In the cool mountain climate, temperate fruits such as apples, mandarin oranges and vanilla are grown.

Tourism has increased in recent years: Ba'kelalan now has a 9-hole natural golf course, and the settlement is also the easiest point of access for visits to Kayan Mentarang National Park in Krayan, Kalimantan.

[4] According to Tom Harrisson, the Lun Bawang people began to move into Baram and Limbang districts in the 17th century.

Despite coming under the Brooke administration when Trusan district became part of Sarawak in 1885, the colonial influence was minimal.

The Krayan people from Long Bawan, Indonesia also provided a source of human labour for farming communities in Ba'kelalan.

[2] In 1928, Christianity was introduced by Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) when Carey Tolley and Hudson Southwell arrived here.

His wife Enid, also known as the Lun Bawang name Pendita Litad Mawa was spared from the Japanese because she decided to give birth to her child in Melbourne, Australia.

The post of headman is created by government appointment who commanded the respect of the villages and paid a minimal monthly salary.

He would come twice a year to discuss matters pertaining to development of the villagers and handling cases of the native chiefs court.

[9] Ba'Kelalan also serves as a transit point to the nearby Pulong Tau National Park where Mount Murud and Bukit Batu Lawi are located.

However, in September 2009 the federal government of Malaysia approved RM50 million for the first construction phase of a road from Lawas to Ba’Kelalan to facilitate access.

[10] With water supply from the Kelalan river, the community have created well-irrigated padi fields in Buduk Bui and Long Langai, and grow the prized, small-grained “Highland Adan Rice” with fine, sweet grains.

[19] In 1975 the first apple cuttings were brought from the highlands of East Java by a local boy, Andrew Balang Paran.

[23] Ba'kelalan salt springs were discovered more than a hundred years ago when hunters noticed that animals like to drink water there.

Salt springs at Ba'kelalan can be found at three areas: Buduk Bui, Pa Komap and Punang Kelalan.

[4] Several notable foods at Ba'kelalan are: luba laya (rice wrapped in itip leaf), biter (vegetable porridge), and sinamu and narar (smoked fish and meat)[7] The Lun Bawang people play bamboo flutes known as "ngapu".

They are also known for their "musang" culture, where they work together in every aspect of life such as rice cultivation, clearing lands, or organising events.

Nelson Balang Rining – Deputy President of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) & former MLA for Ba'kelalan .

The cross-border relationship has been comfortable although villagers from both sides need an official pass from either Indonesian or Malaysian authorities to cross the border.

However, the wild boar ran to the Indonesian side and was killed by another hunter living at the Long Bawan.

However, after a meeting with Lawas District officer, both sides agreed that the case should be resolved by the two hunters with the presence of their own headman.

This has caused Ba'kelalan to become a major supplier of goods to Long Bawan because of cheaper transportation costs.

Since 2004, four-wheel drive especially Toyota Hilux trucks are being used to transport goods across the border directly from Lawas into Long Bawan, bypassing Ba'kelalan.

Tollgates have been erected by the Ba'kelalan traders to claim land ownership across the border and prevent buffaloes from grazing in the rice fields.

However, fees levied at the tollgates have caused the resentment of the Long Bawan people as they have always been depending upon Ba'kelalan for daily supplies.