KUCHING: Dataran Bujang Berani, a public square to honour Dayak contributions, will be developed on the current site of the Kapit Police Headquarters.
Works Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, said the project is expected to begin in four to five years, after the police station relocates to a new site currently in planning stages.
He added that the square will be located near Fort Sylvia and serve as a landmark for the division.
“It will be a meaningful and iconic symbol to represent the contributions of our Dayak people to the nation,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the book launch ceremony of ‘Commemorating a Century of Kapit Peacemaking (1924–2024)’ at the Dayak Cultural Foundation building here on Saturday.
Nanta, who is the Kapit Member of Parliament, noted that Dayaks from Kapit, Belaga and Murum – such as the Iban, Kayan and Kenyah – have long served in the country’s security forces.
He said their involvement began even before Malaysia’s formation, with many joining the Sarawak Rangers during the Malayan Emergency.
Today, that legacy continues through the Malaysia Rangers, with many still serving from the Kapit Division.
“This is why it’s important for us to have a square that recognises the sacrifices of our heroes,” he said.
He added that design proposals are already being prepared, including concepts for a central monument to anchor the square.
Additionally, Nanta said a Dayak heritage centre will also be developed in Kapit, with allocation already approved and planning work underway.
