BAU: A herbal centre will be set up at Bung Bratak (Bratak Hill) here to cultivate plants, flowers and roots of proven medicinal and health value, said president of Bung Bratak Heritage Association, (BBHA) Datuk Peter Minos.
He said idle land at the 10.1-hectare historical-tourism Bung Bratak Heritage Centre (BBHC) would be utilised for the purpose.
“BBHA officials will be going around and do research on whatever is herbal and will bring it to the 305-metre high Bung Bratak which has fertile soil and rather cool climate and is said to be suitable for herbal planting.
“With the herbal thing, BBHC will become a place for those recovering or recuperating from various ailments, adding another attraction to BBHC,” said Minos.
He said BBHC would also source for fund to revive and set up a “kasah” (Bidayuh rattan traditional mat) house.
“Kasah is popular among the locals for house use and decoration and even tourists are fond of the kasah. If done, one slowly dying kasah-making industry is revived,” he said.
As today’s Bidayuh youngsters are not too keen in kasah-making, Minos said BBHA must do something about it.
“We cannot allow one aspect of Bidayuh culture to be gone due to modernisation and indifference.
“Such cultural aspect must be restored and perpetuated. Just as the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) is trying to perpetuate the Bidayuh language and dialects,” he added.
He said BBHA could and would do many things for the community once the new RM8 million BBHC at the Bung Bratak was completed, most likely before year’s end.
