KUCHING: Kampung Terbat in Serian has the potential to become a significant tourism destination in the district.
Serian District Council (SDC) chairman Datuk Peter Minos said this during a visit to the village and the Terbat Tagang area along with SDC councillors.
“The planned recreation centre here will put this highland village firmly on the tourism map,” he said, referring to the proposed Terbat Tagang Recreation Centre which will be developed around the tagang area and will include chalets for rental, a traditional baruk, a canteen and recreational facilities.
Minos credited the project to the initiative of Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben who planned and championed it, with financing provided by the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA).
SDC has been entrusted with its implementation.
“This will be a very pleasant tourism spot for Serian,” he added.
During the visit, Minos was full of praise for the villagers, who he said had shown remarkable initiative long before the project was conceived.
The community had established and managed their own tagang — a traditional practice of sectioning off a stretch of river for conservation — blocking off approximately one mile of the upper Kedup River to create a protected sanctuary for the prized ikan semah.
The results have been impressive where visitors to the tagang can observe large ikan semah — some weighing up to three kilogrammes — swimming freely in the protected waters.
“The villagers have shown great initiative and have been doing a lot on their own.
“This is exactly the kind of community spirit that makes a project like this worth investing in,” he said.
Surrounded by mountains, forest, the Kedup River, and a sizeable village community, Minos described the proposed centre as an ideal setting for outdoor fun and entertainment.
“SDC is currently engaging with consultants and various government agencies to obtain the necessary approvals,” he said.
He expressed hope that this process would be completed by the end of this year, with construction beginning in early 2027.
