‘Our transportation decisions determine much more than where roads or bridges or tunnels or rail lines will be built. They determine the connections and barriers that people will encounter in their daily lives, and thus how hard or easy it will be for people to get where they need and want to go.’
— Elijah Cummings, American politician.
THOSE of us who have visited Singapore, Langkawi in Kedah or Genting Highlands in Pahang may have used the cable cars there.
While in the cable cars, you would have enjoyed the breathtaking views of nearby mountains, valleys, islands and forests.
A cable car ride is definitely a memorable experience to savour and will make you treasure your holiday trip for a long time to come.
Recently, Deputy Transport Minister, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil talked about developing a cable car network to connect villagers in the Padawan highlands.
Dr Jerip, who is also Mambong assemblyman, said the idea came from the people in his constituency.
One of the reasons is that the cable cars could make their daily travel easier.
The deputy minister added that the cable cars could connect a few high-attitude villages such as Kg Sapit, Kg Kiding and Kg Simuti.
He said the starting point for the cars could be the Annah Rais longhouse, an authentic Bidayuh longhouse with more than 100 doors. Despite some modern amenities, the longhouse has managed to retain its traditional look.
Dr Jerip said the cable car suggestion showed that his people yearned for modern mode of transportation.
He spoke to the media after the launch of a mini lab n Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) for Mambong in Kuching.
As far as I know, this is the second time that the development of a cable car network for Sarawak is being discussed.
In May 2007, the Star, an English-language based in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, reported that visitors to Mount Santubong were set to enjoy their first cable car ride soon.
It would be the third overhead cable car system in the country, after those in Genting Highlands and Langkawi.
The newspaper also reported that the state government had granted local company Santubong Cable Car Sdn Bhd (SCC) the sole rights to design, build, operate and manage the system for a period of 60 years from the date it starts operation.
It said the company had a team that included consultants involved in the Langkawi system and Doppelmayr Seilbahnen, a ropeway technology provider from Austria.
Under a concession agreement signed between the government and SCC recently, the company would collect and retain all revenue from the operation of the cable car, including sales of ticket, merchandise and beverage.
SCC executive chairman then, Abang Nawawi Abang Drahman was reported to have said that building plans for the cable car were almost complete and construction should start in three months.
With 28 gondolas carrying eight passengers each, the cable cars, the Star said it would be convenient for visitors intending to reach the top of Mount Santubong.
However, until today, there is no cable car ride to Mount Santubong.
In November 2020, a tourism expert YS Chan told New Sunday Tribune that the proposed Santubong cable car project which was shelved for over a decade should be implemented.
But it must be funded by the private sector and supported by the state government.
Chan said the project must be led by a reputable or large corporation with abundant financial resources.
“This is so a consortium can be formed later and then able to rope in many different stakeholders, each a specialist in their own field such as accommodation, food and beverage, retail outlets for tourist products – local produce, souvenir items and so on,” he said.
Chan was responding to remarks by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain that SEDC was currently studying the proposal to see whether or not the cable car project would be feasible in terms of attracting people to visit the Damai peninsula.
“Now is the best time to plan and build when construction costs are lower and will be ready when the world economy and tourism recovers in a few years’ time.
“However, all projects must pass the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA). This is to ensure that degradation of the national park and local society will not happen,” added Chan.
He stressed there should not be any building of hotel or restaurant on the mountain top, but only providing chemical toilets and observation deck so that visitors could enjoy the panoramic view.
“In the past, state governments would open up jungles, mountains, waterfalls in the name of tourism but they were just for leisure activities with these sites turning into huge garbage dumps in no time by picnickers.
“Tourism is business and it must be profitable to be sustainable, while concessionaires are responsible for upkeep of the vicinity,” he stressed.
To be economically feasible, the cable car project should not be a standalone project, he pointed out.
The tourist facilities must benefit the local communities which could be community-based tourism as they should not remain bystanders.
He also said the concessionaire for the cable car should be given other opportunities to build tourist facilities at the cable car station at the foothill and also along the way from Kuching.
“Having said that, the government should not be involved in business, its role is more on sustainable tourism of an area.
“Responsible tourism is shared by both public and private sectors, and tourism projects are best studied by investors,” said Chan
I think the points stressed by the tourism expert are very relevant and must be taken seriously by developers of any cable car projects in the state.
I support the cable car suggestion for the Padawan highlands. If approved, it will definitely develop the Bidayuh villagers there. It also augurs well for tourism in Mambong constituency and Sarawak.
