Sarawak plans to establish a dedicated authority to manage and develop its lake areas, including reservoirs created by dam projects, as part of the state’s development plans for the next five years. The proposal was announced in Betong on Sept 26. The lakes named for development include Batang Ai, Murum, Baleh, Bakun and Bengoh. The stated aim is to improve facilities and develop selected sites as tourism destinations. No name for the new authority, budget, implementation timetable or individual lake projects was announced, so the plan remains at the announcement stage rather than a set of scheduled works.