Dr Ng visits the marvels of Sabah’s east coast

KOTA KINABALU: For the unacquainted, the name Maliau Basin might not denote of anything special and some would even think of as just another household utensil.

However, those who have walked within the walls of this basin of life will unmistakenly tell anyone why Maliau Basin is a world of its own, rightfully earning itself the title ‘Sabah’s Lost World’. Maliau possesses an astoundingly distinct biodiversity in flora and fauna, with over 1,800 species including at least six types of pitcher plants and over 80 rare and endemic species of orchids.

Images of great beauty: Dr Ng listening to a briefing by Jadda at the Maliau Basin Nature Gallery.

It is also home to more than 80 species of rare mammals such as the banteng, clouded leopard and Malayan sunbear besides an impressive array of birds consisting of nearly 300 species such as the Bulwers Pheasant and the endemic Bornean Bristlehead.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen recently found out about the marvels of this access-limited haven in the east coast of Sabah while visiting the Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA). She was also briefed by MBCA manager Jadda Suhaimi on the conservation efforts in Maliau Basin by state-owned Yayasan Sabah Group.

Recognising this unique area, the Yayasan Sabah Group designated MBCA for the purposes of research, education and training, along with Danum Valley and Imbak Canyon conservation areas located north and east of MBCA respectively. Jadda also said the MBCA acted as an important natural catchment area.

Making a point of how important it was, he said the Maliau River drains through a gorge out of the southeast of the Basin into the Kuamut River, which in turn feeds into one of the headwaters of the Kinabatangan, Sabah’s most important waterway.

Numerous waterfalls have also been discovered throughout the Basin. The most famous of which is the spectacular seven-tier Maliau Falls. Maliau is also the home of the fabled Lake Linumunsut, Sabah’s only natural freshwater lake, situated below the outer banks of the northern escarpment.

Before visiting Maliau, Dr Ng had spent the night at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge and visited the Danum Valley Field Centre in neighbouring district Lahad Datu. She was accompanied by Tourism Malaysia director general Datuk Azizan Noordin, Sabah Tourism Board chairman Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin and Tourism Malaysia domestic marketing director Musa Yusof on the trip.

-thestar Online.