Nansian: Dorod Orad has rich pickings in tourism

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The work party participants climbing to top of Dorod Orad.

The work party participants climbing to top of Dorod Orad.

BAU: Dorod Orad or Mount Orad, described as a fortress for Bidayuh Bratak warrior Panglima Kurow above Kampung Grogo near here, will be developed into a tourism spot.

Assistant Minister of Community Services Datuk Peter Nansian said the historical site had great potential which could create economic activities to the local people if properly developed.

“Many people may not realise that we actually have a field of goldmine in this area and what we are doing now is to extract the gold. We want to turn it into an asset for the local community,” he said.

Nansian, who is Tasik Biru assemblyman, said this at the launch of a work party organised by Bau Community Leaders Club under the chairmanship of Pemanca Daniel Teho to clear Dorod Orad yesterday.

Earlier, the assistant minister together with many others present including Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina, former assistant minister and Tasik Biru assemblyman Dr Patau Rubis, district officer Inting Nyami, Teho and others explored the whole area including climbing to the peak of the 400-foot Mount Orad.

“With so many interesting features available here I dare say it can be many times better than Redeems (Research and Development Movement of Singai Sarawak) Centre provided that the community themselves really want to do something about it.

“On my part, I will try to engage qualified consultant to do a thorough study before we can come up with a master plan on how to develop the area,” he said.

He said there were so many things that could be done to make the site more interesting and attractive such as the restoration of ‘baruk’ Panglima Kurow and the traditional longhouse.

Another interesting part about the area was that it was most suitable to be used as a venue for extreme sports such as rock climbing and mountain bike race.

“All we need to do now is to put in more facilities which require the involvement of each and everyone starting with the local people themselves because I believe many agencies are willing to come in to give their support when they see the huge potentials,” he said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Dorod Orad Development Committee, KK Jien Nyobek, said they first started to develop the heritage site in the 80s but stopped not too long after that.

“We only started to revive efforts to preserve the historical site in 2003 but even then it was also just on a very small scale. Nothing much was done except for clearing the old trails to the mountain peak.

“Very little maintenance was done not until we received a substantial amount of allocation from our assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian in 2014. With the money we started to construct the car park and a 2km-road around the foot of the mountain”.

Jien said Dorod Orad had a very long history with Panglima Kurow and his followers being the first people to settle there after their earlier fortress at Bung Bratak was destroyed by the enemies.

“From Bung Bratak they moved to Dorod Orad where they lived until after the Japanese occupation. From there they moved down to the present Kampung Grogo. As the population grew bigger some moved to Sibuluh, Opar, Rumbih, Plaman Nawang and also Bawang in Penrissen,” he said

Because of its historical value, Mount Orad covering an area of 22.85 hectares has been gazetted as one of heritage sites of the Bratak community.

“We are also very thankful to Datuk Nansian for helping us to develop this historical site of ours,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the function yesterday Nansian and Ranum each pledged RM5,000 allocation to Bau Community Leaders Club to finance its activities.

Among the beautiful scenery at Dorod Orad.

Among the beautiful scenery at Dorod Orad.

The whole of Dorod Orad is full of fruit trees such as durians and langsat where many of them are over 100 years old.

The whole of Dorod Orad is full of fruit trees such as durians and langsat where many of them are over 100 years old.

Some of the villagers involved in the work party.

Some of the villagers involved in the work party.

Nansian (seated fourth left) and others pose for group photo at a stopover point during the expedition.

Nansian (seated fourth left) and others pose for group photo at a stopover point during the expedition.