Thursday, August 05, 2010

Brighter times for Pulau Bruit, Sarawak

PULAU Bruit, which encompasses about 530 sq km, is poised to become a major tourist destination in Sarawak.

The island, together with nearby Muslim-Melanau Kampung Penipah and Kampung Tekajong along the Rajang River, is now set for prosperous times.

The villages have a combined population of 8,000, most of whom are padi farmers and fishermen.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced plans to develop the island into a major tourist destination during the Sibu by-election in May this year.

Earlier, on April 28, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a RM28mil infrastructure project to upgrade it into an agropolitan centre. Of the allocation, RM10mil was to supply clean water to the island.

Pulau Bruit, the second largest island in Malaysia after Pulau Langkawi, has been placed on the priority list for development by the state due to its location in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.

It is about 64km from Sibu and the journey takes two-and-a-half hours by speed boat or express boat via Daro and Semop. It includes a half hour cruise on the South China Sea.

The trip to Sibu and back is costly for locals who have to fork out RM20 to RM30 per person. It can also be traumatic if the sea is stormy.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Brighter times for Pulau Bruit, Sarawak
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