Developments in Mulu have benefited the locals, says councillor

Gary shows the newspaper cutting of the article where Dennis Along alleged Mulu folk had not benefitted from developments in their area.

MIRI: PBB Tutoh sub-branch chairman Councillor Gary Hassim yesterday chided PKR Baram secretary Dennis Along for alleging recently that locals had not benefitted from developments in Mulu National Park.

“What Dennis said is totally baseless,” Gary said yesterday.

He added Mulu National Park (MNP) has 115 employees at present, and out of this, 93 per cent were people from around the area, 6.7 per cent from other parts of the state and 0.3 per cent foreigners.

At the management and supervisory level, 80 per cent of its personnel are Berawans, Terings and Penans, and the rest Sarawakians from other races.

“As far as possible, the MNP and Mulu Resort & Spa management policy has been to give jobs to locals who have the necessary experience and qualifications.”

Gary said the chief engineer of Mulu Resort & Spa is Mamat Mugang, a Berawan from Mulu, while in MNP, the M&E manager and operations manager are Onesimus Mugang and Jeffery Simun respectively. Both are from around the area.

“The majority of the 100 odd workers of Mulu Marriot Resort and Spa are from Mulu.

“These people depend on MNP and Mulu Marriot for their livelihood. Otherwise, they would have moved to other places for work,” he said, adding that MNP and Mulu Marriot had also benefitted some 40 boat operators ferrying tourists to and from these attractions.

In addition, there were plenty of business opportunities for Mulu folk as well, like homestays, selling of handicrafts, collecting rubbish, operating eateries, and transporting tourists to and from the airport, resort and national park.

On water supply, Gary said there is a plan to supply piped and clean water under the rural water supply programme. Last Feb 12, Assistant Minister of Public Ultilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran announced an allocation of RM14 million to provide water to Mulu area.

“We hope the plan will be implemented soon.”

 

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