‘Bung Bratak project 80 per cent complete’
BAU: The much anticipated mountain-top historical and tourism project Bung Bratak Heritage Centre ( BBHC) is now 80 per cent completed, said Bung Bratak Heritage Association ( BBHA) chairman Dato Peter Minos.
He informed that the soft opening of BBHC – reputedly Sarawak or even Borneo’s fi rst historical site turned into a tourist / cultural spot, will now be held sometime towards the end of this year.
“By May 1st next year, the usual Bung Bratak Day will be celebrated again in conjunction with the grand opening of BBHC,” he said.
The last Bung Bratak Day was in 2013, and it was not held starting the following year to pave way for construction of the centre which was fully fi nanced by the federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture and implemented by Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR
By May 1st next year, the usual Bung Bratak Day will be celebrated again in conjunction with the grand opening of BBHC.
Sarawak).
The 1,000-foot high Bung Bratak or Mount Bratak is considered as the original and ancient ancestral home of the Jagoi-Bratak Bidayuhs, who live in 33 villages in Bau and Lundu District and their numbers are over 30,000 people.
Based on historical account, the very fi rst settlers at Bung Bratak came from Sungkong (now in central West Kalimantan) over 750 years ago in search for fresh land for padi planting or in avoiding a very serious infectious disease.
When completed, BBHC would have two traditional longhouses, one a unique longhouse for accommodation of up to 100 guests and the other functioning as a venue for conferences, functions and seminars.
There will be a big ‘ baruk’ (traditional roundhouse), a reception building, and a separate dining hall and kitchen, thus allowing the centre to be used for conferences and seminars, as well as for cultural and other functions.
“BBHC will be a hub for nature lovers. At 1,000 feet, the scenery from BBHC is simply great and visitors will find themselves surrounded by virgin jungle with tropical flora and fauna and two waterfalls. This is on top of the fresh mountain air and spring water. Local visitors and tourists as well as those interested in nature and adventure will love BBHC,” he said.
He pointed out that Bung Bratak almost every year attract students and academicians, both local and foreigners, including a big group of students and lecturers from one Australian university who go camping there.
“When completed, BBHC will be the pride of Bidayuhs, especially the 33 villages of the Jagoi-Bratak group. They are most grateful of the federal government for financing the project, and JKR Sarawak for its construction.
“The Bidayuhs cannot be any happier when seeing the government respecting and honouring their history and culture. Bung Bratak is a place of pride much honoured by Bidayuhs,” he said.
Dato Peter Minos, Bung Bratak Heritage Association chairman