Bidayuh Heritage Centre

KUCHING, Sept 20 - The information communication and culture ministry has approved the setting of the Bung Bratak Heritage Centre in Bau near here under the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

This is part of efforts to showcase the Bidayuh history and culture, especially from the Jagoi-Bratak area, said Bung Bratak Heritage Association chairman Datuk Peter Minos.

He said the ministry had responded positively that it would help the association with funding to set up the proposed centre at Bung Bratak, originally the hill-top ancestral settlement of 31 Bidayuh villages in the Lundu and Bau districts, as well as Seluas/Singkawang in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

"The project is expected to commence under the next plan, which starts next year, thanks to the sincere interest and understanding of the minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, whose positive response is very much appreciated," he told Bernama.

He said the centre was expected to have a museum, two longhouses and a 'baruk' or traditional round house to accomodate a 100-capacity seminar-cum- conference hall, overnight accomodation and basic homestay facilities upon completion.

Apart from organising conferences, talks and seminars on all aspects of Bidayuh history and culture, he said, the association would also promote tourism and Bidayuh food, drinks and handicraft, including traditional 'kasah' mat-weaving.

For the health-conscious, outdoor activities like hill-top exercises, excursions and walks will be conducted in the area, which boasts of two waterfalls and spring-water holes.

He said the Bung Bratak area has so far, produced a number of educated people, including doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants and other professionals, but lagged in modern commerce and industry.

"Efforts are being made to improve this situation and the association will do its part, for instance, by organising talks and seminars on business-related matters in its proposed centre," said Minos, who is also former president of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA).

However, he said, the people fully co-operated with a state government agency -- the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) -- to develop over 20,000 hectares of their native customary rights land in Bau and Lundu.

With commercial land development, the Bau Palm Oil Mill was set up, as part of efforts to uplift the socio-economic standard of the community, particularly those who chose to remain in their villages, noted Minos.

Kerajaan Lulus Pembinaan Pusat Warisan Bidayuh

KUCHING, 20 Sept- Kementerian Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan meluluskan pembinaan Pusat Warisan Bung Bratak di Bau, dekat sini, di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesepuluh, sebagai satu usaha untuk mempamerkan sejarah dan kebudayaan Bidayuh terutama dari kawasan Jagoi-Bratak, kata Pengerusi Persatuan Warisan Bung Bratak Datuk Peter Minos.

Katanya kementerian memberi reaksi positif dan akan membantu persatuan membiayai pembinaan pusat itu yang dijangka dibina di Bung Bratak, kawasan asal nenek moyang kaum itu terletak di puncak bukit yang dihuni 31 penduduk kampung Bidayuh di daerah Lundu dan Bau juga di Seluas/Singkawang di Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia.

"Projek itu dijangka bermula selepas RMK-9, iaitu bermula tahun depan, terima kasih kepada Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim yang amat memahami dan berminat untuk mewujudkan pusat ini di mana reaksi positif beliau amat dialu-alukan," katanya kepada Bernama.

Katanya pusat warisan itu akan dilengkapi muzium, dua rumah panjang dan sebuah "baruk" atau rumah bulat tradisional yang boleh memuatkan 100 kapasiti untuk seminar atau dewan persidangan, bilik untuk bermalam dan kemudahan asas program inap desa.

Selain menganjurkan persidangan, ceramah dan seminar mengenai aspek sejarah dan budaya Bidayuh, beliau berkata, persatuan itu juga akan membuat promosi pelancongan Bidayuh tentang makanan, minuman dan kraftangan, termasuk tikar anyam tradisional "kasah".

Bagi mereka yang mementingkan gaya hidup sihat, aktiviti luar seperti latihan mendaki puncak bukit, lawatan dan berjalan kaki akan disediakan di kawasan itu, yang turut mempunyai dua air terjun dan kolam air panas.

Katanya kawasan Bung Bratak telah mengeluarkan ramai tenaga profesional seperti doktor, jurutera, peguam, akauntan dan bidang profesional lain, tetapi pembabitan mereka dalam perniagaan moden dan industri masih lagi kurang.

"Usaha sedang dibuat untuk memperbaiki keadaan ini dan persatuan akan menjalankan peranan seperti menganjurkan ceramah dan seminar berhubung hal perniagaan di pusat yang bakal dibina itu," kata Minos yang juga bekas presiden Persatuan Kebangsaan Dayak Bidayuh.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, kaum itu yang terkenal dengan ketekunan dan kerja kerasnya, telah bekerjasama dengan agensi kerajaan negeri - "Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority" untuk membangunkan lebih 20,000 hektar tanah milik warisan kaum itu di Bau dan Lundu.

Dengan pembangunan tanah komersil itu, sebuah Kilang Minyak Kelapa Sawit Bau diwujudkan, sebagai satu usaha untuk meningkatkan taraf sosio ekonomi komuniti itu terutamanya mereka yang memilih untuk terus menetap di kampung, katanya.

-- BERNAMA