KUCHING: In preparation of this year’s Semadang Tagang Festival which will be held from August 30 to September 1, a group of villagers from Kampung Semadang in Padawan near here recently visited a sister project at Kampung Luanti in Ranau, Sabah.
They had learnt that the folk of Kampung Luanti have been running their project (which they called “tagal”) as a tourism product just like what has been done at their own village.
Tagang (of tagal) system is a method of conserving aquatic life. In Iban the word “tagang” means “prohibit or prevent”. The Bidayuh version is “tegang”. Whatever the name, the idea is the same, that is, a certain river in an area is protected from human encroachment and over exploitation.
Kampung Semadang, at KM40, Jalan Borneo Heights started its “tagang” in 2007 with the help of the Agriculture Department. To attract tourists, the village organises its annual “tagang”.
This year’s festival (the fifth edition) is expected to attract thousands of local visitors and foreign tourists like in the last four years.
At Kampung Luanti, the Semadang visitors saw how the local “tagal” has eventually turned Moroli River into a natural fish spa and ecotourism spot.
The villagers have acquired the skill of taming the “kelah” fish (mahseer) so that the fish can take food from visitors’ hands and if the visitors allow it, to nibble away dead skin from their bodies.
“The fish are specifically trained by the villagers to clean the visitors’ bodies by eating their dead skin, such as on their hands and feet,” said 62-year-old village chief, Rusliah Mohd Mazlie.
She said the fish has a curative effect on those who suffer from psoriasis.
“Come to Kampung Luanti for regular fish therapy and you will enjoy smoother and more supple skin, just like a baby’s bottom,” she said and laughed.
According to Rusliah, every month the village collected between RM20,000 and RM30,000, and more during the school holidays.
Each visitor is charged RM5 while foreign tourists are charged RM10 per person.
“It is an offence for anyone to catch fish in the ‘tagal’ areas and those found guilty can be fined up to RM3,000. However, a few years later everyone in this village are supportive of the programme and there are no more cases of people catching the fish illegally,” she said.
Kampung Luanti also has a homestay programme to make visitors feel at home.
Besides visiting the Kampung Luanti Tagal System, the Semadang visitors also went to Pulau Manukan, Kinabalu Park, Desa Cattle Dairy Farm in Kundasang and Poring Hot Spring, and stayed at a homestay in Kundasang.
Keri Mongi, 36, said he was so impressed with what he saw in Sabah and the many tourists he saw.
He said besides the many beautiful places to visit in Sabah, especially in Ranau and Kundasang, he also liked the city life in Kota Kinabalu.
“It is so happening at night and you have plenty of food choices,” said 62-year-old pensioner Allan Moha, while his wife Rubim Raki, 59, said she liked the beaches at Manukan Island.
Retired school teacher, Nelly Paya, 63, said she had visited several Asean countries and Europe as well as several states in Malaysia, but commended Sabah as one of the nicest places she had ever visited.
“Sabah has so many things to offer tourists. No wonder its tourism sector is so successful,” she said.
