.
“You cannot afford to wait. The moment you delay, investors who have conducted their market studies will shift their focus elsewhere. And once that happens, the opportunity is lost,” he said at a press conference held in conjunction with D’Drift 2026 flagging-off ceremony at the DayakDaily office here today.
Abdul Karim emphasised that Borneo Highlands holds strong tourism potential, even without heavy reliance on international arrivals, given its strategic location and natural appeal.
While legal issues have been cited as the main cause of delays, he questioned whether this justification still holds.
“The matter has already been decided up to the Federal Court, and the ruling was clear. The land belongs to the State,” he said.
He acknowledged there may have been a letter of demand from a previous owner but maintained that this should not be grounds to stall development.
“If the previous owner claims ownership of certain structures, then remove them. Demolish them if necessary. But do not use that as an excuse to say development cannot proceed because of unresolved legal matters. To me, that would be a misrepresentation,” he added.
Abdul Karim underscored the need for Sarawak to adopt a stronger private-sector mindset to attract investors, stressing that slow processes will never yield fast results.
“We must be more proactive. If we want rapid development, we cannot afford to move at a sluggish pace,” he said.
On the broader tourism landscape, he noted that efforts to revitalise golf and upscale tourism should not be confined to Borneo Highlands but extended to destinations such as Sematan.
“Tourism caters to a wide spectrum, from backpackers to high-end travellers. At the upper end, there are business travellers and international visitors seeking exclusive, premium experiences,” he said.
The minister added that developing more luxury and high-value destinations would position Sarawak to compete more effectively in the premium tourism market.
Plans to rejuvenate Borneo Highlands reportedly began in 2023 after the resort became wholly owned by the Sarawak government following the conclusion of a legal battle with the previous developer.
While the State government made clear in 2023 that it had no intention of building a casino, it pledged to explore ways to redevelop the resort into an integrated destination offering a diverse range of attractions, including a golf course, wellness hub, event halls, entertainment outlets, as well as dining and retail options, positioning it as a must-visit destination in the region.
In 2024, Abdul Karim again voiced frustration over the lack of progress but noted that the redevelopment falls under the purview of the Sarawak Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA).
Having waited for many years, he has repeatedly called on LCDA to buck up and expedite the redevelopment of Borneo Highlands, emphasising that further delays are no longer excusable.
The proposed development master plan, pending approval from the Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA), includes refurbishing the existing clubhouse and golf course, alongside new components such as hotels, a wellness centre and a theme park. The State government has also indicated its intention to involve private investors in revitalising the resort and transforming it into a major tourism attraction.
Although glamping activities are currently being carried out at Borneo Highlands, Abdul Karim opined that much more can and should be done.
Spanning 5,000 acres and perched 1,000 metres above sea level, with temperatures ranging between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius, and located less than an hour’s drive from Kuching city, he stressed that it would be a waste if the area is not fully and properly developed for tourism. — DayakDaily
