LUBOK ANTU (P203) Eco-tourism joins agriculture as money spinner

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INCUMBENT:
William Nyalau Badak (BN-PRS)
Last 05 May, 2013 Election Result:
1. William Nyalau Badak (BN-PRS): 8,273 votes
2. Larry Soon @ Larry Sng (SWP): 4,187 votes
3. Nicholas Bawin Anggat (PR-PKR): 2,530 votes
Majority: 4,086 votes

In the13th General Election in 2013, William Nyalau Badak (BN-PRS) won the Lubok Antu parliamentary seat by polling 8,273 votes while his opponents – Larry Soon @ Larry Sng (SWP) polled 4,187 votes and Nicholas Bawin Anggat (PR-PKR), 2,530 votes. The parliamentary seat of Lubok Antu comprises the state seats of Engkilili (N33) and Batang Ai (N34) which are represented by Dr Johnical Rayong (BN-Direct) and Malcom Mussen Lamoh (BN-PRS) respectively.

Lubok Antu is basically a rural constituency which shares border with Kalimantan. The population is predominantly Ibans, followed by Chinese, Malays and other indigenious Dayaks whose economic activities are mainly agriculture and shifting cultivation farming. However, in recent years an increasing number of them are turning to tourism to supplement their income. Thanks to the BN government, almost all parts of this constituency are now accessible by road.

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The local residents can now move freely except in certain areas like Engkari and Lemanak which are still served by timber tracks. Lubok Antu contituency is home to Batang Ai Hydro-Electric Power Dam, Sarawak’s first hydro dam.

THE palm oil mill in Lubok Antu which has a capacity of grinding 60 tons of
fresh fruit per hour.

A SALCRA-managed oil palm plantation in Lubok Antu.

The dam was constructed in 1982 at a cost of RM600 million and completed in1985. It has catachment area totalling 1,200km square (460 square miles) and surface area totalling 85km square (33 square miles), and a total installed capacity of 100mw. Almost all the villages in the constituency have already been connected to the main grid except for the few longhouses in Ulu Lemanak and Engkari areas.

Those villages not connected to the main grid were provided with hybrid solar and micro hydro electric dam. However, about 80 per cent of the areas within the constituency are now connected to grid. Treated water suppply is very important to the rural folks.

About 70 per cent of this constituency will be able to enjoy treated water supply when the new Lubok Antu- Engkilili water treatment plant project costing RM57 million is completed. Lubok Antu constituency is one of the four agriculture districts in Sri Aman division and the major activities carried out by the farming community include rubber, pepper, oil palm, paddy as well as lifestock.

SITUATED just at the border, this signboard points to two directions – one
going to Lubok Antu while the other leads to Indonesia.

LUBOK Antu town has not changed much in outlook since the old days.

THE suspension bridge that links Engkilili to the villages across the river.

The Sarawak Land Development and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) began its first oil palm plantation project in Lubok Antu in 1976. It was Salcra’s maiden oil palm project, mainly aimed at tackling the hardcore poverty area by means of land ownership and employment to the local community. The mill started production from 1984 to 1995 at 30t FFB/hr. Later in 1996, the mill was upgraded to 60t FFB/ hr. In 2014, it was proposed for a further upgrade to double the production capabilities at 120t FFB/hr. SALCRA’s main objective is to improve the overall well-being of the rural communities through development of land for plantation agriculture.

Its core business encompases the management of Native Customery Rights (NCR) land for oil palm plantations. Since the establishment of the first oil palm estate in Lubok Antu in 1976, SALCRA now has18 more oil palm estates, covering more than 51,000 hectares of land area stretching from Lundu to Bau, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong and Saratok regions. Batang Ai is a popular tourist destination especially for those who love culture, adventure and nature (CAN).

It is a special place where visitors can both experience the rainforest and learn about Iban cultural traditions.

The region is also known as a model destination for sustainable community and natural-based destination. A vast area of rainforest has been protected through the 24,000ha Batang Ai National Park and the 192,800ha Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Santuary which is part of the 771,200ha Bertimuang-Karimun National Park across the border in Kalimantan. The area is also home to the most significant population of orangutan in Sarawak.