Kenyana Lake: The Hidden Treasure At Batang Mukah

Kenyana Lake is situated at upper stream of Batang Mukah and about two hours trips by speed boat from Mukah, a developing sago town in Central Region of Sarawak, Malaysia. It was originally part of Batang Mukah, the main river in Mukah division. The date of birth is a big question mark as it was not really recorded or proper research to prove it. However, it was believed that it was born at thousand years ago, when the river starts creating its shortcut to create an osbour lake which is now known as Kenyana Lake.

With it dark turbid water, Kenyana Lake is special as it is one of the two habitats for Arawana fish in Sarawak. The other habitat is Sungai Kinyu, in Bintulu Division. Being a popular and expensive pet, the Kenyana’s Arawana is dwindling due to greedy and irresponsibility men’s activities on the surrounding area. Arawana is a carnivore which his daily meals are fish, insects and small mammals like lizard. For the lovers, Arawana is pampered to the nature and sensitive to its surrounding changes. For Kenyana Lake, the arawana species occupied believed to be from " Green Species".

On the entrance, which connecting it to its origin Batang Mukah is a small settlement of original Melanau community which still applying their traditional believe. On the upper and lower stream are a few Iban longhouses that are connected only by river. There is only one old wooden shop to serve the whole area. Being the only Chinese family, they are fluently speaking both in Iban and Melanau language. A government school, constructed during colonial time is still maintained and served the scattered community in Kenyana. This is the only government building in this area.

The 2 hours trip from Mukah to Kenyana promising view of swampy riverbank which still maintains most of its natural beauty. All the way from Mukah Town to Kenyana, is muddy and smelly river that actually could be promote for river cruise. Started with a yet and soon to be Smart City of Mukah are congested traditional village of Rich of Cultural Melanau, one of the Twenty Nine races available in Sarawak. The first one hour of the cruise, Sago farm and its factory (both traditional and modern) are laid at the riverbank, which produce the routine foods for the ancient Melanau. River is still the major mode of transporting the Sago logs. Today, the modern Melanau and even Mukah are still popular to its sago based food.

On the upper stream, another ethnic of Sarawak, in different style of living and language dominate the rivers up to Ulu Selangau. Iban traditional wooden longhouses are scattered on both sides of riverbank and for sure they still maintain their own unique culture as well.

For the natural lovers, do not expect to see wild animals as it might have migrate to other safer places. Anyway, if lucky we will see the local birds, monkeys, butterfly and other small animals who originally occupied the river. For sure, Batang Mukah is still providing its best natural beauty.

Inland fishery is one of the oldest activities for the local community. The uncontrolled catchment especially during breeding season is one factor of dwindling of Arawana and other fish like tapah in Kenyana Lake. Commercializing Kenyana Lake into a place for Inland Fisheries would be a good idea, but with control by the relevant authorities. Therefore, further research and documentation is urgently required before we are too late to save the natural beauty of Kenyana Lake.

So far there are no basic facilities of roads, electricity or telecommunications that connecting Kenyana Lake to the other world. And as one of a natural lover, I hope that the situation is not change drastically. Developments and plantations definitely will change the natural living of fauna and fauna on the lake. And again, Kenyana Lake will lost, and this time maybe foreever.

View on the entrance of Kenyana Lake. Traditional Wooden house on both sides of the lake.....

Full view of Kenyana Lake.....

Sago tree... the historical and symbol of Mukah Division

The Natural flora that occupied Kenyana Lake......

Small Boat or "sampan" is the only mode of transportation in Tasik Kenyana....

How to Get there?