Residents’ input vital to preserve ‘soul’ of traditional longhouse
KUCHING: No architectural ideas and concepts would be good enough to rebuild new longhouses in Sarawak, unless those ideas come from residents themselves.
Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) Sarawak Chapter chairman Ivy Jong said this was the only way to preserve the soul of traditional longhouses.
She admitted that most new longhouses had designs that were similar to terrace houses.
One of the reasons new longhouses couldn’t be built on stilts was due to the weight of the materials, she said.
But she believed Sarawakians could retain the traditional features of these structures with the latest construction technologies, equipment and materials.
“For instance, we can retain the wooden structure with fibreboards which are fire resistant, durable and lightweight. This would give it an appearance of conventional wood.
“To build a new longhouse with traditional features that is also fireproof, we need engagement with residents as they live in those areas. That is the way to ensure that we are constructing a longhouse with a soul.
“It is crucial to learn about the purpose of a longhouse, the customs and beliefs of the Dayak so that we can retain the aspects of communal living and social element of the longhouse.
“Then, we can study how to add fire safety features and enhance the design, structure and materials,” she told the New Straits
Times.
Jong said any idea or design plan must come from the community to give it a sense of belonging. By doing that, residents could build a longhouse with a soul and it can encourage the people to protect their longhouses.
Longhouse chiefs and residents also had to be educated on fire safety to ensure that these Dayak heritage structures were preserved for decades to come.
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which was set up in Sarawak in 1972 to rebuild and renovate longhouses, has been disbursing loans since 1987.
A total of 728 longhouses, involving 16,169 families have benefited from the programme.
There are 148 applications for loans pending approval.
HDC chief executive officer Mohamad Asman Ahmad said when the scheme kicked off, loans ranging from RM3,000 to RM5,000 were offered, with a 5.5 per cent interest rate.
“In 2007, the amount was increased to RM10,000 while the interest rate was reduced to three per cent four years ago.
“Today, the scheme offers a maximum of RM50,000 loan per year for each household. The loan amount varies with a repayment term of 25 years.”
Among the criteria for the loans are that the longhouses exceed 10 units, are not located on stateowned land and the household income of people in each unit must not exceed RM350. The rebuilt houses must follow the standard design set by the HDC.
Apart from helping those unable to get bank loans, the scheme encourages villagers to rebuild a longhouse with safety features comprising of concrete frames with concealed wiring, socket points and switches.
“Longhouses destroyed by fire, landslides and other natural disasters are given priority,” he said.