KUCHING: Sarawak is one of the very few states in the country that has taken the decision to keep the memories of past heroes alive for the benefit of future generations as well as to draw tourists to the state.
For starters, the state government has set aside RM16 million to build a statue of the legendary Iban warrior Rentap and a replica of his fortress or Kubu Rentap at Bukit Sadok – the site of the original fortress.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state government had agreed to support the project to boost Betong’s tourism.
“Our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg recently approved an allocation of RM16 million for the project, inclusive of its supporting facilities.
“I hope the fortress will attract visitors to Betong which is accessible by road, including the Pan Borneo Highway and soon, the Second Trunk Road and the Bebuling STOLport (short take-off and landing airport),” he said in his speech at the Saribas Club Gawai dinner here yesterday.
In a recent meeting with an architectural firm, Uggah had asked for a traditional longhouse to be included within the fort area.
He was told a statue of Rentap would be placed at the Visitor’s Gallery at the foothill where a replica of Rentap’s canon ‘Bujang Timpang Berang’ used against the Brooke army would also be featured.
A gallery to display various weapons used in the old days will be among its components as well.
On development, Uggah thanked Abang Johari for the formation of the Betong Integrated Development Area (BIDA) which will both spur and accelerate progress of the division.
Abang Johari had allocated a development budget of RM1.5 billion to BIDA.
For the record, BIDA includes the Layar, Bukit Saban, Saribas, Krian, Kabong, Kalaka, Beting Maro and part of the Lingga constituencies.
On another matter, Uggah pointed out that efforts would continue to promote modern agriculture based on technologies and IoT (Internet of Things) here.
“We have some 500,000 hectares which are not properly or yet to be developed.
“We would like our youth to take up the challenge of becoming modern farmers and agropreneurs,” he said.
On the Saribas Club, he congratulated and thanked its co- founder Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu for it, saying the “seed which Jabu had sown had now become a tree”.
“But we will continue to nurture it to make it grow even bigger and stronger for the benefit of Saribas folk living in the city.
At the same time, Uggah announced the appointment of a political secretary to the Premier Dr Richard Rapu as its new chairman.
Earlier, in his speech, Jabu paid glowing tribute to Uggah whom he described as another outstanding leader of the Dayak community.
He said for instance, Uggah, as the chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) had contributed immensely in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under him, he said Sarawak is one of the top states in the nation in its vaccination and booster dose programmes to protect the people.
