The setting of policy direction for management of all National Parks and other Protected Areas in Sarawak is the responsibility of the State Government through the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance (1998) and associated Regulations.
The Ordinance includes a provision for the Government, through the Controller of Parks, to appoint a ‘Managing Agent' to undertake the day to day planning and management functions (in line with Government policy and any Management Plan) for a National Park or Nature Reserve or any part or function thereof.
The Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation Unit of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation is responsible for the management of all totally Protected Areas of Sarawak except for Gunung Mulu National Park which has been divided into two distinct zones, one being the ‘wilderness zone', which is more than 90% of the Park area, and the other being a defined ‘tourism zone'.
The PABC Unit is responsible for the management of the Wilderness Zone and Borsarmulu Park Management Sdn Bhd has been appointed as the Managing Agent for the Tourism Zone with the responsibility to implement the recommendations of the Integrated Development and Management Plan for the Park which affect the Tourism Zone.
The Park has not been ‘privatized' as such, but the management of the Tourism Zone simply outsourced to a private company which is required to implement a program of development, operational and maintenance activities under the direction of a Government committee specifically established for the purpose.
Funding for development and management is provided by the Government and all fees and charges for entry and activities provided by the Park are set and collected by the Government.