‘Road connectivity, power transmission between Long Lamai, Long Banga in the offing’
LONG LAMAI, Baram: The state government plans to build a road connecting Long Lamai with Long Banga, and also extend the electric transmission line from Long Banga mini hydroelectricity- dam to here.
However, it is learnt that the local community is not ready for these developments, says State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala.
“Despite my persuasion and reasoning, the local community still maintain their stand that they are not willing or ready to have the road and electricity connection,” Gerawat, who is Mulu assemblyman, told The Borneo Post during an ‘Outreach Programme’ conducted by Miri District Office here recently.
He said he had also briefed the Penans of Long Lamai on the perimeter survey for native customary rights ( NCR) land and the roles of the Highland Development Agency ( HAD).
“The community leaders told me about their concern and anxiety that due to their previous nomadic lifestyle, they might not qualify for any NCR land – they believed they might not have much of the ‘ temuda’ (defined as land that has been cleared, occupied and cultivated by the natives) established before or in 1958.
“The Land and Survey Department has confirmed that its aerial map shows about 90 hectares of NCR land around Long Lamai, but the locals claim that they have lived upon and gathered over a much larger area.
“This (outreach) programme serves as a platform for us to go down to the ground and meet the ‘ rakyat’ ( people), address their problems and issues and update them on government policies and plans to help the Penans in Long Lamai,” he said, adding that key representatives of Miri District Office, Bario Sub- District Office, National Registration Department Special Unit, Public Works Department (JKR), Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Malaysia Police, Agriculture Department, Miri Land and Survey Department, Health Department, Ministry of Public Utilities, Rural Water Supply Department and Sarawak Energy Bhd were involved in the programme here, which is about an eight-hour drive via logging track from Miri city followed by a 40-minute boat ride.
Later, Gerawat handed over fire extinguishers to community representatives from Long Lamai, Long Spigen, Long Sait, Long Kerong, Long Beruang, Sedungo, Long Banga and Long Peluan. He also announced minor rural project ( MRP) allocations of RM10,000 for the Lon g Lamai village security and development committee (JKKK) and RM5,000 for SK Long Lamai parent-teacher association.
On the local villagers’ request for concrete footpath and concrete drains here, Gerawat immediately called upon the representatives of JKR to do the design works and cost estimation.