Rumah Jangu Ladong Tahir – A modern Iban longhouse

SEBAUH: Beautiful and inspirational would be the words that come to mind when one steps into Rumah Jangu Ladong Tahir ( Rh Jangu Tahir) located at Kilometre 15, Jalan Ulu Sebauh, here.

According to deputy headman Sidin Dian, the Iban longhouse was first built in 2000, after the former headman Tahir Kalau moved the community from their settlement on the banks of Sungai Tebas so that they would have access to amenities like roads, electricity and water.

Sidin said the doublestorey longhouse which was built on about three hectares of land was to replace their former rundown wooden home.

“There are 34 rooms in Rumah Jangu Tahir to accommodate the 225 residents in the community,” he told Bernama.

Originally built to protect the people from enemies, the longhouse now protects its occupants from their their biggest threat, fire, which occurs almost every year.

Sidin said as a preventive measure against fire, the kitchen areas in the longhouse have been built separate from the main living area.

“At the same time, the different parts of the longhouse are connected by semi fireproof material such as metal,” Sidin who works as an assistant construction superintendent with an oil- and- gas company in Egypt, said.

He added that a unique feature of the longhouse was that if it fulfilled the safety requirements, each room could be separately insured.

“If the longhouse is equipped with fire breakers, and electrical wiring done by licensed contractors, the residents could insure their homes,” he said. — Bernama

The kitchen areas in the longhouse have been built separately from the main living areas as a preventive measure against fire.

A view of the main living area from the first floor.

Deputy headman Sidin Dian shares some quality time together with his family at the main area of their home. — Bernama photos