Call for Penans to work with government
LONG LENG, Baram: The Penans in Long Leng, Baram are realising it was high time they started working with the government.
Their headman Maister Lolee said at the Penan Community Mind Transformation Programme here on Thursday they have had enough of being ‘made use of’ and ‘manipulated’ by the opposition and so- called activists.
“Nothing good comes from listening to and believing in their promises as their agenda is to instigate and influence the people to go against the government,” he claimed at the programme organised by Telang Usang District Office.
The programme aims to bring government agencies and those in the private sector to the community in the interior.
Among the agencies taking part in the programme are Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Fajar College.
“We can’t afford to be far away or stray away from the government if we want to catch up with other communities. We want change as we have been left far behind other communities in many aspects,” said Maister.
According to him, the community inLongLeng andPenancommunity in other villages are now more receptive to the government’s development programme and agenda which bring socioeconomic transformation.
He refuted the claims made by certain quarters that there is no transformation among the community.
“Although a lot still needs to be done ... I dare say our living condition is far better than 10 years ago. Thanks to the government we are now living in more conducive and comfortable longhouse with amenities such as solar power,” Maister said.
According to the headman, due to the geography and topography, and being left far behind, the transformation can hardly be seen by the people, especially those not living in the area.
Confident in the government and its programmes, the headman called on the Penan community in Long Leng and other villages to change their mindset to become more receptive to the government’s programmes.
Maister said they are eager to participate in commercial and modern farming especially of oil palms and rubber as well as homestay and handicraft.
Present were Telang Usan district officer Baru Tai, political secretary to the chief minister Charles Balang Seling and Long Bedian sub- district senior administrative officer Ezra Uda.