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| Resident's Office, Kapit Division |
Kapit region can be considered a virgin territory that needs to be transformed to become as advanced as Bintulu but with a difference. But the common concerned is that its transformation must be done without losing the identity, history and healthy environment of the people. More importantly, it must be done without making any race to be neglected in the midst of development.
Obviously, the formula for the development of Kapit will have to be different slightly from those of other regions, Bintulu region in particular. The development of SCORE should be able to increase chances of Kapit division for the development. For example, there will be more roads to be constructed to link Mukah, Sibu and Bintulu to Kapit region in SCORE development area than anywhere else in Sarawak. This is possible because the State government has found out ways to make all these developments pay for themselves.
Recently, the Prime Minister, Dato Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, allocated RM60 million to construct a stretch of roads from Belaga to Bakun. As it is not economically viable to spend huge sum of money in an area with a small population, the allocation represents a symbol that the Government wants to have a balanced development.
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| Kapit |
Understandably, the State Government will set up a special planning committee to develop Kapit region as a special development area within SCORE development area towards the year 2020 and beyond. The committee will comprise of people with necessary expertise and experience to serve as the nucleus in dictating the kind of development for the region.
Obviously with that kind of development, Kapit will have its own planning committee to oversee its core development as a special development region. The committee will comprise of people, who are experts in environment, knowledgeable about the local situation and others to ensure that Kapit will have a balanced development that all people can be proud of. It will be in conformity with the State’s approach to improve much more of the environment trends and environmental conservation and development for eco-tourism.
The detailed planning, among other things, will ensure the future development of Kapit, which will be greatly intensified, will not rob future generations of the beautiful local environment and natural heritage, which the other parts of the world may start losing in the next two generations.
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| Kapit town and wharf |
Basically, the master plan for the development of Kapit region is to turn it to become the best of the eco-tourism of Malaysia in 10 to 20 years from now. For example, Bakun Dam, once it is fully impounded by water will create hundreds of islands taking into consideration that Bakun lake is bigger than Singapore in size. There will a lot of tiny islands, where people may want to have houses, club houses, water sports and other activities of nature, coming up.
Bakun dam will be Sarawak’s place of 1,000 islands as in Canada. There one can see a lot of beautiful houses, water activities, yachts and water skiing going on. All these things make the place so beautiful that thousands of people, rich people in particular spend money to build houses even though they occupy them for half the time in a year.
Obviously, Sarawak can do the same things in Bakun, Murum or any other places where big lakes are being made through the development of hydro dams. Hence, a detailed study has to be made on how to integrate the development of hydro with that of eco-tourism so that the country can become the best eco-tourism destination in South East Asia.
Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud sees Kapit as the symbol of the State’s earliest civilization. The history began with the Orang Ulu comprising of Orang Kayan, Orang Kenyah and Orang Melanau in the East and in the west, Orang Bidayuh. They originated from bigger civilizations of Sri Wijaya and Majapahit in Java and Sumatra. He knew from his grand parents that the Melanaus and Orang Kayan were of the same group of people that migrated from Eastern Jawa, across the sea up to River Kayan. Over the process of decades and centuries, they crossed Sarawak mountains in Central Borneo and settled in Kapit region.
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| Interior of Umam Kahei longhouse (A Kayan longhouse about 15 minutes from Belaga) |
There are evidences that Kayan, Kenyah, Orang Kejaman and others belonged to the same group of Orang Ulu. They discovered Belaga but because of rugged terrains of hills and valleys, not all of them could settle in the same area. A number of them had to go further down along Batang Rajang. The Melanaus decided to settle down in coastal areas. Until today, the old people still know that Melanaus are Kayan Lalu (or passed by Kayans) or Kayans that originated from Sungei Kayan in Java that did not stay long in the Ulu like in the old days.
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| Kapit's Waterfront |
In the process of migration, they left behind the Jerenai or graves of chiefs of Orang Kayan that clearly showed the greatness of Orang Kayan, Orang Kenyah. They left behind longhouses with huge poles, different shapes and sizes of boats of those of the Melanaus, Kayan and Kenyah. Later, they accepted the arrival of Ibans, who came later from Western Kalimantan and together they worked hard to develop Kapit as a region to accept new people from outside who were involved in all land migrations. The Ibans migrated from Kepuas in Kalimantan Barat to Kapit region.
There are monuments, evidence of heritage of old time that can still be found in Belaga in Wilayah Kapit. This is the common heritage that we must be preserved to remind the Natives of their origins. The State Government has set aside RM5 million under the 10th Malaysia Plan to Sarawak Museum to carry out a thorough research and make proper conservation of the cultural evidence or heritage in Kapit division.
This approach should reflect the State government’s commitment to preserve the identity, origin of the Sarawak’s 400 to 600 years of civilization. It neglected and lost during the colonial period. However, must take necessary steps must be taken to revive it as Sarawak becomes more prosperous now.
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| Kapit |
There are also evidence that the Chinese, the Foochows in particular, were asked by White Rajah to come up the Rajang river in the year 1901 to pioneer the planting of rubber in Kapit region. A number of them died from Malaria apart from experiencing the continuous scarcity of food. All of these depict the struggle of the people of various races Kayan, Kenyah, Melanau, Iban, Cina in the development of Kapit region.
Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says the development of SCORE must not be motivated solely by pursuit for more money, profits and new way of life and forget the common heritage. Instead, its strategy of development must include all areas in Wilayah Kapit and Ulu Baram to be preserved as the site of the State’s history, heritage and the conservation of nature and the people’s endowment for the environment. For example, it will be unfortunate to see Empurau disappearing just because its prize catches RM700 per kilo. It will also be very unfortunate if the people can no longer eat Empurau in the next 10 years.
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| Catholic Church, Kapit |
He says the State government through the Research Unit of the Department of Agriculture has been carrying research on ways to breed Empurau. The research entails simulating the clear running water where Empurau breeds; it is still in the early stage. The department has also been breeding Empurau but the taste is not as good as the original ones. Besides, there is a need to know what Empurau feeds on apart from Engkabang.
Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says he has reserved an area, away from civilization to experiment and release fish fries, mainly Empurau into rivers; Empurau breeds in clean and fast running water. Deputy Chief Minister,Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and the Minister of Rural Development has been requesting for funds to intensify research on Empurau. The State must avoid losing the traditional food, exotic animals and some species of trees as what has been happening in other countries.
He says Sarawak’s approach to the development of Kapit and Ulu Baram will emphasise on conserving and preserving the environment. It is also to nurse the natural heritage that has been inherited from our forefathers. For this reason, the Ecological Master Plan for Kapit and Ulu Baram and will become part of the overall strategy to resettle the small number of people, who have to move from sites of the proposed hydro dams.
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| Mosque in Kapit |
He believes the development of Bintulu and Kapit regions can become more successful provided the people are prepared to continue to work hard in the overall efforts to transform Sarawak to become probably the best in the country. Hence, it is incumbent upon community leaders to play positive roles in ensuring what ever has built during the last 40 years will be continued and intensified in order to give the new generations a better Sarawak.
Pehin Sri Abdul Taib hopes to leave behind a better Sarawak for the people towards the year 2020 and beyond. That was my ambition since I became the Chief Minister; that has also been the ambition of all my Ministers whether they are Malays, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu in the services of the people, state and country.
benuasains
*Photos Source:
http://www.kapitdc.sarawak.gov.my/galeri.html
http://www.minth.sarawak.gov.my
http://www.kapitro.sarawak.gov.my
google.com images
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