A few weeks ago, a paper was putting an article suggesting that the Bakun Dam would spur tourism for Belaga. However the truth may be far from it.
It was reported that the number of tourist had infact reduce. It was normal to have about 3 to 4 tourist every day. However since the dam start operation on 13 Oct, the number had reduced to zero.
The tourist to Belaga were normally foreigners. They are interested to get the feeling on the culture and natural beauty. Their activities include visits to the local long houses, jungle trekking and exploration by boats along the Rajang tributary.
The tourists bring in income to the people. The need guides and accommodation. When the tourist stop coming, the income will also stop. The operators of a small local hotel felt the different. The business had dropped by about 70%. The shops that sell handicraft are also feeling the pinch. A shop owner complaint that he use to sell rattan headbands and beads averaging RM400 pr month, but now reduced to almost zero as the number of tourist plummeted.
All this problem started when Bakun started to fill up the dam on 13 Oct. The water level had reduced about 4 meters making travelling by boat to Belada unsafe. It appear that this problem was thought as the government under Mahathir was pushing to implement the project.
Bakun project of about RM7 billion was completed with unknown viability, it was reported at about 30% of the electricity produced can be sold. Now there are discusiion to sell to dam to Sarawak. The government is also changing it focus to move to nuclear as the energy provider. Many are still wonder what the Malaysian leaders are planning to do.
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